Countdown to Opening Day: #21 New York Mets

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#21: New York Mets: Down on talent, really down on their luck

PROJECTED LINEUP
LF Eric Young Jr.
2B Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
RF Curtis Granderson
CF Chris Young
1B Ike Davis
C Travis D'Aranud
SS Ruben Tejada

PROJECTED ROTATION

Bartolo Colon
Zack Wheeler
Dillon Gee
Jon Niese
Jennry Mejia

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Bobby Parnell

Set-up: Kyle Farnsworth

Top Prospect: Noah Syndergaard (RHP)

Curtis Granderson

A 24 year-old Matt Harvey bursts onto the scene and by the end of the year he is considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. He also is expected to the miss he 2014 after Tommy John Surgery. It just seems to be the recent luck of the New York Mets. So even though they made some interesting free agent acquisitions this season, history suggests they will disappoint.
Curtis Granderson has 30 home run power, but popular opinion is the left handed bat will struggle to put the ball out of Citi Field's right field on the regular. Just the Mets luck. Bartolo Colon comes over from Oakland after going18-6 with a 2.65 ERA and will watch his weight and ERA inflate. Just the Mets luck.
The Mets need some things to bend their way and luck be on their side to contend this season, but a Harvey-like, beak out performance from Zack Wheeler and a healthy David Wright makes it doable.

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Every other year David Wright plays 150 games and this year he keeps the trend alive. If anything Granderson gives Wright some desperately needed protection in the lineup and the Mets offense excels. Even Ike Davis drills 30 long balls and hits over .250. They also have one of the more under the radar staffs led by Colon, Wheeler, and top prospect Noah Syndergaard.

David Wright

REAL TALK - I think the Mets made some upgrades to their outfield, but I don't know they built the roster with the needed balance to be successful. They have too make strikeouts, not a lot of guys that take walks, and a fragile pitching staff. They need a lot of players to stay healthy or take a step forward to contend in the National League East this season.

Breakout: Zack Wheeler (RHP) 

Bust: Jon Niese (LHP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Bobby Parnell (CL)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 74-88 (3rd in NL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 78-84 (3rd in NL East)

**Check back tomorrow for the Cleveland Indians*