Let 2006 Go

Wendy Adair

When the Mets 2006 season ended with Game 7 of the NLCS, many felt that the team would bounce back and be a force the next several years.   The core of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright were going to lead the team to great things, fans were excited for the future.

Everyone knows what happened after that: 2007- September collapse, 2008- more of the same, 2009-not even a chance for postseason after May, 2010-season over before All Star Break, 2011-season over in August.

Carlos Delgado retired, Carlos Beltran is now a St Louis Cardinal and Jose Reyes is now a Miami Marlin, the only member of the 2006 team instrumental during that season is David Wright.  Mike Pelfrey was on the 2006 team but with only a handful of starts, it’s difficult to put him in the same category as the others.  Wright does have an enormous burden on his shoulders because he is expected to bounce back from a disappointing, injury filled 2011, in which he missed two months due to a stress fracture in his lower back.

Another thing that will be an interesting story in 2012 is how the Mets handle David Wright’s contract – will he be traded mid-season after a successful first half? Will he be extended so that his contract is not a distraction for him or his teammates?

Pitchers and catchers are reporting to Spring Training next month and as usual, all eyes will be on the new acquisitions from the first sighting.  I am not going to get into the whole financial situation, plenty written about that in recent months.  However there will not be as many new faces in Port St Lucie as many fans would hope to be the case.

As of now, the starting rotation of 2012 is filled with question marks; here are the projected starters:

1)    Johan Santana – Shoulder a question mark after surgery?

2)    Mike Pelfrey – Will not being the “Ace” help or hurt him?

3)    RA Dickey – How will the knuckleballer handle another long season?

4)    Jon Niese – Does he have the durability to be a mainstay in this rotation?

5)    Dillon Gee- Will he prove that he belongs in the Major Leagues for a full season?

I love my team and will root for them no matter what, but if fans keep comparing this group to the 2006 team, they are setting themselves up for disappointment.   That was a long time ago and the players are different, so the expectations need to also be changed in 2012.