NY Mets Preview 

The New York Mets are a far cry from a safe bet as they have lost their supporters 54 units the past 4 years. You should look for ideal situations to profit on the Mets by betting against them, especially as a road favorite. They have started off hot out of the gates in 2006, but you can expect them to trail off slowly but surely. Because the Mets play in the big market of New York City they constantly get overvalued and this year should be much more of the same with all of the high expectations being placed on this team. You should look to pounce on opportunities when they get overvalued as a favorite on the road as they are a dismal 22-27 over the past 2 years as a road favorite. One exception to keep in mind might be if Pedro Martinez is toeing the mound as he gives the Mets a great chance to win every 5 games and he is off to an unbelievable 5-0 start this season. His big toe will be a concern for the team, as the season progresses, but it seems to be doing okay in the early going as the Mets have designed a special shoe to alleviate pain. The rest of the staff, future Hall-of-Fame candidate Tom Glavine included, isn’t consistent enough to even consider backing. The bullpen is improved this season from the inconsistency of last season. Braden Looper was sent packing and the team spent big money on bringing in Billy Wagner whose big fast ball should shut the door on teams if the Mets take a lead into the 9th.

The Mets need Carlos Beltran to perform in 2006. He looked nothing like the player he was in Kansas City and Houston in 2005 as he totaled just 16 homeruns and batted only .266. The Mets will need another MVP caliber season out of Beltran if they hope to finish better than just 2 games out of last place in the NL East. He should get some help putting runs across the plate from the new addition of Carlos Delgado at first. He is Mr. Consistent when it comes to hitting for a high average and for power. David Wright is a growing force at 3rd base and should be a highlight for this Mets ball club for many years to come.

We like the Braves in the NL East to capture yet another title this season because they show a little better value than the Mets do. The book makers have this New York team just behind their cross town neighbors when it comes to odds to win the World Series. While we think they are a fairly solid team, another Subway Series is far-fetched. We might sound down on the Mets as far as betting futures and on a daily basis, but value means everything when it comes to baseball and if the public is going to generate so much buzz when it comes to the Mets, you are going to have to look to go against them more than taking them this season. Don’t fall into the same trap many Baltimore Orioles backers fell into last season if the Mets start trailing off.
 

2006 Baseball Previews

 

Free MLB Picks by Jimmy Boyd