I would just like to point out, once again, that Rob has subtlety changed his argument here. No one is anointing this team an automatic postseason berth. I could very easily imagine a year in which the Mets win 90+ but still lose out to the defending World Champs. What I can’t fathom, and what started this whole debate, is the idea that the Mets haven’t improved their team, whereas the Braves somehow are poised to leapfrog the Mets in the standings. That is the argument that I think is a bit senseless, Rob. You can scream all you want about the Mets being awful and a lock to miss the postseason. We’ll see. However, if the Mets are once again left on the outside of the playoff picture come next October, it does not vindicate your point unless they literally prove to be a third-place team. That is the point I’m taking issue with and that is the argument that’s at stake.

I read what you wrote about Heilman, and it does not make sense in terms of your argument. You say “Losing him is a bad thing,” then admit that he was terrible last year. If we are comparing this year’s bullpen with last year’s bullpen, there is absolutely no way you can say that adding Putz over Heilman and K-rod over an injured Wagner does not improve the bullpen immensely.

The reason you come off as a “hater” is that in every opportunity to give the Mets any benefit of doubt, you do not. There is reason to believe that Duaner Sanchez (he may regain his velocity, he may not) and Pedro Feliciano (coming off the worst season of his career) could be better. But in your eyes, you do not see them. That is fine, just don’t consider yourself unbiased because you are not.

(P.S. Although I 100% disagree with your views, I respect the fact that you replied.)

And the Mets bullpen sucked last year even when Wagner was healthy. So obviously having KRod all year makes them better, but my point is they aren’t as improved as all Mets fans are giving them credit for.

I’m done with all of this, I just felt like I had to stick up for myself a little. This Mets team is terrible. I guarantee that unless they make some moves here in the final 17 days before pitchers and catchers, this team will not be a playoff team. Redding is just as bad as any AAA starters they could possibly call up. Freddy Garcia doesn’t make the rotation any better either. He was injuried in winter ball this just about a month and a half ago, so he’s not over his injuries.

It’s so silly that you guys think I’m totally wrong. It just seems crazy to think that you guys have your hopes up over a team with Tatis in left and a rotation with Santana followed by Pelfrey, Maine, Redding and Garcia, with Neise next in line. Even if they did get Perez that’s still a weak rotation.

Yes, you are missing something- that is not up for debate.

Your arguments cannot be taken seriously when you leave out key facts, such as Wagner being injured/out for half of last year. You think Wagner for half a season is better than K-rod? A healthy Wagner would have equaled the Mets winning the NL East last year, based on the amount of 9th inning blown saves.

Heilman was good last year? I should have stopped reading your argument right here.

Redding makes the team worse? Please explain how(assuming they sign another starter) Redding will be worse than the parade of AAA players they had starting for them last year, such as Nelson Figueroa, Brandon Knight and Brian Stokes. Even if he is just as bad as all of them, it won’t be any worse. He may not even win a spot in the rotation, if Freddie Garcia (who your Yankees were trying to sign) can stay healthy.

I don’t know enough about you to comment on your mental state, but your arguments are seriously lacking any intelligence.

Also, the Mets did not sign Redding to be their 4. He is their 5th-6th pitcher. But I will root for Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, and someone else. Have fun pounding beers with Joba. Because you must be black out drunk with some of the “points” you have made in this thread. The Phillies just won a World Series with Chris Coste and Pedro Feliz in their lineup. I’m sure the Mets can scratch some runs out. Comments like that remind me of the loser Yankee fans who come to Shea Stadium to root against the Mets. Worry about your own third place team.

But their bullpen has not become a strength of theirs. Wagner is better than Rodriguez. Same ERA and BAA, Wagner has a better WHIP and Wagner isn’t losing velocity like Joba is pounding beers. Getting KRod has not been an improvement.

Mets fans should stop assuming that they’ve already signed Perez or Sheets or both. They also have to understand their bullpen is only slightly better. Also a SS, 3B, CF, and RF do not a lineup make. Have fun rooting for Redding.

The bullpen isn’t that much better.
Heilman is gone, he had leg injuries last year, but he was a good reliever. Losing him is a bad thing. They added Putz to make up for that. Putz is better so the bullpen is better.
Wagner is gone this year. They got Rodriguez to replace him, Rodriguez is good, overrated but good. Wagner was better. So they got worse.
They also lost Joe Smith, who wasn’t great, but certainly was serviceable, they got worse.
There is no realistic reason to believe Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez are going to be better.
They lost Scott Schoeneweis, who was terrible or good, depends on who you talk to.

I must be missing something here because the two of you are so sure that this bullpen is way better. To me this bullpen is about the same, maybe slightly better.

But the Mets are clearly better than they were last year. Yes, they have issues at 2B, a declining Delgado at 1B, but their bullpen was what cost them last year. If the bullpen was able to close half the games they blew, the Phillies would have never made the playoffs.

Heilman is gone, but Duaner Sanchez (hopefully a bit more healthy), Pedro Feliciano, J.J. Putz, and K-Rod is a complete upgrade from the cast of characters that were pitching last year with leads.

They have holes (corner OF, 2B, Ollie Perez situation, adding another starter), but they will be better than last year and their management will add the pieces that need to be addressed.

And this is coming from a Yankee fan.

Who knows, Gozer might be playing 2B