2006 New York Mets Predictions & Season Preview
June 5, 2008
When you start making 2006 New York Mets predictions remember that they have lost their supporters 54 units over the past 4 years. We need to look for the right spots to bet against the Mets in 2006, especially as a road favorite. Because the Mets are a big market team playing in New York City, they consistently get overvalued by Vegas 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 jump 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. We’ll have several opportunities this season to cash in on dogs by betting against the Mets in this situation. 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 is a question and it‘s condition could worsen as the season forges on, but he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of pain in the early going. The rest of the staff, including Tom Glavine, isn’t consistent enough to even consider backing. The bullpen is improved this season and lends me to believe that because of it the Mets will be an improved team. If the Mets can keep their big money man, Billy Wagner, in town for the rest of his career, he’ll be putting the finishing touches on games for many years to come.
The Mets are going to need Carlos Beltran to perform much better this season. He looked nothing like the player that New York spent big money to bring in in 2005. 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 driving in runs from Carlos Delgado, who packs a lot of power. He has been very consistent throughout his career when it comes to hitting for a high average and for power. David Wright is a great prospect on the hot corner and should be a highlight for this Mets ball club for many years to come.
We like the Braves to once again finish in the top spot in the National League East. The book makers have this New York team just behind their cross town neighbors when it comes to odds to win the World Series. But to me, another subway series is more than a long shot. 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, which has been their pattern in the past.
