Read: Mets Good Bet To Win East

by Mike Nichols on July 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am

In his latest column for the Daily News, John Harper writes the Mets are a good bet to win the National League East.

Despite Billy Wagner becoming harder to trust, Harper believes the Mets starting pitching will carry the team to a division crown, but getting to the World Series is questionable, writing:

“Can they survive Wagner’s penchant for blowing big ones in what looms now as a tight race with the Phillies for the NL East?

I’m saying yes, and even after all the tumult that defined the Mets’ first half of the season, I’m staying with my preseason pick for this team to win the East. Staying with them to reach the World Series is quite another matter, especially since CC Sabathia and Rich Harden have landed with the Brewers and Cubs, respectively, but if the Mets get to October, their pitching gives them a chance.”

…i’m not as worried about wags as most…every closer goes through a rough period throughout the season, and wagner is no different…

…as harper noted, wagner does have the habit of going on a streak of clean saves and the blowing one in a big spot, but having a closer like that does not prevent teams from winning…see the 1996 Yankees with John Wetteland and the 2003 Marlins with Ugueth Urbina…the problem is the Mets will have to rely on wagner to close out games, because frankly i don’t trust anyone else in the Mets bullpen to do so…

For more on Wagner, check out Ben Shpigel’s column in the New York Times.

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