New York Mets 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

With the MLB Baseball season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the baseball betting edge. Follow the best MLB Baseball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the MLB in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2011 MLB Season Previews here.

A disastrous season on and off the field led to a complete overhaul in Queens, with GM Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins looking to restore this franchise.

New York Mets 2010 MLB Record: 79-83
New York Mets 2010 MLB Home Record: 47-34
New York Mets 2010 MLB Away Record: 32-49

New York Mets 2011 Betting

New York Mets Odds to Win the National League: +3000
New York Mets Odds to Win the World Series: +6000

New York Mets 2011 Preview & Prediction

In previous offseasons, the Mets have tried hard to buy respectability, showering long-term deals on imports with an eye on short-term gain. Because of injuries (Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay), underperformance (Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo) or off-field problems (Francisco Rodriguez), those disastrous deals have severely restricted the Mets’ flexibility. New GM Sandy Alderson was an inspired hire, but to really start over, he needs time to get out from under those deals while integrating low-cost talent.

New York Mets Manager: Terry Collins – First year (seventh overall) Record: 444-434

The former Astros and Angels manager hasn’t skippered a big-league team since 1999, but his styleaggressive, demanding accountability shouldn’t change.

New York Mets 2011 Projected Batting Order: SS Jose Reyes (S), CF Angel Pagan (S), RF Carlos Beltran (S), 3B David Wright (R), 1B Ike Davis (L), LF Jason Bay (R), 2B Daniel Murphy (L), C Josh Thole (L)

New York Mets 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Mike Pelfrey, RH R.A. Dickey, LH Jonathon Niese, RH Dillon Gee, LH Chris Capuano.

New York Mets 2011 Projected Closer: RH Francisco Rodriguez

2011 New York Mets Offense:

If this lineup could ever stay healthy, it would be one of the best in the NL. SS Jose Reyes is the table-setter who is also a triples machine with 77 since 2005. RF Angel Pagan will hit in the two-hole after leading the Mets with a.290 average and 37 steals last year. CF Carlos Beltran has missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries, but showed he can still produce with an excellent September (.321 BA, 5 HR, 13 RBI). 3B David Wright regained his power stroke last year (29 HR) and drove in 100 runs for the fifth time in six seasons. LF Jason Bay was one of the biggest fantasy busts with just six homers in 95 games before aconcussion ended his season in July. 1B Ike Davis will bat sixth and is ready to build on asolid rookie season (19 HR, 71 RBI, 73 R. 2B Luis Castillo, now 35, is on his last legs. There’s adecent chance that David Murphy, who missed all of last season, could be the Mets’ starting second baseman by June. Josh Thole and Ronny Paulino will split time behind the plate.

2011 New York Mets Rotation:

Johan Santana is still the ace of this staff, but he will likely miss at least the first two months of the season following shoulder surgery. He posted his sixth sub-3 ERA season and eighth straight 10-win campaign in 2010. Mike Pelfrey stood as tall as his 6-foot-7 frame last year with a team-high 15 wins and 20 quality starts. He dominated at home, going 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA. R.A. Dickey was a huge find in his first season with the Mets. The knuckleballer finished 7th in the NL in ERA (2.84). Like Pelfrey, he also loved pitching at Citi Field (7-3, 1.99 ERA, 1.09 WHIP). Jonathon Niese led the Mets in strikeouts (148) as a rookie, posting 14 games of 6+ K. The 24-year-old certainly tired down the stretch with a horrendous final seven outings (7.57 ERA and 1.96 WHIP). Dillon Gee, also 24, pitched well enough last year (2.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP in five starts) to earn aspot in the 2011 rotation. Pat Misch will likely fill in while Santana heals. He is 3-12 with a5.55 ERA in 24 career starts.

2011 New York Mets Bullpen:

Francisco Rodriguez is seemingly done with his legal problems after pleading guilty to beating up his girlfriend’s father. His thumb is also reportedly healed from that altercation. On the field, he is still an elite closer with 254 saves in 288 chances (88%) since 2005 and a career strikeout rate of 11.3 Kper nine innings. Bobby Parnell is the closer-in-waiting. The 26-year-old has always had electric stuff, but he hasn’t exhibited the control he did last year, allowing only eight walks in 41 appearances (35 IP). He is certainly worth stashing in keeper leagues and as a handcuff (fitting pun) for Rodriguez.

2011 New York Mets Middle Infield:

New manager Terry Collins made a point of calling Castillo to tell him he would have a chance to win back his job as the starting second baseman. Castillo, 35, is still a contact hitter, but almost all of his hits are singles, and he cannot run like he used to. More likely, the Mets will give the job to Daniel Murphy or defensive wiz Ruben Tejada, 21, who was overmatched at the plate last season. As a first baseman in 2009, Murphy hit .266 and led the team in homers with 12. But he missed all of last season with a knee injury, lost his job to Ike Davis and is a novice at second base. Shortstop presents much more clarity, where Jose Reyes — still only 27 years old — returns for his ninth season. As always, he is an igniter when healthy but an annual injury risk whose concentration can come and go. Collins will do his best to keep Reyes focused, and despite his decline the last two seasons, Reyes is still young enough to be considered in the latter stages of his prime.

2011 New York Mets Corners:

David Wright and Davis represent the best of the Mets — homegrown products the team can market for their production and personality. The two did combine for 299 strikeouts last season, though Wright’s total (161) was perhaps more troubling because it increases every season, while his walks have been decreasing. The good thing, though, is that Wright’s power returned after disappearing in the first season at Citi Field. Wright has excellent speed for a power hitter and remains a well-above-average fielder. Davis also measures as an outstanding fielder, with the best Ultimate Zone Rating of any National League first baseman last season, according to Fangraphs.com. And because the Mets delayed his promotion until three weeks into the regular season, they retain his rights for six more years through 2016.

2011 New York Mets Outfield:

The Mets got a pleasant surprise last season with the development of Angel Pagan, who led the team in stolen bases (37) and led all regulars in batting average (.290) while playing stellar center field. The switch-hitting Pagan made 88 starts in center, and with Beltran’s mobility limited after years of knee problems, Pagan figures to stay in center with Beltran making the transition to right. Beltran starts fresh with the new administration, but he is entering the last season of his contract, and the Mets will trade him in July if he is healthy and they are out of the race. Bay’s year was a nightmare even before a concussion ended his season in July. The Mets expect their high-priced left fielder to be fully ready for spring training, and they are desperate for him to be the power-hitting force he was for the Pirates and the Red Sox. Bay played better in the field than many statisticians expected, and if attitude and effort count for much, he will execute the offensive turnaround the team needs.

2011 New York Mets Catching:

Josh Thole did not convert to catching for any meaningful time until 2008, but since then he has emerged as the Mets’ catcher of the future. Thole made the most of his promotion in late June, hitting .277 with a .357 on-base percentage, though he hardly ever played against lefthanders. That’s fine, though, because the new backup catcher, veteran Ronny Paulino, mashed against lefties with a .358 average. Paulino started 84 games for the Marlins last season, so he is durable enough to handle a greater workload if Thole struggles.

2011 New York Mets Bench:

The Mets’ bench is certainly not a strength. But veteran Scott Hairston brings some professionalism, versatility and spark. The loser of the second base battle will have a backup role as well. But mostly, the bench figures to be occupied by low-ceiling prospects with a specific skill: Lucas Duda’s lefty power, Tejada’s glove, and so on.

New York Mets 2011 Season Predictions

The Mets, to put it bluntly, are a mess. New GM Sandy Alderson will eventually get this team back on track, but for now he’s too saddled with bad contracts to perform a complete overhaul. There are some nice pieces here, both young and old, but way too many injury risks and holes to think the Mets can contend in 2011. – We predict that the New York Mets will finish 72-90 & 5th in the NL East Division.

New York Mets 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 2nd NL East 97
2007: 2nd NL East 88
2008: 2nd NL East 89
2009: 4th NL East 70
2010: 4th NL East 79

Will the New York Mets will go all the way to the World Series? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy New York Mets betting at our feature sportsbooks. New York Mets Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of money placing informed, smart New York Mets bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.

Join BetUs.com Today and Bet on the New York Mets and receive up to 140% in CASH BONUSES!