Let The Games Begin!

Now that the season has officially started, bridling the hysteria of every fan who believes their team’s finish can be gauged by their start becomes the more difficult task.  If you’ve done well in game 1, you’re sure to win your division.  Lose by a run and you might as well start shopping for football jerseys.

Sports media feeds the fire – hey, that’s what they’re there for – as fans begin the annual ritualistic analysis that runs from the rational to the ridiculous.  But a quick look back just one year to one city should give everyone reason to pause.  If you’re worried, relax.  If you’re jubilant, well…

The New York Mets began 2009 with plenty of promise, lots of fuel in the tank, and every hope and belief that the team would finally be able to right the wrongs of the past 3 seasons.  Countless doctor visits and only 70 wins later, the only thing they seemed capable of was wearing a hospital gown.  Contrast that with the Yankees: Early on, the Bombers looked mediocre at best.  In the end, the dominant victors.

So with one game under their belts – a win for the Mets, a loss for the Yankees – all we can do is be happy for what the start of the season really is: Nothing but a start to a 6 month journey.  None of what’s going on today should give anyone reason to look into the future thinking they have an ounce of understanding of what the future will hold.

So here are my predictions:

- The Mets will win 84 games

- David Wright will hit more than 30 HRs

- Jose Reyes will return and lead the NL in triples

- Oliver Perez will not win 10 games

- Jonathan Niese will win more than 10 games

- John Maine will not make it to the 7th inning more than 5 times

- Ike Davis will be platooning at 1st base by June 15th

- Jenrry Mejia will show himself to be ready for the major league

- Ruben Tejada will not

- Omar Minaya will end the season as GM

And finally, as long as no one in their right mind should be making any predictions at all:  Carlos Beltran will be traded before the end of the season.

We’ll see…