By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

To wear any cap with an interlocking "NY" on the bill is the equivalent of painting a big, fat target on your back. Every other team guns for you, their reticles lined right up for that space directly above the visor. And right now in the National League, the Mets have the biggest target of all. Last year, the Amazin's were the darlings of the division, handily winning the NL East and coming within a few outs of going to the World Series.  I don't know about you, but I certainly don't feel the same buzz or mystique surrounding the team this year. Winning will sometimes do that to you.

 

The Braves and Phillies haven't exactly rolled over for the Mets as they did last year, and neither have many other NL teams, especially in the West. The same cannot be said for the Mets' starting rotation, or their bullpen after Oliver Perez went on the DL with a back injury. And for those who harp on the eventual return of Pedro Martinez, at this point I expect him to be more like the Mets version of Roger Clemens than the Pedro of old.

 

Most everyone expects any and all trades to come from the White Sox, who are rivaling the great Chicago fire of 1871 with how fast they are dealing their free agents-to-be. Lefty pitcher Mark Buehrle and Jermaine Dye are the top guys on the block, but why would the Mets want to dangle Lastings Miledge for either of them when they'll be free-agents next year anyway? Why would anyone take that kind of a deal when next year you'd have to pay them even more money and you've lost a player in the process as well?

 

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!