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Letters to the NL East, part 4

Letters to the NL East, Part 4 of 5

Dear Jimmy Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies,

Cole Hamels! That’s your biggest pitcher, a pitcher whose stats matched up well with our third starter, John Maine. I’d be willing to put money on Maine having a better year than Hamels this year, and you just can’t win when another team in your division absolutely dominates you in pitching quality like that. I heard bartenders in Philadelphia did great business the day Johan Santana signed with the Mets, and I expect once the season starts they’ll be there to help your fans drown their sorrows again.

Your biggest hope is that Brett Myers can manage to pitch well in the rotation, and that Brad Lidge figures out how to close again. I wouldn’t hold my breath on either one, especially in that park. Even if both happen, all it means is that you’ll stick around a couple of weeks longer before the Mets put you away. And make no mistake, they will be looking for blood this year.

You’ve opened a can of worms Jimmy Rollins, and helped to start this little rivalry we have going recently. It has the possibility of being an awesome competition, one that could rival even the Red Sox and Yankees, if you can hold up your end of the bargain. I doubt you’re going to have as good a year as last year Jimmy so that means someone else is going to have to step up. This rivalry will quickly become a one night stand by July otherwise.

Your new rival,

Optimistic Mets Fan

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Letters to the NL East, part 3

Letters to the NL East, Part 3 of 5

Dear Atlanta Braves,

I know Omar has a problem with not trusting young guys, the recent Gotay/Tatis situation shows that, but in Atlanta the problem is probably the crux of the season. Your rotation is old. Glavine was very hit or miss last year, and we all know which side of the fence he was on on the last day of the season. He’s not going to get better, or healthier. The same thing could be said about Smoltz, who while slightly younger, is still old. He also is already having health issues at the beginning of this season, and while he says he feels good and is on track to start April 6th, how will he feel on August 6th? You traded your young catcher for Teixeira at first, who might not even play 200 games for the team. Hudson is 33 this year, and probably your most reliable starter, Hampton is going to be 36 and he can’t stay healthy as it is.

Granted, you do have some young players, particularly position players, but we all know it’s pitching that wins. You don’t have Leo Mazzone as a pitching coach anymore, and your rotation is a mixture of age and brittleness. It won’t last all season, and you’re going to find too many games pitched by 6th, 7th and 8th starters. On top of that, many of these guys aren’t going to be able to make it deep in games, which is going to stress and tire a bullpen that isn’t that great.

You’ll have some good stretches where things are clicking, pitchers are healthy, and everything is coming up roses. However, by the end of the season the biggest thing you’ll be striving for is if you can beat out Philadelphia for second place.

Your longtime enemy,

Optimistic Mets Fan

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Letters to the NL East, part 1

Letters to the NL East, Part 1 oletf 5

Dear Florida Marlins,

I don’t have much to say to you, except shame on you! I can’t take you seriously or give you any respect, even for your two World Championships, while you still are so obviously profiting off your team. Between licensing money and luxury tax money, you could probably pay all your ushers the same as the players and still make money. When Babe Ruth hit more home runs than some teams, it was a great thing for baseball. When Alex Rodriguez makes more money than your entire roster, it’s not a good thing. I understand you have complaints about getting a new stadium, but that doesn’t excuse your AAA behavior. Your team was laughed at in attendance figures last year, including that one game where people had whole sections to themselves.

I understand Hanley Ramirez doesn’t like the Mets, and there was that whole bench clearing incident on the final Saturday of the season last year, but I just can’t be bothered to think about your team. You’re so bad, that the media and fans will give the Mets less credit for having a good season just because they play you 19 times. So here’s my advice: Sign some players, get some fans, and come back up the the majors when you’re ready.

Your dismissive rival,

Optimistic Mets Fan

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Letters to the NL East, part 0

Part 0 of the 5 park series, “Letters to the NL East”

Letter to Hank Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees.

Dear Yankees,

We get it, you’ve won a lot. Guess what? You haven’t won a lot recently. You’ve lost four consecutive playoff series, and the first in historic fashion. You haven’t made a significant acquisition during that stretch, and you didn’t this year either. You’re biggest claim in the offseason was retaining the guys you had, but the guys you had didn’t get you anywhere.

Joba and Ian and Phil are gods? Well, we’ll see. I’m sure you don’t need anyone to tell you about Generation K, or that less than 10% of top prospects succeed in the majors. Hughes and Chamberlain have already had some success, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be successful over a full season. Pettite’s only older and it’s unlikely Wang wins more than the 19 games he won last year.

Hank, you are a fiery guy who is always commenting on something. The new manager, Girardi, is also a fiery guy. I’m looking forward to the stories when you two bump heads during a tough patch down the road. Is this Steinbrenner v. Martin part two? Have you ever noticed how the biggest Yankee stories seem to be about non-baseball stuff? That’s not a good thing.

Enjoy being the second team in New York this year, the buzz is all here in Queens.

Your Anti-Fan,

Optimistic Mets Fan

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Letters to the NL East

Baseball starts soon, and that means I’ll probably start updating with a little more regularity once there is actual content. For now I’m planning a 6 part series of “Letters to the NL East” which I’m envisioning as a sort of rally cry/smack talk analysis of what I think of those teams.

the 6th team being the Yankees, as they are close enough to warrant a little attention.

Letters to the NL East: Yankees

Letters to the NL East: Nationals

Letters to the NL East: Marlins

Letters to the NL East: Braves

Letters to the NL East: Phllies

Letters to the NL East: Mets