It is the first six games of the season! I am actually encouraged to some extent that the starting pitching has not gotten bombed, it has been good enough to keep them in games. Additionally, the bullpen has been relatively solid. This lineup is too good not to hit well eventually, and Reyes is already back. Mike Jacobs might not cut it, but first base is not a difficult position to fill. There are two other candidates in the Mets' organization itself: Ike Davis and the current DL resident Daniel Murphy.
Also, Francoeur is on fire with the bat right now and his approach at the plate is great. I think he is going to have a big year, and can make the Mets lineup incredible if and when Beltran returns. No one gives Omar credit when he makes a good trade, they only bash him for the bad moves. Now, Omar has made some insanely bad moves (that Castillo deal is mind boggling), but he has made some really good ones too.
Finally, not to bash the Braves, but they have only one more win than the Mets and have looked much worse. They already had their bullpen blow a couple games, Troy Glaus looks horrible when hitting, Jurrjens got lit up today worse than any Mets pitcher so far, and Lowe does not look like he will rebound this season (in my opinion he is a worse signing than Oliver Perez right now, yet I have heard few criticisms of the Braves' GM who also traded away Vasquez for a song named Melky). While the Nationals are pretty bad, they have at least three legitimate proven hitters, the Padres have ONE. Yet I don't see articles on ESPN about how much Tim Hudson must wish he had signed with a different team or how Bobby Cox might not have the hitting OR the pitching to lead the team to the playoffs in his last year managing.
Again, I think the Braves will be better this season too, but I am making a point about how quick both Mets fans and non-Mets fans are to get down on the Mets and how unreasonably non-Braves fans are willing to over look that team's flaws.
If after a month the Mets are 5-15, then we can start sounding the warning signals, but right now let's give this team just the slightest bit of leeway. For now I am distributing some propaganda to get the Mets fans out there back in a better frame of mind.
PS: Cole Hamels has been no better than the Mets' non-Santana starters either.
PPS: If anyone has any Ike Davis cards for trade, send me an email.
