New York Mets

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects | No. 16 | Deolis Guerra

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | April 17, 1989 (San Felix, Venezuela)

School | Not Available

Height | 6'5''

Weight | 200 lbs.

2009 Ranking | 12

Breakdown

Much has been made about the Mets' weak off-season movement.  Perhaps General Manager Omar Minaya and the rest of the Mets brass was a little hesitant to open their wallet too much?

But let’s play a little hypothetical here: What if the Mets are not as bad as everyone wants them to be in 2010?  What if Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez reach their potential and put up 10-15 wins each?

Metsblog made a post about the possibility of the Mets doing a Citi Field race, similar to the Presidents Race in Washington or the Sausage Race in Milwaukee.  I think since Citi Field was built with New York City in mind and the name of the park implies New York City, that it should have the entire city in mind.  After all the Mets represent New York baseball and all its history.

Most Mets fans have a love-hate relationship with their team. It's been said "No one hates the Mets more than Mets fans." 

There has been a lot of negative talk about Citi Field, and I feel as if the size of the field itself is taking away from the beauty of the actual ballpark. So let's try to evaluate Citi Field after its first year. Here are five thing the Mets did right, and five things the Mets did terribly wrong with Citi Field in 2009.

Rights

This is a Top 10 List of the greatest games the Mets have ever played in. The games range from the years 1969 - 2006. It's not the most impressive list in the world, but hey, it;s the Mets, not the Yankees. I put asterisks on all the games i attended. This list was meant to start arguments, not end them,

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Almost one full year.

That's how long it's been since Rick DiPietro has been on the ice in an NHL game for the Islanders, 364 days since a 5-4 loss in Phoenix. Now, rising from the ashes, DiPietro will try to win the Isles some games, while proving to the many doubters, that his pro career is far from over.

Hard to believe it's been that long, but as a Mets fan, I've become accustomed to seeing my team's top players out of action for longer than anyone expected (hello, Jose Reyes).

JOHN SICKLES of MINOR LEAGUE BALL has posted his view of the Mets Top 20 Prospects, which I will gladly share with you and make some comments on his choices. My comments will be in italics.

Top 20 New York Mets Prospects for 2010

David Wright had a very bizarre 2009 season for a few reasons, mainly his low HR and RBI numbers, his extremely high strikeout number, and his first stint on the disabled list.

In 2007 and 2008, Wright had 30 and 33 home runs, respectively, but he only had 10 in 2009.  He joined the 30-30 club in September of 2007 and had a career high HR total in 2008, but both years saw the Mets eliminated on the last day of the season.

Jason Bay is officially a Met. He passed his physical, had his press conference, and is now the new left fielder for the Amazin’s. He’ll essentially replace Carlos Delgado in the middle of the order (or will he? Please tell me Delgado will not be back; he needs to make his “clubhouse presence” present in another clubhouse).

Congratulations to the Mets. After all those other teams' offseason signings where Omar Minaya appeared to be sleeping (literally), the Mets finally made a move, signing former Pittsburgh Pirate and Boston Red Sock (is that the singular?), Jason Bay. 

Bay, 2004 Rookie of the Year in the National League, is a great player. A top-15 outfielder without a question, probably even top 10. 

But the Mets signed the wrong guy.