We've even got players making Jimmy Rollins-like guarantees. Carlos Beltran, over the weekend, on the Mets' chances this year in light of the Santana deal:
“With him, I have no doubt we’re going to win our division. I have no doubt about that…So, this year, tell Jimmy Rollins we are the team to beat.” (metsblog)
I'm not sure if Beltran, normally a quiet, just-goes-about-his-business type, wanted to stir up some controversy or was just trying to sound cool. But here's Endy Chavez, in the New York Post yesterday:
The Mets' recent trade for ace left-hander Johan Santana is "a guarantee for us to make the playoffs," Chavez excitedly told The Post yesterday after reporting to camp early. (NYP)
If you read the entire article, it sounds less like Endy wanted to send anyone a message, and more like he's just excited about the Mets' having a great pitcher on their staff. Endy seems like he's more Carlos Beltran than Jose Reyes, and fourth outfielders - even legendary fourth outfielders - don't usually make these sorts of predictions. Here's the rest of his quote:
"[Even] if he has a bad year, we're going to get 15 wins out of it," the backup outfielder added. "I mean, he's unbelievable. If he stays healthy, we're going to be in for a great season."
Two things at work here. Number one: aghhhhhhh. After we were doomed in 2007 by complacency and over-confidence, the last thing we need right now is anything that will breed more complacency and over-confidence. We should be confident - we just added the best pitcher in baseball to an already solid roster. And we need to regain some of the '06 swagger that was lost last year. But this confidence needs to be of the quiet, "we're going to beat you and we know it but we're not going to say anything about it" sort, as opposed to the "we're going to beat you and we know it so we're going to broadcast it and end up looking stupid in the end" sort.
Secondly, I'm a little concerned that the Mets' players might be expecting a little bit too much from Santana. Not that he's not likely to win at least 15 games - especially in the National League. But the rest of the Mets cannot let themselves see him as some all-powerful, messianic savior, similar to the kid in CYO basketball who scores all the points.
Johan Santana is an awesome acquisition, obviously; and the Mets definitely know that having a bona fide ace at the top of the rotation is going to be huge this year. But our team and fanbase also need to remember that 25 players win games, series, divisions, and championships, and that Santana is just a piece of the greater puzzle.
Especially after being supremely cut down to size just four months ago, I trust the Mets to stay grounded and not get too far ahead of themselves. Then again, I trusted the Mets to rise above mediocrity for about four months last season and it never happened. This year, though, the last thing anyone wants is another colossal embarrassment. Here's Carlos Delgado, he of the "sometimes I just think we get a little bored" comments at the end of last season:
"You can talk all you want, you can say all you want, but at the end of the day, all that matters is what happens between the two white lines," Delgado said. "I think the addition of Santana is a big key for us. I think we got the best team. It's just a matter of going out there and executing." (newsday)
It's fine to think you're the best, but you have to go out and back it up on the field. The Mets have the right attitude going into Spring Training. Fulfilling this season's potential will be about maintaining proper focus and discipline, and if Willie Randolph is good for anything he should be able to help foster the right approaches to taking back the National League East. The Mets know that they're in solid position to be a juggernaut this season, but for this to happen they also must understand the importance of keeping both feet on the ground.
(Picture courtesy nytimes.com)
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