Mets Season Preview: Final record predictions

Apr 9, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Mets center fielder Juan Lagares (12) makes a catch against Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (not shown) during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Cassandra Negley, Staff Writer:

The New York Mets won’t continue this nasty streak of losing seasons. But I’m cautious to say they’ll make the playoffs. My glass is always half empty; It’s never half full.

Pitching is obviously a large strength and ideally the lineup plates some runs to win more games. But that’s not even close to being a guarantee. It’s so very iffy that the offense gets it together. If it does, though, watch out because Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Co. are not going to give opponents much help in the scoring department.

So much of winning is about the other teams and this division belongs to the Washington Nationals for another year, barring any catastrophe or a miracle Mets ’15 edition. The Nationals have an even better rotation than the Mets. They’ll win more games and they’ll have an easier time shutting the Mets’ offense down than the Mets will have trying to do it to the Nats offense.

The Miami Marlins are going to be the ones fighting with the Mets for second positioning. The Phillies, eh, and the Braves? Good gosh, get ready for a really Mets-y season Georgia neighbors.
That will help boost the Mets record, but again, I’m glass-half-empty by nature. I’ll put the Mets in late contention for a playoff spot, but doubt they’ll come through.

Final record: 86-76 (3rd in N.L. East), miss playoffs

Next: Mollie Galchus' Mets final record prediction