Friday
Mets at Marlins
7:30 p.m., WPIX-11
Before asking yourself if the Mets can contend, remember this: On May 28 of last year, the Marlins’ record was 25-29.
Now do you think the Mets might have a chance in 2004?
“I think anything is possible in baseball these days,” Met radiocaster Gary Cohen said. “I think you have seen that the last couple of years.”
Besides the World Series champion Marlins, Cohen points to the 2002 Angels and the “unpredictable fashion” teams come together these days.
“This [Met] team, in terms of being an elite team, certainly has a long way to go,” Cohen said. “In terms of being able to contend, with the number of spots available, the length of the season and the unpredictable nature, the right team coming together at the right team, anything is possible.”
Or maybe not. ESPN analyst, David Campbell doesn’t like the Mets’ chances.
“I think that would be a stretch,” Campbell said. “Stranger things have happened. Do they have a chance be 10 games out or less going into September? Maybe.”
Campbell thinks the Phillies and Marlins are too talented for the Mets to be considered serious contenders.
In the end, the most important person on the team might not be Mike Piazza, but instead Andrew Rokito, the team doctor. Jose Reyes, Cliff Floyd and Al Leiter must stay healthy, while Mike Cameron needs to play through his pain.
“I think the biggest difference is the team’s health,” Cohen said. “They haven’t been whole in a year and a half. They have a lot of good parts in place. But you look at what has happened already this season. They missed Cliff Floyd for a month. Cameron has been playing with what looks like is going to be a chronic injury to his finger, Leiter going down in spring training and now going down again. If you look at the age on these players, it makes you wonder if they can hold up over the long haul.
“If they can stay healthy over the course of the year and keep Reyes healthy and keep Floyd healthy and keep Leiter healthy and get the most that they can out of Cameron, there is no telling how good this team could be.”