NL East Question #4

2011 MLB Season Preview

Biggest questions in the NL East:

4. Will K-Rod be the Mets closer at the end of 2011?

Francisco Rodriguez had one of the most bizarre endings to a major league season ever in 2010. K-Rod was suspended at the end of the season by the Mets following a locker-room altercation with the father of his girlfriend. Jerry Springer would be so proud.

The Mets have a lot of questions surrounding them in 2011, but the biggest one in my mind is whether or not K-Rod can bounce back and be one of the best closers in baseball again. After Rodriguez set a major league record by recording 62 saves in 2008 for the Angels, the Mets signed the closer to a huge contract. However, in two seasons with the Mets, Rodriguez hasn’t been able to duplicate those numbers. In fact, K Rod has only 60 saves in his two seasons with the Mets. At only 29 years old, it’s hard to believe that people think his better days might be behind him, but that is what people are saying.

Rodriguez has never been the toughest mental player on the field. While with the Angels, he actually misplayed a ball being thrown back to him from the catcher following a pitch, which allowed the game winning run to score in the bottom of the 9th. While playing with the Mets, Rodriguez fell apart completely in the 9th after the would-be last out of the game was turned into an error by his second basemen. The embarrassment of last year added to a drop off in his play, will make the Mets consider parting ways with Rodriguez following this season.

The Mets have offense questions after Carlos Beltran has missed significant time over the past two seasons. David Wright’s power numbers aren’t developing in Citi Field. And Johan Santana is going to be out until at least June. If the Mets can get Rodriguez the lead at the end of games he will do a good job for him in 2011, however, I don’t think the team as a whole will perform up to the standard set by the Braves and the Phillies.

My guess, at this point, is that nothing will go right for the Mets in 2011, so I’m going to bet on another soap opera with K-Rod in 2011, after which the Mets will say “see you later” to their troubled closer.

24 Days until Opening Day!
Check back for question #3 tomorrow!