February 19th, what a glorious day!  It is cold as hell up here in NYC, but it is warm and sunny on the fields of Port St. Lucie.  The 2009 season is here, after a kinda quiet hot stove season, the boys are back.  In the past I've talked about what my keys to the season are and my thoughts on the upcoming spring training.  I guess I am going to be bit more plain this year and just say that the 2009 Mets need to play hard, inspired, tough, team baseball. 

- RISP is key this year.  I am still haunted by the Cubs game in September when D. Wright was left stranded at 3rd. 
- Daniel Murphy in my opinion is the key to this team, I think the young fella is going to be one hell of a ball player, he can bring the young, fighting, hard nosed work ethic to the Mets and others will follow.  Even though he is young, he will lead by example.
- Castillo, you are killing me! It can not be much worse than last year, if he can get past the early season booing, I expect a bounce back season.  The fact he pleaded his case to management to stay here means a lot to me, and I think when it is all said and done we will be lucky to have Castillo on this team.
- John Maine will be key to the success of this team.  If he is healthy and we get similar numbers from big Pelf and a stronger year from Ollie, we will pick up 8-10 wins over last years squad.
- The pen has been fixed, end of story.

Finally, in Jerry we trust.  He will be key to pushing the right buttons, playing the correct match-ups and implementing confidence and team into a clubhouse that has been divided and too individual in past years.  We have a manager that is seasoned, unlike Willie.  He knows how to manage and I believe he will the main reason the Mets have success in 2009.

The 2009 baseball season, welcome.  As in years past I am ready for the crazy ride we are about to go on. 

Let's Go Mets!