Adam Rubin, blogger and Mets beat writer for the Daily News, was kind enough to share with me his thoughts about the upcoming season. Adam is also the author of Pedro, Carlos and Omar,
published last year, and recently re-released in
paperbook updated to include Carlos Delgado and highlights
from the Division Championship.

To purchase a copy of Pedro, Carlos (and Carlos) and Omar, go to Amazon or your local book store.

Adam, if you were to pick one pitcher fighting for a shot in the Mets starting rotation who would it be and why?

You would have to assume there's little question with the top four — Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, Oliver Perez and John Maine — unless something arises injury-wise. So it would have to be a fifth-starter contender. Certainly the addition of Chan Ho Park changes the dynamic, and I suppose you'd have to install him as the favorite, though I really think Mets brass wants Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber to grab the role this spring. Aaron Sele, Pelfrey, Humber and Jason Vargas would probably form the Triple-A rotation with Alay Soler or Adam Bostick if Park or Jorge Sosa is the fifth starter.

Besides the rotation, what do you think the biggest question mark on the team is?

Every team says it needs to stay healthy, but the second-biggest question mark in my mind behind the starting pitching is whether the Mets' age catches up with them. Jose Valentin is 37. Damion Easley is 37. Moises Alou is 40. Glavine and El Duque are 41 or so.

What team do you think will give the Mets the most competition in the NL East this year?

You would definitely figure the Phillies. Their rotation isn't overly imposing, but if they don't trade Jon Lieber, it's six deep. And with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley amoung others, they can score runs, too. I don't see the Braves as a major factor despite an upgraded bullpen, and you'd assume most publications would pick the Mets to win the division, but Philadelphia or Florida could conceivably emerge. I think it's fairly safe to pick the Nationals last — without a repeat of last year's Marlins taking place — though I wouldn't mind Manny Acta getting manager of the year, like Joe Girardi did last year.

Who do you think will be a bigger impact offensively for the Mets next year, Jose Reyes or David Wright?

Obviously the Mets would take a big hit without either one, but Reyes is the catalyst in the eyes of the players in the clubhouse. You saw when Reyes missed time around the All-Star break in 2006 how the lineup's dynamic changed. Then again, who's playing third if Wright goes down … Easley or David Newhan? Julio Franco took some ground balls there last year.

If the Mets rotation falters in the first half, what pitchers could you see Omar targeting at the trade deadline?

I haven't studied what pitchers are free-agents-to-be after the 2007 season. I don't see the Cubs trading Carlos Zambrano, even if he hasn't signed an extension by then. I think contending teams are going to have a difficult time securing frontline starters via trades at the deadline. With Major League Baseball doing so well financially, teams are able to lock up their own players rather than have to deal them because of looming free agency after the season. For instance, the Reds just signed Bronson Arroyo to a contract extension, even though he still had time left on his current deal. And the Mets seem adamant about not trading Pelfrey, Humber, Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez. We'll see if Lastings Milledge can rehabilitate his value. Maybe the Mets can try packaging Aaron Heilman and Milledge again in the right situation.

Do you think any of Omar's offseason acquisitions could have a surprisingly big impact, like Maine, Valentin and Endy Chavez had last season?

My gut feeling is outfielder Ben Johnson, though having lunch with Mets officials this week I got the distinct impression he may not even be on the Opening Day roster. It seems like Newhan has the upper hand for the final bench spot going into camp, because the Mets can use Newhan as a lefty pinch hitter and he can play infield and outfield. True, the Mets have Endy Chavez, but burning him as a pinch hitter in the fifth, sixth or seventh innings prevents Willie Randolph from using him as a defensive replacement later in games. Shawn Green is a good guy, so you'd hope he'll succeed, but I can foresee his playing time eroding as the year goes on.