Taking Aim...

Earlier this week, I optimistically talked about the 2010 Mets taking shape as a group of hard-nosed underdogs getting ready to upset things in the National League. And that means taking aim at the reigning kings of the NL -- our old pals the Philthies.

Since 2007, the Phillies have been the class of the National League, making two consecutive World Series appearances and winning one of them. It was painful to experience as a Mets fan, but it's motivated me to cheer harder and hope the Phillies can start to experience some of the things we've experienced over the past half decade.

The heartache of the 2006 NLCS... the Tom Glavine disaster of 2007... the horror of the 2008 collapse and the tearful closing of Shea Stadium... the injury-plagued 2009 campaign... All the while things were bad for us, they got better for the Phillies. It's about time fortunes are reversed.

After being almost totally healthy for 3 straight years, perhaps it's time for the Phillies (aka the Phuckins) to get bit by the injury bug? How much mileage is on Roy Halladay's arm? How are Raul Ibañez's 37-year old legs? How will Jimmy Rollins fare when a fly gets stuck between the gap in his two front teeth?

All kidding aside, if things start going south for the Phillies, it's the Mets who can benefit. If the Mets can stay healthy, they have a legitimate shot to stay on the Phillies' heels in 2010. I'm not saying the Mets are going to win the NL East in 2010. I still believe the Phillies will win the division this year. But we can pressure them all year long by winning the Wild Card.

What's more, the Phillies have some very difficult decisions to make in the next 2 years. Jayson Werth, who may be the most talented player on the Phillies, will be a free agent in 2011. He'll command a very big contract, and because Ryan Howard will be a free agent in 2012, it's going to be next to impossible for them to lock him up. Werth's absence will create a huge hole in the Phuckins' offense. It's likely Werth will end up in a big market team that's going to be able to spend. (I'm guessing he'll end up a Dodger after Manny's contract expires. Werth can provide the same offense as Manny and he's a better defender.)

Werth leaving next year will make the Phillies much weaker. The Mets core will be intact (I expect Beltran to resign and end his career with the Mets), and they'll have money to spend like they always do. The Mets are going to get better. The Phillies are not.

Here's to hoping the Mets start to really take aim at their NL East rivals in 2010, and then carry that into 2011 and beyond to reclaim the division and the National League once again.