With baseball season around the corner some interesting things are set to take place for the 2010 season. Each and every year teams in Major League Baseball do what's  best to make the best decisions for their clubs with hopes to make the postseason and compete for a World Series title. While you only can predict what can and what won't happen each season, I think its a fair argument to say that the New York Mets will be fierce competitors this year.

There were great expectations for the Mets last season. Starting with the 2009 free agent signing of ace closer, Francisco Rodriguez, from the Angels known around the league as K-Rod. This move was something the Mets felt was imperative to strengthen their pitching staff. When you look at the hitting power of their National League East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies who were the 2008 champs, it was only right to bring K-Rod to the camp to compliment shutdown pitcher Johan Santana and solid ace J.J. Putz. Of course, the 2009 season was disappointing for the Mets, especially when you factor in key injuries to the clubs' best players. When you look at the lineup of David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, super slugger Gary Sheffield its so obvious that the Mets have some stellar firepower at bat. However,  if injuries are hampering a talented baseball club sometimes you can only wonder the damage that could be done if the team is healthy for most of the year.

 At one point during the 2009 season, the Mets had 11 players on the DL and almost as many as 20 during the year. First basemen Carlos Delgado suffered a injured hip, CF Carlos Beltran struggled & hobbled with a bad knee and shortstop Jose Reyes battled a triple threat with hamstring, knee, and calf injuries. Speaking on worse matters, it be hard to forget David Wright getting hit in the head with a 94 mph fastball from Matt Cain to add to the Mets injury-plagued season. Many would say if it wasn't for the constant injuries the Mets' fellow rivals, the Phillies being the N.L. East champs, probably wouldn't have been crowned so easily.  

This season for the Mets could be different, with the free agent signing of left fielder Jason Bay, from the Boston Red Sox. The Mets have a player with great awareness and play-making ability. Jason Bay adds to the Mets' lineup with his base stealing ability and provides more offense to a team that finished 25th in the majors with only 671 homeruns. You can only imagine the thought process of a pitcher getting ready for David Wright at the plate, while doing anything possible to keep an eye out for Jason Bay as well. A pictcher can only hope that he doesn't pull a fast one in regards to stealing a base. Carlos Delgado will not be there this season but I don't think his absence will damage the teams playoff hopes this year.

Much criticism has been directed towards the Mets' GM Omar Minaya. Many felt the Mets could have went for more in free agency outside of Jason Bay. Some others felt that the Mets had a horrible offseason and didn't make enough moves to be competitors. Say what you want but to be honest, if it wasn't for the injuries the team could've been more of a threat to the N.L. East. The Mets had the ability to make things difficult for the Braves, Marlins, and the Phillies. If you look at it from Omar's perspective why dump a bunch of money in free agency when you already have superstars on the club with Wright, Santana, Reyes, Beltran, and K-Rod. Maybe the fans of New York forget once again, it just happened that injury problems turned into a epidemic. Injuries wiped out more than half of the team. The Mets finishing 2009 at 70-92 with so much hype, is a letdown but things will eventually change.

To sum it all up, with a healthy lineup running aside a talented pitching staff, the Mets "should" compete this year. So, don't be shocked if they earn a spot in the postseason. To say they'll win the division is taking it too far but on the flipside if things go according to plans, Mets 2010 playoff baseball is going to be great.