The Rotation and Can Anyone Challange The Mets?

Dayn Perry at Fox Sports, writes about the Mets rotation and the burning question, can anyone hang with the Mets this season:

1. Will the Mets' rotation be good enough?

The Mets, of course, wisely passed on Barry Zito at the going rates, but that leaves them with a rotation of Tom Glavine and ... lots of unknown quantities. They'll cobble together the middle and back end from a group that comprises Orlando Hernandez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Jorge Sosa, Philip Humber, Mike Pelfrey, Jason Vargas and Chan Ho Park. There's not a certainty in the lot, but at least they have options. The extent of the Mets' success in 2007 depends upon how well this slapdash rotation can fare. Pitching coach Rick Peterson certainly has his work cut out for him. In specific terms, Perez, Humber and Pelfrey have much promise, so expect them to play vital roles before the calendar flips to September.

2. Then again, can anyone hang with the Mets?

Of course, the Mets in 2006 had a fairly middling rotation (their starters' ERA of 4.67 ranked 8th in the NL), and they still managed to win the division by a full 12 games. So can the Phillies, Braves or upstart Marlins (sorry, Nats, you're not in the discussion just yet) manage to challenge the Amazin's? Probably not. However, the suspect nature of the New York rotation means things could get interesting. Right now, however, the Mets are far and away the most talented team in the division.

To view the rest of the 10 questions, use the link in the header.