Mets vs. Phillies: A comparison

Now who is the real team to beat. The team who won the division last year, or the team who should have won and just acquired the best pitcher in baseball? I think we have the lean there. Now this is a straight up opinion article about the comparison of each part of the team. Let's begin:

Catcher: (point mets)
Mets: Brian Schneider. Not the best hitter in the game. But the addition of a lineup that will hit in front of him will help boost his totals. Plus, going from RFK to Shea will definitely help. Did I mention Schneider might be th best defensive catcher out there. He also calls a great game which will help the back half of our pitching staff and our bullpen. Plus the backup of Ramon Castro adds offense off the bench and a filler for Schneider when needed.
Phillies: Carlos Ruiz. Need I say more. Around the same hitting capabilities as Schneider (even though he played in a much easier park) but has no where near the defensive abilities.

First Base: (point phils)
Mets: An aging Carlos Delgado, who still has the potential for a great season. Defense is adeqaute, nothing special. Can definitely take a lead with one swing of the bat.
Phillies: Ryan Howard. Probably one of the top 3 first basemen's around. I can't like about that lol. Has power, hits for average, and drives in so many rbi's. All greater than Delgado's numbers.

Second Base: (point phils)
Mets: Luis Castillo. Definitely getting older but still hits for average. Other hitting numbers aren't there, but they never were. His coaching of Jose Reyes goes unseen and is an added asset.
Phillies: Chase Utley. The best second baseman in the game. Can't argue it. His numbers were great and the guy missed a huge chunk of last season. Hands down, the best.

Third Base: (point Mets)
Mets: David Wright. Definitely one of the best third basemen in the league. He has all around abilities. Makes spectacular plays in the field as well as hits for average, power, and steals bases. What more do you want.
Phillies: Pedro Feliz. No comparison to Wright. Plays great defense, but Wright was the Gold Glove Winner. Each hitting category is also worse than Wright's. Absolutely no comparison to the hot corner in New York

Shortstop: (probably the one every is curious about) (point draw)
Mets: Jose Reyes. The one player in major league baseball that can truly win a game on his own with his play. When he stopped performing last year, the Mets decent from 1st came quickly. Even Howard doesn't have this ability (he once drove in 7 rbi's for the Phils and they still lost the game). If Reyes leads off an inning and their are no outs, put your money on Reyes to score that run. If you are down one late and Reyes gets a single, with 2 outs, it's really a double because he will steal second base. Then all you need is a single. He plays amazing defense, can hit for average, has some power, and is obviously the fastest runner in the game (maybe minus once Met Carlos Gomez)
Phillies: False reigning MVP. Did not deserve it. Don't get me wrong, an amazing player. The only reason he got the MVP award is because he said "We're the team to beat" and they didn't even do their job, we gave it to them. We lost the division more than they won. You can't argue with his hitting numbers, all better than Reyes. But look at the park he plays in (Citizens is one of the easier parks to hit in, especially with their short fences: Reyes actually hit 3 in a game their once). Reyes gets the defense. Rollins gets the hittings. Reyes gets the baserunning. Reyes gets the ability to change a game. The only reason he isn't getting the point is because he is the reigning NL MVP (even if I don't believe he should have received it).

Outfield: (point mets)
Mets: Carlos Beltran is better than anyone in the outfield for the Philadelphia Phillies. His hitting is remarkable. Defense is spectacular. And he can still run when his health isn't an issue. Ryan Church (also coming over from RFK) should put up better hitting numbers, especially with a potent lineup around him. His defense is really good as well and will allow Beltran to help out Alou. Moises Alou is still one of the smartest hitters in the game. Proving it last year, showing he can still drive in runs and hit for average in limited play. I think he still has power as well. And who can argue Endy Chavez as a fourth outfielder. This guy would be starting anywhere else. He runs, plays great defense, and hits for average. Imagine the defensive outfield is Chavez subbed for Alou. So all four of them can hit and 3 of the 4 can play defense. Not bad.
Phillies: The Phils outfield isn't too bad either. Their best players of course is Met killer Pat Burrell (too bad for the Phils they don't play us 162 games a year). He has significantly descreased his talents over time. He plays terrible defense and can only hit home runs now. His average is no where near that of what it used to be, and he can't run anymore either. He also strikes out in astronomic proportions. Shane Victorino, their true best outfielder, still hasn't learned how to use the ball park and the lineup around him to his advantage. Guy has a lot of potential to do better and is speedy and plays a good centerfield, but is not at the par Ryan Church is as a player as a whole. Geoff Jenkins is an underrated outfielder. He likes to hit for power, but his average suffers from it. He will benefit from the change of sceneary and I would take him over Alou, but thats only one of their outfielders. Plus their bench of So Taguchi and Jason Werth come nowhere close to Chavez.

Pitching Staff: (points mets) (i awarded two points since such a big part of the
game, probably should be a point each player but left at two)
Mets: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, John Maine, and either O-Hern or Mike Pelfrey. Santana is the best pitcher in the game, and I will not say anymore about him. Martinez came back last year (still unhealthy) and had an era under 3 in 5 games. I'll take him as my number 2 starter. Extremely high winning percentage and amazing in the playoffs. Oliver Perez as a third starter is scarey. When he is on, he is a phenom. John Maine as the Mets fourth starter is ridiculous. The guy at one point last year was out best starter, almost pitching a no hitter. And O-Hern or Pelfrey as our fifth is great. O-Hern still has it and Pelfrey showed great stuff after his losing fit. One of the best staffs in the league.
Phillies: Cole Hamels, Brett Meyers, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, and Adam Eaton. Hamels is going to be one of the best pitchers in the game but is not a Johan Santana. Brett Meyers can be hit, and only has capabilities to stike people out. But if he gives up the runs, he still will lose. Pedro is a safer choice (that sounds funny). Kendrick was great last year, but he would need to be even better to beat Oliver Perez. Jamie Moyer is old but still has talent, none near that of John Maine. Adam Eaton almost gave the division back to us at the end of the year. He is an awful back end to the rotation, while ours is a person I'd even give the ball to in the last game of the year (no matter which one it is).

Bullpen: (point mets)
Mets: Billy Wagner - closer, Aaron Heilman - setup man, Duaner Sanchez - middle relief/setup man, and Jorge Sosa - long relief. Wagner still is one of the best closers with his low ear and high save total and his fastball. Heilman, even though gives up some big homeruns, maintains his era low and is one of the best setup mans in baseball. Sanchez showed and has the potential to be a Joel Zumaya (OF THE SEVENTH INNING). Jorge Sosa a once starter as out long relief is a very reliable guy to trust.
Phillies: Brad Lidge is still feeling the effects from Albert Pujols' homerun in the NLCS. It still hasn't landed. And now Lidge moves to CBP where balls fly out of there. Tom Flash Gordon is very hittable and is older now. Doesn't have the stuff he used to. Ryan Madson has potential to be one of the best relief innings man, but never has lived up to his potential. Not established still. Their long relief guy is Chad Durbin, who was an awful starter last year when he filled in for the Phils.

Bench: (point mets)
Mets: The mets have established hitters on their bench live Chavez, Marlon Anderson, Ramon Castro, and Damion Easley. They all play multiple positions and fill in beautifully for the lineup. I don;t cringe when these guys come in.
Phillies: Not much of a bench here, with Werth, Taguchi, Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms and Chis Coste. All don't have the defensive capabilities of the Mets bench and all can't hit as well either.


Coaching: (point mets)
Mets: Willie Randolph. Turned the Mets around real quick from their lower ways. Took them to the NLCS in his second year. He also has the teachings from Joe Torre, possibly one of the best ever. Makes smart switches with the bullpen as well.
Phillies: Charlie Manuel. Been around forever but is not the right time to be in the game. Very old school style. Never taken the Phils to the playoffs except last year, and lost in the first round. Makes too many switches, even when not necessary.

Conclusion: 8-2 METS!!!!
As you can see, the Mets are the true team to beat in the NL East.