Team-by-team outlooks

Sometimes Fantasy leagues predict the future. A draft last season saw a number of Mets go in the early rounds, the most top heavy team in drafts -- save for only the Yankees, perhaps.

And those two teams finished tied for the best record in baseball.

This season, it's no contest on Draft Day.

The kings of Queens will see as many as three of their first five hitters go in the first 12 picks in a standard mixed league: Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright. Only the Phillies (Ryan Howard and Chase Utley), Cardinals (Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter) and the Red Sox (David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez) could even make a case to have two.

What does this mean?

The Mets promise to have a great lineup, so the pitchers should benefit. Right?

Well, you won't see Mets starting pitchers go until the late rounds, if at all.

Don't let them all slip out of sight, though, despite the Old-n-New crew they have. Sure, a deep bullpen will get theirs for deeper leagues that use true middle men, but some starter will be winning games for a team expected to win 90-100.

Spring position battles

Starting pitchers Nos. 3-5 -- John Maine, Oliver Perez and Chan Ho Park vs. Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Jason Vargas, Jorge Sosa and Alay Soler

It's not often a contender of the Mets' ilk has this many open rotation spots for such talented young arms. Maine and Perez showed some moxi in the 2006 postseason, while Park is the most established of the bunch. Pelfrey has the most upside and is a must-have in all leagues if he wins a spot. As is Humber, but the Tommy John survivor needs to get through a full season first. Vargas, Sosa and Soler are stopgaps, but whomever makes starts for the Mets will have value in any Fantasy league. That lineup will score a lot of runs.

Right field -- Shawn Green vs. Lastings Milledge and Ben Johnson

This is supposed to be an open competition, but that sounds like lip service for the top prospect Milledge, who has elite 30-30 potential. The Mets don't want him to get discouraged. He had his moments, but overall his big league debut was disappointing for the type of talent he is. Johnson was picked up in a offseason deal with the Padres and has pop, but he is more of a left fielder. Green should hold the job -- at least vs. all right-handed pitching -- so consider him a viable NL-only option. Milledge is a flier to stash in any league you can afford to, because he has outstanding potential if talent meets opportunity.

New York Mets Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Jose Reyes SS 1 Tom Glavine LH
2 Paul Lo Duca C 2 Orlando Hernandez RH
3 Carlos Beltran CF 3 John Maine RH
4 Carlos Delgado 1B 4 Oliver Perez LH
5 David Wright 3B 5 Chan Ho Park RH
6 Moises Alou LF Alt Mike Pelfrey RH
7 Shawn Green RF Top bullpen arms
8 Jose Valentin 2B CL Billy Wagner LH
Top bench options SU Duaner Sanchez RH
R Lastings Milledge OF RP Aaron Heilman RH
R Endy Chavez OF RP Ambiorix Burgos RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination
1 Mike Pelfrey 23 RH SP Majors Majors
Elite talent might get opportunity for top anticipated contender
2 Philip Humber 24 RH SP Majors Triple-A
Tommy John survivor needs to prove capable of 150 innings
3 Anderson Hernandez 24 2B Majors Triple-A
Speedy infielder known more for defense, but could earn ABs
4 Alay Soler 27 RH SP Majors Triple-A
No longer highly regarded, but could pitch himself into mix
5 Carlos Gomez 21 OF Double-A Triple-A
Great wheels prospect rising quickly and might help in '07
Best of the rest: OF Fernando Martinez, 18; RHP Kevin Mulvey, 21; RHP Deolis Guerra, 17; LHP Jon Niese, 20; 1B Mike Carp, 20; 1B Brett Harper, 25; C Francisco Pena, 17; RHP Mike Devaney, 25.

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