2008 Woodie Awards
Hunt for October; Road Should Be Easy for Mets
Steven Corvino
Issue date: 10/4/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
It was a wild October for the National League, seeing the wild card and West leaders swap multiple times. In the end, the top seeded New York Mets will play the Los Angeles Dodgers and the NL West Champion San Diego Padres will play the struggling St. Louis Cardinals.
Throughout the 2006 season, the New York Mets have been the best team in the National League. The key for the Mets success will be the starting rotation. With Pedro Martinez out for the whole postseason, the Mets will be rely on Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel, Orlando "El-Duque" Hernandez, and rookie John Maine.
The hitting should be there for the Mets. They have struggled in the last two weeks of the regular season, but were resting starters every day. They were able to end the season on a four game win streak, and hope to continue that trend into the post season. Carlos Beltran has rebounded from his awful 2005 season, and Reyes and Wright continue to improve in their second full season in the big leagues.
The Mets starters will only have to go six innings because of the great bullpen they posses. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, and manager Willie Randolph should utilize that in every game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the season with a six game winning streak and could give the Mets a tough match up.
Los Angels had an up-and-down season, just like every other NL West team. They won 17 of 18, after losing 13 of 14 before that. With Pedro out for the playoffs, the Dodgers should have the advantage in pitching.
Greg Maddux has found the fountain of youth in the Dodger blue uniform, and Derek Lowe has himself in the Cy Young race. To back those two up, L.A. has the 2006 NL all-star starting pitcher Brad Penny.
The Dodgers offense has been led by a mix group of youngsters and veterans. JD Drew was able to stay healthy this year, and produced, giving his team 100 runs batted in. They also got a lot of help from the resurgence of Nomar Garciaparra. He supplied a rejuvenated bat, and solid defense at his new position, first base. Furcal had a weak start, but ended strong to spark the top of that lineup.
Throughout the 2006 season, the New York Mets have been the best team in the National League. The key for the Mets success will be the starting rotation. With Pedro Martinez out for the whole postseason, the Mets will be rely on Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel, Orlando "El-Duque" Hernandez, and rookie John Maine.
The hitting should be there for the Mets. They have struggled in the last two weeks of the regular season, but were resting starters every day. They were able to end the season on a four game win streak, and hope to continue that trend into the post season. Carlos Beltran has rebounded from his awful 2005 season, and Reyes and Wright continue to improve in their second full season in the big leagues.
The Mets starters will only have to go six innings because of the great bullpen they posses. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, and manager Willie Randolph should utilize that in every game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the season with a six game winning streak and could give the Mets a tough match up.
Los Angels had an up-and-down season, just like every other NL West team. They won 17 of 18, after losing 13 of 14 before that. With Pedro out for the playoffs, the Dodgers should have the advantage in pitching.
Greg Maddux has found the fountain of youth in the Dodger blue uniform, and Derek Lowe has himself in the Cy Young race. To back those two up, L.A. has the 2006 NL all-star starting pitcher Brad Penny.
The Dodgers offense has been led by a mix group of youngsters and veterans. JD Drew was able to stay healthy this year, and produced, giving his team 100 runs batted in. They also got a lot of help from the resurgence of Nomar Garciaparra. He supplied a rejuvenated bat, and solid defense at his new position, first base. Furcal had a weak start, but ended strong to spark the top of that lineup.