The Mets would have won the World Series last year were it not for a major meltdown in St. Louis. And they may wind up snagging it this year, if their decrepit pitching staff holds up through October. Of course, the young Marlins (young enough, even, to call them the young Marlins through 2010) would like to knock some dents in such a team not least because the Mets are the favorite to win the National League East. Then again, after being picked all-world dead last in 2006 only to then contend for playoffs, its not foolhardy to mention the Marlins in the same sentence as the Phillies, Braves, and yes even the Mets.
So what if the Mets payroll is four times that of the Marlins, and that the Mets are paying two Carloses (Beltran and Delgado) alone nearly what the entire Florida roster earns? April is when the standings always stay tight. The first of a two-game series (and eight-game home stand) begins tonight.
Wed., April 18, 7:05 p.m.