Mike Pelfrey

This article was originally posted on TheSheaFaithful.com.

The New York Mets are facing the dreaded "R-word" that's practically a forbidden phrase in New York: rebuilding.

The Mets have played just 10 games this year, but it is not too early to be concerned about some of the team’s issues.

I am giving the disclaimer in advance that we are dealing with small sample sizes at this point of the year.

It is early, but the team is currently sitting in last place in the NL East. While the Mets won’t spend the year in the cellar, there are some issues that will certainly keep them from competition for a playoff spot.

Last season, the Mets were supposed to be strong offensively and weak in the starting pitching department.

It was the opposite.

This season, the Mets are firing on all cylinders and sit at 3-2 without playing a home game. For a team that went 32-49 on the road last season, they're off to a good start.

The New York Mets open the 2011 regular season tonight against the Florida Marlins with Mike Pelfrey set to oppose Josh Johnson.

Heading into this season, the Mets have a lot of questions that need answers. Can the rotation step up without their ace, Johan Santana. Will Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran stay healthy? How will the bullpen perform without Pedro Feliciano, their most reliable reliever last season?

We'll start to get those answers tonight.

That said, here is your Mets 2011 season preview.

Mike Pelfrey will become the 21st different Opening Day starter for the New York Mets when he takes the mound against the Florida Marlins on April 1.

While he's not the true ace of the team, he'll have to assume the lead role in Johan Santana's absence.

The Mets have sent All-Stars, Cy Young winners and Hall of Famers out on Opening Day in the past.

Pitchers such as Doc Gooden, David Cone and Pedro Martinez have all had Opening Day duties in the past. Where does right-hander Mike Pelfrey rank?

Click to find out.

There isn't a lot to look forward to when it comes to the New York Mets in 2011. There are more questions than answers surrounding this team right now, and with the lawsuit stemming from the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme hanging over their heads, fan morale is at an all-time low.

Well cheer up Mets fans! It's Spring Training, and with it comes a clean slate. Will the Mets win the World Series this season? Probably not. Can they win the World Series? Sure they can; any team can. That's why it's a clean slate.

2011 is going to be an interesting year for the New York Mets. They definitely have talent in the lineup and potential on the mound, but who knows what's going to happen with this team. They seem to build us up every year only to let us down. But, unlike a lot of people that I'm seeing on this site, I'm going to keep having faith in this team. The grades in this article are not based on the players' 2010 seasons, but on the players themselves looking forward to 2011. Here's a look at the 2011 roster.

Every year players come closer and closer to breaking new records and feats. This year is no different; a handful of Mets players come closer to breaking franchise records.

Here is a look at what is at stake:

David Wright needs to hit 24 home runs to become No. 3 on the Mets' all-time home run list.

Carlos Beltran needs to hit 21 home runs to become No. 5 on the Mets' all-time home run list.

The Metropolitans were seventh in team ERA (3.73) in 2010. Impressive right? You bet. But in fantasy terms, the Mets starting pitchers are merely irrelevant.

As for Johan Santana, who will likely miss the first half of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, it will be tough to determine what ADP (average draft position) is suitable.

Earlier today, New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson sat down with ESPN's Adam Rubin and addressed several of the issues surrounding the team heading into 2011.

Rubin is an excellent Mets writer and definitely asked the questions fans are most concerned about. Alderson, to his credit, answered all of them fairly well, but left a lot to the interpretation of the fans.