New York Mets

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The New York Mets are certainly no stranger to Bobby Cox. The Atlanta Braves' skipper has managed to win 192 of 352 games played against the Mets. Tonight will be the last time the Mets start a series against the Braves with Cox as their manager as he will not return for the 2011 season.

Another baseball season is nearing its conclusion and for the fourth consecutive October, the New York Mets are absent.  With the front office sending out signs that the team will not make a big free agent splash this offseason, many fans are depressed.

Many have given up on the Mets' 2011 season already, but there are certain things that the team has in place that should keep fans optimistic.

Here are the top five reasons to believe that it will be different for the Mets in 2011.

As I awoke to the splash of reality and the realization that Lee Mazzilli was not managing the Mets, flanked by Keith Hernandez as hitting coach and Ron Darling as pitching coach, I groaned and turned off my alarm.

Once the cobwebs cleared from my brain, so did the visions of Wally Backman coaching third, Tim Teufel coaching first, and Howard Johnson filling the role of bench coach.

All indications are that Omar Minaya will not be running the show next year. So, under hopes that he won't be, the obvious question then becomes, who should replace him?

Here is the run-down of a potential candidate, Jon Daniels.


Who is he?

It was on of the greatest games in one of the most magnificent, amazing seasons in the history of sports.

In 1968, New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets, had finished a dismal ninth in the 10-team National League, but by July 1969, they were doing something they had never done before. They were winning games fairly consistently.

Home runs, clutch hits, and complete-game victories. All have been lacking this year for the New York Mets thus leading to their sub-.500 record.

However, in last night's win over the Pirates, we saw a little of each for a rare time this season.

R.A. Dickey threw a complete game (his second of the year) to earn his eleventh victory of the season—a new career high. The only run he gave up came courtesy of a leadoff triple in the ninth to Pedro Ciriaco, who later scored on a ground out.

I really hate to do this. The story has died, and thankfully so. By now, everyone involved is moving forward, which makes us all better off.

As the season winds down, Mets fans eagerly await the anticipated moves the team will make to try and right the ship. Some players have started lobbying for a Dan Warthen sequel but there has been no such outcry for Jerry Manuel or Howard Johnson. Debates regarding whether or not to keep the youth or trade pieces away rage on, too.

As your fantasy baseball marathons come down to the wire look to these players to help your team or keep them from hindering your team.  Rookies’ Starlin Castro and Ike Davis should have stellar weeks for your team.

Start ‘Em

Starlin Castro | Chicago Cubs | 81 percent

After watching teammate Mike Pelfrey rebound with a solid effort against the Phillies yesterday, Jon Niese will try to do the same today.

The rookie left-hander has had three straight bad starts after four straight outstanding ones of allowing one earned run in each.

During his recent slump, the Mets have brought up the subject of limiting his innings, but decided to let him roll. They did push him back a day after his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs in six innings against the Cubs.