in MLB Betting Trends

Pedro their key

For a team that was in the World Series in 2000, the New York Mets just can’t seem to shake their reputation as not-so-loveable losers.

Now there’s something new in the air over Shea Stadium besides jet airplanes: change. The Mets started the 2006 campaign at 7-1, the best record in Major League Baseball and the most profitable at 5.92 units. New York shot out of the gate by taking two of three from the visiting Washington Nationals, beating the Florida Marlins twice, and sweeping the Nats at RFK Stadium. The Mets can add to their current six-game winning streak beginning Friday night when they return to Shea for a three-game weekend series with the Milwaukee Brewers (also hot at 6-3 and 2.75 units in the black).

Baseball analysts had plenty of good things to say about New York’s offseason makeover. GM Omar Minaya, in his second year at the helm after doing yeoman’s work with the D.C.-bound Montreal Expos, brought in some big lumber and some much needed relief for the relief corps. Those were the two areas that were sorely lacking as the Mets went 83-79 last season, costing supporters 1.3 units. Not so in 2006. The Mets have improved their OPS from .714 (third-worst in the bigs) to .914, and relievers have combined to post a 2.62 ERA, fourth-best in the majors and a dramatic improvement over last year’s middling 3.93 ERA.

The marquee offseason addition to the batting order was Carlos Delgado. He’s already made friends in New York by going 13-for-33 at the plate with three home runs. Delgado is one of four Mets batters above 1.000 OPS. Third-base prodigy David Wright leads the way at a ridiculous 1.469 (13-for-28, three homers), followed by Delgado, Xavier Nady and last year’s big free-agent signing, Carlos Beltran. Speedy Jose Reyes isn’t far behind at .931 OPS. With numbers like that, it’s no surprise the Mets are among the league leaders in runs (57 after eight games) despite the pitching-friendly confines at Shea.

Balancing the increase in run production is the equally important improvement in run prevention. The bullpen has allowed just seven earned runs in 24 innings of work – five of those runs courtesy of some shaky early-season work by Jorge Julio. The other newcomers, including Billy Wagner, Chad Bradford and Duaner Sanchez, have been stellar. Even Darren Oliver, a journeyman starter who wasn’t even in the majors in 2005, has yet to give up a hit after three innings in his new role as a lefty reliever.

Given the small sample size of eight games, it’s a given that the Mets will eventually come back down to earth. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll stop winning. One of the areas to look at going forward is at second base, where Anderson Hernandez has been filling in while Kaz Matsui rehabilitates a strained MCL. Hernandez is a placeholder at best, going 5-for-27 to start the season and possibly already losing his job to Chris Woodward. Matsui been slowed by injury ever since joining the Mets in 2004, posting an anemic .652 OPS in just 87 games last year. For the Mets to keep pounding the pay window, the Osaka native will need to beat those numbers once he returns from his extended spring-training stay in Single-A Port St. Lucie.

Close attention should also be paid to rookie starter Brian Bannister. The son of former major-leaguer Floyd Bannister held the Nats to just one run on three hits over seven innings in Tuesday’s 7-1 victory. He’s solidified his claim to the fifth spot in the rotation after just two starts, leading the National League in WHIP at 0.69. On a team that already includes Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and Steve Trachsel, a solid contribution from Bannister could be the tipping point between a good and great season.

The first pitch for Friday’s game against the Brewers is at 7:10 p.m. Eastern, with Glavine set to do battle against Chris Capuano. FOX Sports North and SNY have the television coverage in local markets. Trachsel takes the mound for New York on Saturday against Toma Ohka, and Bannister will throw against Ben Sheets on Sunday.

Comments or questions? Email FaceOff@BetUS.com.