http://www.sbnation.com/users/metsexile Posts made by metsexile on SB Nation http://www.amazinavenue.com/2007/8/16/18546/2425 metsexile Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:54:06 -0000 <p>In honor of Rick Reed's 42nd birthday...</p> <p>... I was looking at the Mets pitching staff of 2000. &nbsp;That was the year, some of you may recall, that we made it to the World Series and were beaten by some American League team that I forget the name of.</p><p>In any case, I was struck by how much better the starting pitching staff was. &nbsp;Hampton, Leiter, Reed, Jones, Rusch. &nbsp;1 through 3 would be the ace on the current team. &nbsp;</p><p>Our lineup is better balanced offensively now -- remember Benny leading off?!? &nbsp;However, with Beltran, Delgado and Green under-performing this year, the middle of the lineup in 2000 had more reliable RBI producers then with Zeile, Ventura and Payton.</p><p>With Endy hurt, the 2000 bench was far superior, with Lenny Harris, Melvin Mora, SuperJoe, and the late-in-the-year emergence of Timo (not running on Zeile's long fly notwithstanding).</p><p>Bullpen, better in 2000... minus a certain (c)loser... so that's a wash.</p><p>Manager, I give the nod to Willie.</p><p>Further thoughts?</p> <fieldset class="poll-box"> <legend>Poll</legend> <h5 class="poll-title">Which is the better team: 2000 Mets or 2007 Mets?</h5> <div id="poll_container_14641_116225078" class="poll_container"> <div class="poll_option clearfix"> <div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">31%</div> <div class="poll_option_result"> <h5>2000</h5> <div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">7</span> votes</div> </div> </div> <div class="poll_option clearfix"> <div class="poll_option_percentage" style="display:none">68%</div> <div class="poll_option_result"> <h5>2007 </h5> <div class="poll_option_bar"><span class="vote_count">15</span> votes</div> </div> </div> <p class="poll-total-votes"><strong>22</strong> votes | <span class="poll-has-closed">Poll has closed</span> </p> </div> <script> FastInit.addOnLoad(function(){ new SBN.Poll('poll_container_14641_116225078').animateResults({renderImmediately:true}); }); </script> </fieldset>