HITTER TO WATCH:

Nobody. The Mets' only upper-level hitting prospect, Fernando Martinez, is at least a full year away.

PITCHER TO WATCH:

Carlos Muniz got a brief cup of coffee in September last year, and he'll be one of the first guys recalled when the Mets need a reliever. He has a three-pitch mix including a slider that kills right-handed hitters, and has above-average control.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.

JUST THE FACTS

• No more picking the rotation out of a hat. With Johan Santana and a healthy Pedro Martinez around, no more starts for Brian Lawrence, Chan Ho Park or Dave Williams.
• Yep, Johan will dominate. He's just the second lefty under age 30 with a winning percentage of at least .650 (minimum 100 decisions) to be traded or sold since Babe Ruth.
• They're on a mission. What do you do after your team blows a seven-game lead with 17 to play? "I took it out on the weight room," says David Wright.
• They need an AARP health plan. Moises Alou, 41, will miss April after hernia surgery. Carlos Delgado, 35, has a hip problem. Both might be finished as productive players.

HEARSAY

"Last year, basically three guys [Wright, Tom Glavine and Paul Lo Duca] talked to the media," says a local reporter. "So Brian Schneider will help. He was a team leader in Washington."

HEARSAY

"I'm with Carlos Beltran his war of words with Jimmy Rollins. Maybe it's because I was raised in the school yards of New York City, but a little trash-talk never hurt. I'd like to see the Mets have more fight this year." -- Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.
-- Tim Kurkjian

How many games will the Mets win in 2008? Do they have the top lineup, rotation, bullpen or manager in their division? Did they do the best job improving their team in the offseason with the acquisition of Johan Santana? Register your vote.

NL East poll page

SLEEPER

Ryan Church brings with him to the Big Apple his career .340 average at Shea, where he hit three home runs in just seven games last season.

BUST

Moises Alou has seen his at-bats decrease each of the past three seasons, and already will be missing time due to hernia surgery.
-- A.J. Mass

INJURIES

The main injury concerns that will challenge the Mets throughout the season are, not surprisingly, with their older players (Alou, Delgado). But Pedro Martinez, one of their senior hurlers, has surprised everyone with his strong comeback from the rotator cuff surgery he underwent in October 2006, all the more impressive considering the degree of injury. When he returned in September 2007, Martinez had lost some velocity (no surprise), but demonstrated good command and, more importantly, no pain. He has continued to look solid this spring, including a March outing with four shutout innings. The key to maintaining his health will be reliance on a mix of pitches, not speed, as well as controlling his total number of innings.
-- Stephania Bell