Mets-Dodgers NLDS Preview

When thinking about what to write for this blog, I was going to do a position by position breakdown or maybe look at a bunch of statistics to try and compare the two teams.  But I am going to keep it fairly simple.

The Mets and Dodgers make for an intriguing match up.

East Coast vs. West Coast
Original New York National League Team vs Replacement National League Team.
Memorable playoff moments between the 2 clubs (1988)
Both teams with elite starting pitching staffs.
A veteran playoff team (Dodgers) vs. a team with not a lot of playoff experience (Mets).
Big Market club that spends a lot of money vs. Big Market team that does not.

First thing I think of when I think of the Dodgers is their two top starters.  Zach Greinke and Clayton Kershaw might be the two best pitchers in all of baseball.  Next thing I think of is their extremely large payroll.  As high as that payroll is and as good as their top two pitchers are, I just don't think the rest of the team is that good.  The only player that might instill a bit of fear is Adrian Gonzalez, a proven run producer and RBI guy over his career.  I am certainly not scared of Jimmy Rollins, Carl Crawford, or Chase Utley (maybe the 2008 versions but not the 2015 version).  Yasiel Puig has kind of turned out to be bust.  He came into MLB like a lightning bolt but lacks fundamentals that even Yoenis Cespedes possesses.
But pitching wins in the playoffs and the only way the Mets have a shot is if they win at least one of the first two games.  They have to beat Greinke or Kershaw, or hopefully both.

Now, not one of the Mets pitchers expected to start in this series has thrown a pitch in the postseason.
But while everyone is talking up the Dodgers two aces, the Mets have a staff that can pitch with anybody.  Degrom, Syndergard, Harvey, and Matz all have the ability to dominate.  Only question is can the do it on a national stage under the spotlight.
Another question is whether their new found offensive prowess will continue in the playoffs.  As hot as the Mets were in August and most of September, their bats dried up the last few weeks of the season.
Can David Wright, making his return to the playoffs for the first time in nine years, avenge his dreadful 2006 postseason?
Can Terry Collins pull the right strings in his first playoff trip?

I am excited to see who will step up, especially against the two aces from L.A.

Should be an interesting series.  No predictions here...too many unknowns.  I just want to see a good series and hopefully be able to see the Mets advance.

-BNolan