2001 Record: 82-80, 3rd in NL East 2001 Results | 2002 Schedule | 2002 Roster | 2001 Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (NL rank) Defense (NL rank) 642 runs (16th) Home: 297 runs (16th) Road: 345 (14th) 713 runs allowed (5th) Home: 3.70 ERA (4th) Road: 4.46 ERA (tied for 5th) 2001 Stats Leaders   Average: Mike Piazza, .300 Runs: Piazza, 81 On-base pct: Piazza, .384 Stolen bases: Desi Relaford, 13 Wins: Three with 11 Saves: Armando Benitez, 43 Home runs: Piazza, 36 RBI: Piazza, 94 Slugging pct.: Piazza, .573 OPS: Piazza, 957 ERA: Al Leiter, 3.31 Strikeouts: Kevin Appier, 172

ESPN's Take Q: Will the Mets' big-time offseason spending produce big-time numbers and results? The Mets will take a quantum leap in offensive production this year. They were 30th -- last in the majors -- in runs scored last year. That statistic will improve tremendously thanks to the acquisitions of Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz and a bounce-back season from Edgardo Alfonzo. While their offense is much better and can likely put up big numbers, their starting rotation still has some significant question marks. -- Dave Campbell  Jayson Stark's Crystal Ball Roberto Alomar and Rey Ordonez will turn so many astounding double plays, they get their own two-man Broadway show -- and their own Baseball Tonight segment: Met Gems. How valuable might Roger Cedeno be in the fantasy world? Considering that for every stolen base in the majors last year there were 1.8 home runs, that means Cedeno's 55 steals are worth than Barry Bonds' 73 HRs. And he should do it again. While there's no telling how healthy he will be, Al Leiter is a great pick for a comeback season. Actually, his 2001 campaign was only subpar in wins, which was the fault of a horrid offense. Now his team can hit, and if he pitches the same those 11 wins could be 18. -- Eric Karabell Batting order Roger Cedeno, LF Roberto Alomar, 2B Mike Piazza, C Mo Vaughn, 1B Edgardo Alfonzo, 3B Jeromy Burnitz, RF Jay Payton, CF Rey Ordonez, SS Bench Gary Matthews Jr., Timo Perez, Vance Wilson, Joe McEwing, Lou Collier Rotation Al Leiter, Pedro Astacio, Shawn Estes, Steve Trachsel, Jeff D'Amico Bullpen Armando Benitez, John Franco, Bruce Chen, David Weathers, Mark Guthrie, Satoru Komiyama Jae Seo, RHP Seo doesn't throw hard, but does throw strikes and has good offspeed stuff. The Korean, who missed nearly two full seasons after Tommy John surgery, returned with a good showing last year and should begin season at Triple-A. If injuries hit any of the starters could land a spot in the rotation at any time.

Catcher: Mike Piazza Piazza had another outstanding offensive year, hitting 36 home runs with 94 RBI. He also batted .300, the ninth straight year he's hit .300 or better. With an improved lineup surrounding him in 2002, expect perhaps better numbers from the always potent Piazza. And with Mo Vaughn now in the mix, don't expect to hear the talk of Piazza possibly moving to first base in the foreseeable future. NL Position Ranking: 1st First Base: Mo Vaughn Vaughn missed the entire 2001 season because of a torn biceps tendon. If healthy, he's a big upgrade over Todd Zeile (10 homers). Vaughn has averaged just under 38 homers and 101 RBI per season over his last six playing years (1995-2000). But don't forget, he does swing and miss a tremendous amount (181 strikeouts, most in the AL in 2000). NL Position Ranking: 7th Second Base: Roberto Alomar Finished fourth in the AL MVP voting after hitting a career high .336. He also had a .415 on-base percentage while scoring 113 runs. With his proven ability to get on base, Alomar is the biggest key to the Mets' offense. And he's also arguably the best defensive second baseman in history. NL Position Ranking: 1st Third Base: Edgardo Alfonzo Coming off injury-plagued season in which he hit a career low .243. Moves back to third base, a spot he played for the first four years of his career, and figures to move down in the order, perhaps to fifth to hit between Vaughn and Jeromy Burnitz. NL Position Ranking: 4th Shortstop: Rey Ordonez Flashy with the glove and teamed with Alomar arguably gives the Mets the best middle-infield combo in the majors. Last season had an improved second half at the plate (.280 BA), but overall is a huge liability on offense. NL Position Ranking: 13th Left Field: Roger Cedeno Returns to the Mets after signing as a free agent. Had the best season of his career in 1999 while with the Mets (.313 BA, .396 OBP, 66 stolen bases). If he's able to get on base could score a ton of runs with the lineup hitting after him. NL Position Ranking: 12th Center Field: Jay Payton Mentioned in trade discussions throughout the offseason, but managed to stay put. Coming off a disappointing season in which he missed nearly a month and half with a badly pulled hamstring. NL Position Ranking: 9th Right Field: Jeromy Burnitz Was the Mets' final acquisition in a flurry of offseason deals. Provides power (has averaged 34 homers and just over 106 RBI over the last four years), but also strikes out way too much (150 times in 2001). NL Position Ranking: 10th No. 1 Starter: Al Leiter The ace on a team which has a suspect starting rotation to begin with. In a best-case scenario, Leiter would be a No. 2, much like he was for the better part of the 2000 season when Mike Hampton was with the Mets. Is durable as evidenced by his averaging just over 200 innings pitched over the last four years (1998-2001). NL Ranking among starters: 13th No. 2 Starter: Pedro Astacio Is a huge risk as he was shut down last season in mid-August and never did have surgery to repair a slight labrum tear in his throwing shoulder. Mets are banking on Astacio's ability to be effective away from the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field (he had a 3.99 ERA in 14 games on the road last season as opposed to a 6.48 ERA in 12 games at Coors) to the more pitcher-friendly environment of Shea Stadium. NL Ranking among starters: 26th No. 3 Starter: Shawn Estes Another guy who you can't quite predict what he will do. Can he return to the form of his 1997 season (19-5, 3.18) or is he destined to be mediocre (42-37, 4.56 over the last four years)? NL Ranking among starters: 36th No. 4 Starter: Steve Trachsel Much like on the path of Estes, is Trachsel the dreadful pitcher he was in the first half of last season (2-10, 6.72) or the one that was dominant at times in the second half (9-3, 2.74)? Expect something in between. The Mets would definitely take that, especially if the rest of their pitchers remain healthy. NL Ranking among starters: 42nd Bullpen: John Franco, Bruce Chen, David Weathers, Mark Guthrie, Satoru Komiyama Franco, the primary left-handed set-up man, is 41 and is coming off a disappointing season (4.05 ERA was his highest since 1993). Weathers, the righty complement to Franco, has a combined 2.72 ERA over the last two seasons with the Brewers and Cubs. Labeled by some to be the "Greg Maddux of Japan," Komiyama could be the wild card and Chen moves to the pen with Jeff D'Amico in the rotation. NL Position Ranking: 6th Closer: Armando Benitez Finished with a career-high 43 saves, but continues to be remembered more for his struggles (he had two poor performances in his last four outings last season) rather than his times of success. ERA rose to 3.77, up significantly from the prior two years (2.60 in 2000 and 1.85 in '99). NL Position Ranking: 3rd

Overall Power Index Rankings (NL rank):
Position: 7.13 (4th) | Pitching: 7.50 (7th, tie)

-- Matt Szefc