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Westwood Baseball Writer Predicts Mets, Yankees Seasons

WESTWOOD, N.J.– Major League Baseball's regular season is upon us, so we asked nationally-renowned baseball writer Bob Klapisch of Westwood five questions about the New York Mets and Yankees.

Former Columbia University pitcher and current baseball writer Bob Klapisch takes the mound at Fenway Park.

Former Columbia University pitcher and current baseball writer Bob Klapisch takes the mound at Fenway Park.

Photo Credit: Facebook
Bob Klapisch is a national baseball writer hailing from Westwood.

Bob Klapisch is a national baseball writer hailing from Westwood.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Klapisch, a Leonia native and collegiate baseball player at Columbia University, began writing about the two local teams in 1983 – first for the New York Post, then the New York Daily News – before joining The Bergen Record as a columnist in 1996. He's a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

DAILY VOICE: What do you think their respective records will be?

Mets: "I’m looking for 90-92 wins, although I could see that total going all the way up to 95-97. They’re a very good team in a very mediocre National League."

Yankees: "They will win 86 games and not make the playoffs."

DAILY VOICE: How do you think each team's starters will fare?

Mets: Matt Harvey (21 wins); Jacob de Grom (16); Noah Syndergaard (14); Steven Matz (12); and Bartolo Colon (10). 

Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka (14 wins); Michael Pineda (11); Luis Severino (12); Nathan Eovaldi (11); and CC Sabathia (four) before giving way to Ivan Nova (four). 

DAILY VOICE: What's the best-case scenario for each?

Mets: "Everyone stays healthy – including David Wright – and the Nationals go nowhere, even with Dusty Baker as their feel-good manager/motivator." 

Yankees: "The veterans play well, notably Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Teixeira stays off the disabled list and plays 150 games. Tanaka finally pitches 200 innings, and the bullpen doesn’t blow a save all year."

DAILY VOICE: What's the worst-case scenario for each?

Mets: "Last season's success takes the edge off Mets’ competitive drive, Syndergaard needs Tommy John surgery, and the Nationals start out hot and force the Mets into a summer-long dog fight." 

Yankees: "The starters all struggle, Tanaka blows out his UCL and needs Tommy John and Sabathia is relegated to the bullpen. Teixeira is on the DL by June 1, A-Rod slumps in April and never gains momentum. The lights-out bullpen never gets a chance to shine."

DAILY VOICE: Breakout candidate for each?

Mets: Matz. "Monster curveball."

Yankees: Severino. "Love his stuff, as well as his make-up. Very mature." 

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