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NEW YORK -- As the Mike Piazza era likely draws to a close, Mets owner Fred Wilpon views 2005 as a step forward.

The Mets haven't been to the postseason since losing to the Yankees in the 2000 World Series, but they would finish with a winning record for the first time since 2001 with a victory in at least one of their final three games against Colorado.

"I think it's progress. I'm not sure [what] success is unless you are in the playoffs," Wilpon said Thursday following a news conference to launch the SportsNet New York (SNY), the cable network that will broadcast most of his team's games starting next year.

In the first season since Omar Minaya took over as general manager and Willie Randolph became manager, Pedro Martinez flourished and Carlos Beltran foundered for much of the year. Piazza, now 37 and nearing the end of a $91 million, seven-year contract, is likely entering his final weekend with the Mets.

"Our people are now assessing what they need and when they need it and how they need it," Wilpon said. "I don't know where they're going to come out. The likelihood is that Mike can be served best in the American League. We've heard that. I guess he has to make that decision as well."

A 12-time All-Star, Piazza has become a defensive liability, making a possible move to designated hitter in the AL an attractive shift. He hit a 450-foot homer in Thursday's 11-0 win over the Rockies and was given repeated standing ovations.

"We'll let nature take its course, and time will tell where he winds up," said Jeff Borris, one of Piazza's agents.

Wilpon predicted Piazza would become the second Mets Hall of Famer, following Tom Seaver.

"He was certainly the star of the team, no matter who we had in there," Wilpon said. "But things change, which I think is good. I hope Mike goes on and plays out as long as he wants to play out."

Martinez went 15-8 with a 2.82 ERA after signing a $53 million, four-year contract. Wilpon considers Martinez a top investment.

"He's been a great citizen. He's been a great pitcher. With a little break here or there, he might have won 20 games this year," Wilpon said. "Everything we asked him to do, he has done 120 percent. He's a man of his word. He's a man of character."

Beltran, who signed a $119 million, seven-year deal, entered Thursday with a .270 average, 16 homers and 78 RBI, his lowest power numbers since his injury-shortened 2000 season with Kansas City.

"He's not satisfied with his performance. He knows he can do better, and he knows he will do better," Wilpon said. "It takes time to get adjusted to New York."

Wilpon said the Mets remain on track to break ground next year on their new ballpark, which will be built in Shea Stadium's parking lot. He still expects it to open in 2009.

"It's going to look like Ebbets Field, I promise you that," he said, referring to the ballpark of the old Brooklyn Dodgers.

The news conference, attended by Martinez, Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes and Kris Benson, was held at a former CNN studio overlooking Radio City Music Hall that will become the site of SNY's morning show and its news shows, which will air three times nightly.

SNY, which is partly owned by Time Warner, Comcast and Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, said it hopes to be aired on Cablevision systems but could offer no assurances. Cablevision, which has aired games on the Madison Square Garden Network and Fox Sports New York, unsuccessfully sued over the Mets' television rights.

The Yankees launched their YES Network in 2002.

"They've had a tremendously successful network, and there are many things we would like to do like they do, obviously," Wilpon said. "We intend to be more of a sports service, not necessarily just a Mets service."

While SNY doesn't have rights to a winter professional sports team, it will air syndicated football and basketball games from the Big East and the Big Ten along with about 125 Mets games.

Jon Litner will be the network president, Curt Gowdy Jr. vice president of production and executive producer and Steve Raab vice president of marketing and business development.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press