Mets Preview Part 1 - Here Comes the Pain!

No, I'm not talking about the state of the Mets pitching staff. I'm talking about the lineup, which can beat opponents in a variety of ways, so long as guys are producing (wow, there's a shock eh?) The last part is why they lost the series to the Cardinals in the NLCS. It wasn't the pitching (for the most part), it was the fact that guys who for most of the year had produced, simply did not get the job done against the Cards (I'm talking to YOU David Wright and Jose Valentin.)

Here are the numbers the projected starters put up last year. I threw in super-sub Endy Chavez, since he will see significant time again, due to the age of Green and Alou.

Player AVG SB HR RBI OBP
Reyes .300 64 19 81 .354
Lo Duca .318 3 5 49 .355
Beltran .275 18 41 116 .388
Delgado .265 0 38 114 .361
Wright .311 20 26 116 .381
Alou .301 2 22 74 .352
Green .277 4 15 66 .344
Valentin.271 6 18 62 .330

Chavez .306 12 4 42 .348


The big difference for this year should be the addition of Alou in place of Cliff Floyd. Alou typically destroys left handed pitching, something the Mets did well early last year, but succumbed to in the latter half of the season. A chief culprit in that was David Wright, who in the second half seemed to lose his power stroke. I'm not talking about Home Runs, I'm talking doubles. Was he tired? Did the HR Derby hurt him? Was it the Vitamin Water? Was it the Evangelist? Who knows, but whatever the cause, he needs to be more consistent this season. I'm not down on young David, he's quite possibly my favorite Met along with Jose Reyes, I'm just keeping it real.

As for the rest of the lineup, two players had huge years, both after seasons where some fans questioned their abilities. First, Jose Reyes, who had many fans questioning if he was the right fit for the leadoff spot. He responded in a big way, boosting his OBP and walks, and hitting 300. Oh, and he had 19 HR's, 64 steals, 30 doubles and 17 triples. Where the year before the "experts" at ESPN were saying he was not all that special, last season he showed he was the most exciting player to watch, and someone that could make a run for the MVP. He is a catalyst, and Omar was wise to lock him up towards the end of last season, removing the specter of arbitration hearings in the future.

The other bounce back guy was Carlos Beltran. After an first season in Orange & Blue beset with injuries, a mostly healthy Beltran showed why he was given the $120 m contract. Tying the Met record for HR's with 41. Hitting 275, driving in 116 runs, and playing very good defense. He missed some time early with a quad injury, and some late with a knee injury thanks to the stupidest damn fence in baseball in Houston. He is a quiet player, who last year showed all the tools. I think we can see further improvement from him. Already he is talking about running more, something he does quite well. Add that the lineup, and it becomes even more dangerous. Julio Franco deserves some credit for his acceptance by the fans, urging Carlos to acknowledge an early season curtain call. But the addition of friend Carlos Delgado had to help as well.

Delgado brought with him a fearsome reputation as a hitter. Some fans tried to make an issue of his stance regarding the singing of "God Bless America", but nothing came of that potential issue (of course, the trading of the Mouth that Sored Anna Benson probably helped here). He became the main bat, allowing Beltran to relax and settle in. It was an up and down season for Delgado, but when he was down, others stepped up, and he was there when others slumped. After some off season surgery on his elbow and wrist, he feels ready to improve on his numbers. That is not something the opposition wants to hear.

The addition of Moises Alou is good news. Yes, he has been injured the past couple of years, but even the, he still rakes. He will offer protection to Wright (though some studies show protection in a lineup is not real, only imagined), and also avoids the LOOGY's of the opposition being able to stymie the bats. Let's hope he can play 120 - 135 games this year.

Shawn Green is a player who many think is done. I'm not quite sure. A look at the numbers above shows his bat is still OK. He may not hit 30 HR's anymore, but he can still be an effective hitter, as he was in the NLCS. The problem with Green is that his fielding is not exactly Bronze Glove, much less Gold. Odds are, he will be lifted late in close games for Endy, who is an above average fielder.

If Green struggles in April and May, we could see the arrival on a full time basis of Lastings Milledge. Lastings rubbed opponents and teammates the wrong way last year. He seems to have learned, as he has shown more maturity this spring, from his dealings with teammates and the media. He has stated that it is time for him to step up and no longer be a prospect. He knows he has to show he can get the job done. He's had a good spring, though K's are somewhat of a worry (then again, he is still young). Let's hope this growth, as a player and a person, continues.

Jose Valentin was a revelation last year. Many (including myself) were booing him early on. Once Kaz Matsui was hurt, Jose played 2nd every day, something he had never done before, and played very well, while sporting the best Porn Stache this side of Keith Hernandez. He also began to hit, removing a gaping hole at the bottom of the lineup. Alas, he slumped at the end of the season, and Chris Woodward was not a suitable replacement. The hope this year is that Damion Easley can spell 'Stache every once in a while, keeping him fresh.

Finally, we have PLD. Acquired in a trade from the Marlins, PLD came with the rep of slumping in the second half of the season. Many were worried that Omar had given away too much in the trade by moving Gaby Hernandez, while he could have signed Bengie Molina or Ramon Hernandez. By the end of the season, most were eating crow. PLD set the tone for this team, adding a bit of swagger. He was not afraid to call for an inside pitch. He was not afraid to call out an umpire (though he needs to dial this down a tad). He was a very good #2 hitter behind Reyes, taking enough pitches to allow Jose Jose Jose to run, and still hitting .318. All this while battling tabloid reports about his gambling and love life (Paulie likes the fillies and the young 'uns), as well as a bad ligament in his thumb. He had surgery to fix the thumb, and I'm hoping someone is going to validate the ages of his friends this year. Oh, and Joey Bagadonuts, Paulie asks that you stop calling him, he ain't betting anymore.

There are a few areas of concern in regards to the lineup as we get ready to invade St. Louis April 1st. PLD has had a poor spring, though he has battled the flu and other ailments. Willie has had Wright batting 2nd a few times this spring, as a possible PLD replacement if he struggles.

Green and Alou have also struggled, though this is the norm for them in regards to poor ST stats. That being said, the Mets need at least one of them to produce up to past high standards. Replacing both would be tough.

Is Delgado totally healthy after the surgery? He says he is, and if so, and he can improve on last year, this lineup is going to be dangerous.

As for the bench, we have Endy of course. Ramon Castro will be the #2 catcher. Ageless Julio (DP) Franco will be there. That leaves room for Easley and David Newhan. Easley is the backup infielder, and Newhan gives us scrappiness, which we have to hope is not crappiness. If Newhan struggles, we would see Ben Johnson, though that limits Willie's infield options if there is an injury to Valentin and Easley has to start a lot.

All in all, the lineup looks to be one of the top in the game, much less the NL. There are 3 - 4 MVP candidates (Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, possibly Wright).

Part II, where I look at the pitchers, will come within the week.

Blast away if you feel the need. Or, you can show a little love.