Friday, January 14, 2005

Dreaming about baseball...

New York Mets Lineup as it tands Today (career averages)

AB

R

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SO

SB

AVG

J. Reyes

656

106

37

8

9

61

89

42

.283

K. Matsui

460

65

32

2

7

44

97

14

.272

C. Beltran

635

113

32

10

27

104

117

35

.284

M. Piazza

591

95

29

1

39

118

94

2

.315

D. Wright

263

41

17

1

14

40

40

6

.293

Cliff Floyd

536

86

38

3

23

88

94

2

.315

Mike Cameron

546

87

29

5

22

80

151

29

.248

Jason Phillips

485

52

27

0

12

58

58

0

.262












Prospective Mets

AB

R

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SO

SB

AVG

C. Delgado

570

101

39

1

38

120

141

1

.282

S. Sosa

608

105

26

3

43

116

160

18

.277

A. Byrnes

476

82

30

6

16

59

87

14

.271

J. Olerud

560

85

37

1

19

90

75

1

.295

M. Ordonez

616

101

39

2

30

114

70

13

.307








My Comments

As baseball approaches again, it always makes me happy to look at the possibilities for the upcoming season and think in utopian terms about how the team will do, and how the players will do individually. Today I have just been thinking about personal and the batting order. Perhaps other things will crop up in later posts, but I don't see myself writing a whole lot of posts on this, so if there are any who are put off by sports, don't be discouraged.

The batting order above seems to me to be what they will likely do at the opening of the season if the personnel stays as is. Of course, there is not likely any way that Jason Phillips will start the season at first base. Nor is there much chance that both Cameron and Floyd will both be in the outfield. The rest of the lineup will likely be the same. Best case scenario in my opinion is that the Mets will go after Ordonez, NOT Delgado; trade Floyd for Byrnes (or anyone?), NOT Sosa; keep Cameron in right field; and bring in Olerud to play first, maybe Mientkiewicz from Boston.
I don't like bringing in Delgado, even with his career numbers as they are. It just smells like Mo Vaughan to me. Maybe he comes and has a great year, maybe two, but his injury last year and the long slump worries me. I also don't think that he is worth a 4 year deal for 60 mil which is what it will take to get him. His defense is lackluster as well and will continue to downgrade as he gets older. Olerud is the best to fill the void until a young hot shot can come up or they can trade or bring in a better free agent. His defense is impeccable and he has enough offense and OBP to make a good 6 hole hitter, or maybe even 3.
Speaking of the 3 hole... There is no way to put Beltran in that spot. He thrived in the 2 hole in Houston and in the playoffs and David Wright is the best average hitter in the list. You gotta keep the kid in the 3 hole and watch him blossom. The numbers he put up for a rookie were incredible, and in only 69 games. He'll hit over 30 homers and knock in well over 100 RBI.
Mike Piazza... Everyone is talking about his crappy numbers from last year. When he was healthy as a catcher he hit .337 against .221 as a first baseman. I knew it from the beginning that he would suck at first. He is a good defensive catcher but he has no arm. I think if he stays at catcher he will put up normal numbers (30hr, 100+ rbi) if he is healthy. Otherwise you trade him to an AL team for a catcher and some prospects, but I think that would be a mistake. I think he has something to prove after an embarrassing season switching back and forth between 1B and C.

2005 Hopes

Reyes finally plays a full season in the bigs without injury (he is just tearing up winter ball!).
Kaz Matsui figures out how to throw an MLB sized baseball from second to first and gets his bat out of his arse. (some of his swings were really ugly last year)
Piazza stays healthy and no longer has to worry about changing positions.
Cameron gets to 30/30 this year (missed by 4 SB last year).
Beltran is Beltran.
Pedro is Pedro (I'll take his '04 numbers).
ASIDE - with Pedro in the rotation, everybody drops a spot in the rotation. That makes Glavine one of the best #2's, Benson one of the best 3's and either Trachsel or Zambrano are easily the best 4 or 5 slot in the NL.
That of course must be weighed with Atlanta's addition of Hudson and the Cardinals addition of Mulder, both of which do similar things for their rotations, so perhaps this aside loses some of its purpose. END ASIDE
Whoever they get to play left field doesn't suck in the field or at the plate.
Get Magglio Ordonez to play left field.
Give up on Delgado, bring in Olerud or Mientkiewicz.
Don't even think about Sammy Sosa.

I believe that if these things come to pass, the Mets will be very difficult to beat in the NL East.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

no matter how good they are on paper before the season...the hapless mets will always find a way to blow it...go yanks

--JP$

Anonymous said...

This post is from the infamous FBB league champion...I think we all know my identity...first off...we must read this entire post on the upcoming 2005 Mets with a grain of salt...It was posted by a freaken Mets fan. Now back to reality...The Eastern division in the NL...Atlanta, Florida, and Philly all have better teams on paper and come nutt cuttin time. The Braves will be right at the top just like the last 15 years with Cox and Leo at the helm. The addition of Hudson and Kolb along with Smoltz in the rotation will be enough to improve the Braves pitching from a year ago...even with the lose of Wright. Throw in the 2nd season of a up and coming star (Adam LaRoche) at first base and the Braves will win the Division once again. Piazza is finished, Reyes is a china doll, I don't know what the hell you are smoking with Olerud...he is brutal at best...give me a break with the Defense...you better get Meorujuljdlfkzladfkjalz from the Red Sox instead. Pedro will be very good...but Glavine in the two hole is shady at best. Bullpen is not great...bottom line...get ready for a 75-87 win/loss season. this post has been issued to get delirious Met Fan back in his place. I love you Greg,

ML