Comments on: Terry Collins Confirms His Lineup (Almost)

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:04:32 +0000

Hitter, histiorically #5 is a big RBI production slot where far to0 less pressure packed situations as #6 is best reserved for future impact hitters like Heyward and what should have been Davis. Where Ike will have the “breathing room” to flourish & blossom without undue pressure of instantaneous production in the most pressurized situations. Take those 2009 Bay #s behind Beltran & u can’t minimize the pitching effect of a potent veteran on deck as opposed to a potentially vulnerable sophomore. Playing the percentasges, opposing pitchers are more likely to want less seasoned, more vulnerable Davis behind Beltran than the veteran Bay. Who’ll need to be faced seriously due to Davis’ potential to strike suddenly.
Hitter, it speaks to lengthening the linup effeciently that we’re able to both judstify our positions on this topic. a feat too many outsiders are choosing to ignore. Any lineup that goes all the way to 5 or 6 before a ‘?’ arises and further to 7 before an obvious potential weakness appears is a potentially dangerous lineup.

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:50:08 +0000

Meh, it’s January. I doubt this is set in stone. Someone just asked Collins “if you had to make a line up today, what would it be”?

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:47:34 +0000

Well, there’s that too. Murphy has pretty good control of the strike zone. If he wins out at 2B, it wouldn’t be insane to put him at the #2 spot.

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:45:46 +0000

I knew it was something he couldn’t handle. But ya, let him figure that out first. He’s still young and has time. Let him get that fixed. Maybe have Rickey Henderson teach him how to milk a strike zone.

By: alwaysnextyear

alwaysnextyear — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:25:52 +0000

I think the #s have more to do with the players around him, not the exact spot in the order. I really don’t see much difference between 5 and 6. Even mentally, since it should not change anyones approach (not like say leading off or hitting clean up could).

Bay hitting 5th should lead to a lot of production from him, especially if Ike has a solid year and flashes some power (meaning they will be more reluctant to pitch around him). reyes, pagan, wright, Beltran in front of him? He could get 100 RBIs by accident, even without cracking 20 HRs.

and if Bay rebounds to a more normal BA/OBP, meaning he is getting on base a lot, Ike could have even more RBI opportunities. Look at the 3 guys in front of him. Having normal years, they could easily average .380 or so OB with a ton of doubles. Should be lots of ducks on the pond for Ike too.

By: alwaysnextyear

alwaysnextyear — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:19:37 +0000

could it be……. Satan?

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:08:26 +0000

I’ll let the Mets decide who is a team leader I hope they base it more than just cause he hits well but if Bay hits like he did in Boston then we will at least have a solid Left Fielder.

That would be great for Bay’s sake cause another bad start in 2011 will do little to make himself more liked by fans.

By: Bayonne Mets Fan

Bayonne Mets Fan — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:02:50 +0000

If we get the old Jason Bay back then there’s your team leader. And if Beltran can play like his old self, without the knee brace, I think you’ll see a new Beltran and if things are going good he can be a leader type as well.

By: Hitman

Hitman — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:56:09 +0000

If he plays like the “Old Jason Bay”, more specifically the ’09 Jason Bay, he would be money in the 6th spot.

2009: .296/.429/.605/1.035

This was his line in the 6th spot, which he was in the 2nd most times (he batted cleanup the most). 12 of the 36 HRs he hit that year was in the 6th spot (he also has 12 HRs batting cleanup). If Ike Davis manages to show more discipline by cutting down on the strikeouts (which I predict he will) as well as the “Old Jason Bay” showing up in ’11, it won’t make a difference who’s 5th & 6th. Right now though, my choice would be to have Ike 5th & Bay 6th.

By: JerryG15

JerryG15 — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:36:41 +0000

That’s right because a projected lineup on January 17 is set in stone.

By: t agee

t agee — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:02:45 +0000

Good call Gina. Thole and Paulino could both wind up top as could Emaus if his minor league OB carries over to the Majors.

I know it won’t fly here but having high OB in front of your power and your stolen bases at the BOTTOM would really stretch this lineup.

By: t agee

t agee — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:55:41 +0000

Tejada was pretty good about NOT chasing the breaking ball. His difficulty was with the harder stuff especially up and inner half. His OB was .92 better than his BA. Nothing wrong with his eye, just needs to learn to get the higher strike called a ball and lay off it or increase the strength in his hands so they don’t get knocked off the bat when he doesn’t hit it perfect.

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:45:30 +0000

There’s no possible way Nickeas or Paulino beat out Thole for the everyday job. I dont know what Collins is thinking there. And I have a question, dont you think against right handers Thole should bat near the top of the order? He could be a solid number two guy like LoDuca was.

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:20:01 +0000

Hey, if he outperforms everyone* and shows vast improvement in plate discipline, why not?

*assuming that its because he got that much better rather than everyone got that bad. If its the latter, than there is still no point in promoting him.

By: Bayonne Mets Fan

Bayonne Mets Fan — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:05:44 +0000

maybe,

But we’ll see in spring training first.

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:56:15 +0000

You mean Ruben Tejada, who has never seen a breaking ball he couldn’t chase?

How about we give him some time in the minors, mmmkay?

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:50:14 +0000

Hitter, Angel has been that good for how long now? Sorry; but Jose is the quintessential leadoff hitter on this team with Angerl the #2 wingman; however I read the entire Post article & only recall TC’s st\ipulating 1-6 whre Bay’s superior career BA makes hiom a clearcut superir #5 to Ike; howeverr, I’m lostr as to whry anyone would put the Catching options @ 7 with the 2B options #8 when to me clearly the direct opposite is called for considering the personnel involved in the NL 7,8,9 comprise mostly the inconsequential third of the lineup where the most difficult slot is 8 where opposing pitchdemand u hit ONLY their pitch,ONLT where they put it, IMO the successful 8 is patient & not self involved ooy of PAULINO,THOLE,CASTILLO,EMAUS,MURPHY,HU the most likely 8 candidates are the last 4 who ALL seem well suited esp as CASTILLO,MURPHY,EMAUS all have exhibited great zone knowledge compiling good to excellent K::BB rates, HU as a defensive option is a minor consideration offensively in any slot.
My preferred lineup has always been:
REYES(SWH)
PAGAN(SWH)
WRIGHT(RHH)
BELTRAN(SWH)
BAY(RHH)
DAVIS(LHH)
PAULINO(RHH)/THOLE(LHH)
CASTILLO(SWH)/EMAUS(RHH)/MURPHY(LHH)
PITCHER
I fully anticipate the frontoffice edge goes to Emaus(obvious Riccardi pick) and should Murphy show as defensivly servicable Emaus would pair-up well for a defensivly adequate, offensively dangerous platoon(HU to the late inning defensive rescue!) BEST CASE scenerio is EMAUS/MURPHY prove out as slightly less powerful UGGLAesque 2B.

By: Donal

Donal — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:43:02 +0000

They are platooning. that has been well established. Thole will get the majority of time against right handed pitching but he is awful against lefties. Maybe this year he can work that out and he is the catcher for the forseeable future, but for now, they need to platoon him.

As someone who thinks the Mets should be all about winning in 2011, you should be embracing this strategy.

By: vinnie papandrea

vinnie papandrea — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:33:24 +0000

Everything I read about Emaus and Josh Turner for that matter, sounds like they would be good # 2′s (even Murphy) with Reyes 1 and Pagan 3 and everyone else moving down , it’s not a bad lineup. I hope we could Pitch. Capuano could be the offseason steal

By: Brandon Butler

Brandon Butler — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:29:31 +0000

Agreed. They didn’t sign him just so he can struggle throughout the year (up to the point when he got hurt). I agree that if one guy in the lineup gets hurt, and Jason Bay starts being the “Old Jason Bay” we knew he was from Boston, then i think he move from batting 6th in the lineup.