30
2011
Is It Time To Move Pagan Back To Top Of The Order?
An article by 
Since coming off the disabled list, Angel Pagan has been a hitting machine.
With his hot return, it begs the question of whether Terry Collins should re-insert Pagan into the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
As Pagan regains his stroke, Justin Turner continues handling the bat well, which is ideal for a No. 2 hole hitter.
Daniel Murphy has also been hitting well as of late and may see time in the second spot once Ike Davis and David Wright return, though the timetable for that is very uncertain.
Pagan back in the two hole might be just what the Mets need to maintain a consistent offensive attack atop the order. Jose Reyes has been getting on base at an incredible rate and needs someone behind him that will constantly drive him in or move him over so someone else can drive him in.
Pagan can do both of these tasks very well. However, Turner has shown a similar prowess.
If the Mets decide to keep Turner in the No. 2 spot, Pagan would continue hitting in the sixth position as more of a run producer. He has the tools to fill this role, but it is not as suited for his game.
Pagan is a better two hole hitter for this team based on the one major advantage he has over Turner: speed. Turner is by no means slow, but he is a double-play candidate if he hits a hard ground ball. Avoiding an instant double-play whenever Reyes gets on base is key for the Mets in scoring runs.
Turner has also shown a little pop, which makes him a good fit for the sixth or seventh position in the batting order.
Collins will experiment with Pagan in leadoff position in the second game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, since Reyes has been placed on the bereavement list for the death of his grandmother.
Depending on how this works out, Pagan may settle into the top of the order, but in the second spot instead of the first.
This would be the possible batting order: Reyes, Pagan, Beltran, Bay (which I don’t like but does create a balance), Murphy, Turner, Catcher, Tejada. It’s not exactly Murderer’s Row, but it’s a lineup that can rely on speed and timely hitting to manufacture runs.
We’ll see what Collins decides to do for the long haul. Though I’d like to see Pagan in the two hole, I’d love to hear other opinions on why or why not this is a good fit.
Follow me on Twitter @ JMMancari.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t tinker with Reyes and Turner batting 1-2 unless it stops producing. We have the best 1-2 punch in the NL at the top of the order with those two, and to try and upset that chemestry would be insane in my opinion. Let Pagan bat fifth or sixth depending on matchups.
I like Pagan up higher but I wouldn’t change a thing now. I would bat Pagan leadoff until Reyes is back though but Angel can be huge for us down in the order. Great baserunning and stolen bases in front of singles hitter is far more beneficial than in front of HR hitters.
I’m curious to see what Reyes, Turner/Murphy, Davis, Beltran, Wright, Bay, Pagan and Thole/Paulino could do.
Leave one and two alone…….at least for now.
Iagree. Angel is fast. But if you think he is a great baserunner, think again. The only thing angel does great is run fast.
I’d put him in leadoff while Reyes is on bereavement leave, but once Jose comes back move Pagan back to the middle of the lineup.
Mets bast the Pirates back to the Caribbean. Read all about the offensive explosion at Midwestern Met: http://tiny.cc/gdcbz
You don’t mess with success so I too would leave turner in the 2 hole once Jose returns. Until Jose comes back, Terry Collins can use Angel Pagan as a leadoff hitter which Willie Harris is not. The biggest problem will be what to do with Turner when David Wright returns.
Justin has been terrific and deserves to play. Tejada has hit well so far and is brilliant in the field. Murphy as usual has been a good soldier and filled in adequately in the field as his bat warms up…..Tough choice for Terry!
Definitely put Angel to lead off until Jose returns cause Harris has no idea that a lead off hitter needs to take a few pitches, work the count allow those hitting behind him to see what the pitcher is throwing.
Harris swung at the 1st pitch he saw last night, twice, I screamed at the TV, does he not know what a lead off hitter does? Bad move by Collins, should of put Angel there.
Harris made some nice plays at 3b but he is a total liability in the lineup, doesn’t know how to work counts wherever he is in lineup. Please don’t let this happen again Terry.