Comments on: Mets Starting Lineup and Rotation Taking Shape

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:30:31 +0000

NORTH, MURPHY DOESN’T HAVE A 3rd GEAR WITH A PROPENSITY FOR CREATING A VAST # OF DOUBLE PLAYS, I FEAR YOUR LINEUP WOULD ACCOUNT FOR TOO MANY VACANT BASE SITUATIONS FOR THE 3,4,5,6 SLUGGERS, UNLESS THEY TRY A BIT OF CHACANERY BY REASSIGNING GEREN TO 1B COACH & GOODWIN TO BENCH DUTIES THUS THEY MAY CATCH A FEW OPPOSING PITCERS PANICING WHEN GLANCING TO 1B & SEEING A #7 JERSEY THERE(LMAO)

By: Hitman

Hitman — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:22:14 +0000

I’m not buying Collins’s projected starting lineup. I wouldn’t put Wright in the #3 spot to start the season, unless he’s like a house of fire coming out the gate. I have disliked Wright batting 3rd for about 2-3 seasons now. In fact, I’d run whether one of these 3 (hypothetical) lineups come Opening Day….

Lineup A

1. Tejada- SS
2. Murphy- 2B
3. Davis- 1B
4. Duda- RF
5. Bay- LF
6. Wright- 3B
7. Nieuwenhuis* -CF
8. Thole- C

*-I’m gonna leave Torres out of my projected lineup because I’m one of the people that think Kirk can exceed expectations and open Collins’s eyes enough to win the job out of ST. I still see Torres as a bat off the bench, pinch runner or for defensive purposes.

Lineup B

1. Tejada- SS
2. Thole- C
3. Murphy- 2B
4. Davis- 1B
5. Duda- RF
6. Wright- 3B/Bay- LF (doesn’t matter to me who goes where between these two in the #6-7 spot)
7. Bay- LF/Wright – 3B
8. Torres- CF

Can’t see this one happening, but Collins could possibly jumble a lineup like this somewhere in the season.

Lineup C

1. Tejada- SS
2. Nieuwenhuis- CF
3. Duda- RF
4. Davis- 1B
5. Murphy- 2B
6. Bay- LF
7. Wright- 3B
8. Thole- C

I could see Lineup A happening this season, but it wouldn’t bother me if it transcends to Lineup C (keep your fingers crossed for Wright & Bay’s bats showing up this season.)

By: trs86

trs86 — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:41:46 +0000

Point taken.

By: Donal

Donal — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:39:17 +0000

Well, that just means we look at what we mean by “ideal leadoff hitter”. Is speed a requirement? Obviously OBP should be. If the guy is going to hit 50+ XBH, will that make up for a lack of stolen bases?

I think the Mets have a chance now to show some creativity. Let guys establish their own roles instead of being slaves to conventional thinking that may not apply to them.

By: Lifelongmetsfan

Lifelongmetsfan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:01:16 +0000

I can’t believe Santana will be ready to pitch, just doesn’t seem to make sense. Didn’t I read reports just a month ago that Santana would not be ready until mid-late May earliest??
As far as the lineup goes, we need to letghen out the lineup… #6, #7 #8 are wimpy weak..

Put Murphy #3
Ike Davis #4
David Wright #5
Jason Bay #6

That leaves the #2 position.. Josh Thole has to hit #2
This exposes Andres Torres but we have to legthen out the lineup otherwise why throw a strike to #5 or #6??
I would walk Jason Bay every day of the week to face Duda
And I would certainly never give Duda a pitch to hit with thole and Tejada following him.

But with Wright #5, Bay #6 and Duda #7 more good pitches to hit for our most productive hitters

By: Ed in Florida

Ed in Florida — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:33:12 +0000

WHY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDING JUSTIN TURNER? He was awesome last year and can be HUGE for us?!?!

By: jdon

jdon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:48:18 +0000

I actually think that Tejada will have a much better OBP than Torres at season’s end. I also would bat Thole eighth. I cannot stand Thole.

By: t agee

t agee — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:26:53 +0000

Don’t like it. Torres and Tejada getting the most AB’s on the team. Being able to throw a LHP against Murphy and Davis in the 7th, 8th or 9th. Automatic K’s back to back against RH relief pitchers with Wright and Bay and then another LHP if need be to neutralize Duda and Thole.

Sure you can PH Hairston and Nickeas for Duda and Thole and PH again in the 9th spot but now your getting into dangerous territory.

Sorry, don’t like it.

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:53:37 +0000

I dig it. I said last year Murphy should bat third. The only thing I don’t love is clogging the bases so much. I’d begin with Wright 4th and Duda 5th and see how everyone responds.

By: USMF

USMF — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:50:48 +0000

That’s my line up-good left/right mix and you keep Thole and Rubin separated…It really depends on how Tejada hits during the season.

By: Vinny

Vinny — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:44:00 +0000

Honestly i can see Murphy hitting 3rd in the lineup. One of best averages last yr in the league and got the ability to get on base and smash a homer every once in a while. Here’s my ideal lineup:
1. Andres Torres
2. Ruben Tejada
3. Daniel Murphy
4. Ike Davis
5. David Wright
6. Jason Bay
7. Lucas Duda
8. Josh Thole
9. Pitcher

By: stick

stick — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:04:52 +0000

Alex, just based on their respective talents, I would hit Tejada 1 and Murphy 2. That way, I could see a lot more cases of murphy on 2nd with a run in vs. murphy on 2nd and Tejada on 1st (if they both get on in the first inning). I just see Murphy as more of a run producer and doubles machine, but not a particularly high OBP guy.

and in the middle, I have no problem with Wright 5th, but I really don’t want to see Wright and Bay back to back if they are still both racking up Ks. I am not that worried about the 2 lefties (Duda I expect to hit LHP fine), and if Ike is getting the job done vs. LHP too, then no issue really.

Oh, the other thing your line up does is put the slower guys (ike and duda) in front of the guys that still have wheels (bay and wright).

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:57:39 +0000

Bay can hit the bricks as far as I’m concerned.

By: stick

stick — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:56:10 +0000

can Bay hit the pine instead when there is a RHSP?

By: stick

stick — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:53:10 +0000

plus until Wright proves he is hitting like it is 2007 again, I don’t care to see him and bay back to back either!

By: stick

stick — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:50:42 +0000

I look at it as OBP for an 8 hole guy that isn’t looking to swing (say, Castillo) is not likely to translate if they move to the top of the order, where they will never be worked around.

Heck, last year Tejada had 3 IBBs. Not sure if they came when he was hitting 8th, but I would certainly lean that way.

hitting 1/2, pitchers are more likely to come right after the weak sticks, aring them to swing, since they don’t have the pitcher up next.

By: kingman 26

kingman 26 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:49:02 +0000

Actually, my wise and very esteemed friend and blog leader, debating utterly closed-minded people with middling baseball knowledge is perhaps the MOST pathetic thing on display here.

By: kingman 26

kingman 26 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:39:48 +0000

Bay hitting cleanup?

Uh, I don’t think this will be considered for a second.

By: Fonzie13

Fonzie13 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:35:30 +0000

Good thing Reyes is gone otherwise we’d have two chokers, right?

By: XtreemIcon

XtreemIcon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:14:39 +0000

I don’t think the Mets can go wrong here simply because they can’t really go right here. There are no prototypical leadoff hitters on the roster. Probably the best guy suited to hit leadoff (OBP + speed) is Wright, and obviously he can’t hit there, but therein lay the bigger problem. I think ultimately Tejada would be better suited for the leadoff spot, but only if he keeps developing the way he did last season.

Torres is the best option by default until we know more about Tejada. There are far more Tejada detractors than there are supporters as far as his ability to start and play every day on a contender, and if the people on that that side of the fence are right, a lot of pressure will be on Torres to return to his 2009-2010 numbers. If you ask me, one of the biggest Tejada supporters out there, I’d rather put the pressure on Torres the vet than Tejada the 21-year-old right now. In May, after 100 PAs, we’ll know more and adjust accordingly.

Also, Bay hits 6th. In every lineup.