Mar
23
2013

As Opening Day Beckons, Mets Still Have A Very Unsettled Batting Order

An article by John Delcos

terry collins spring 2 There must be times Mets manager Terry Collins sits in his office with the door shut, puts his head in his head and wonders how he is going to handle his team.

There are probably times he thinks retirement might not be such a bad thing.

In most camps, positions and batting orders are set a week from Opening Day. That isn’t the case with the Mets, where Collins is still juggling his options with one eye on the calendar.

Maybe he’s hoping that blizzard in Denver last night during the soccer game hits Citi Field on Monday.

In fairness, the order hasn’t been helped by the absences of David Wright and Daniel Murphy. Also, in fairness, he doesn’t have much to work with, as there will be no late arriving help for a roster, such that it is, that for the most part is set.

However, there’s nothing fair about baseball, and a manager must figure out what to do with the cards he’s dealt, good or bad. That’s his job; that’s what Collins signed up for.

There are times the batting order is a team’s GPS, as it tells you exactly where the team his headed. Today’s line-up is indicative of Collins’ dilemma:

Collin Cowgill, CF: If they aren’t going to carry Matt den Dekker in center, then Cowgill is the best option defensively. He’s there today, but has moved around all spring both in the outfield and his position in the order. It was thought Ruben Tejada could lead off, but he’s not hitting.
Justin Turner, 2B: With Wright out, Turner is supposed to play third. So why is he at second today? He’s hitting second, as has at least half a dozen Mets this spring. It’s clear the Mets aren’t settled at the No. 2 spot in the order.
Marlon Byrd, RF: I recently suggested Byrd hit third because he’s a veteran and arguably one of their more versatile hitters. I didn’t say best. If Byrd has the inside track to hit third, he should stay there this week. Byrd appears to have won the right field job from Mike Baxter.
Ike Davis, 1B: Hitting him third was never a good idea, but he has the most power. Clean-up figured to be his spot, so he never should have been hitting anywhere else this spring.
John Buck, C: I was wondering when they were going to insert a right-handed hitter between strikeout-prone Davis and Lucas Duda. Righty or lefty, somebody needs to hit between them as you can’t afford a combined 300 potential strikeouts hitting back-to-back.
Lucas Duda, LF: Duda is here for his power potential. But, with it comes his high strikeout potential and low on-base percentage. The Mets sent him down last year when he struggled, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same thing this summer. He’s still a work in progress, both at the plate and in the field.
Zach Lutz, 3B: He’s hit clean-up this spring, which is pointless because that’s for Davis. He’s still getting reps at third base, which means they are thinking of him there. That would also mean they are also thinking of Turner at second and not Jordany Valdespin.
Ruben Tejada, SS: Tejada is having the kind of spring offensively that would have sent most players to the minors. The Mets don’t have the depth to make that move. Until he starts hitting, he stays eighth.
Rafael Montero, RHP: Getting the spot start today because there are already holes in the rotation.

Sad to say, the only consistent and sure thing about the Mets’ batting order is the pitcher hitting ninth.

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

13 Comments + Add Comment

Russell's Mets March 23, 2013 at 11:42 am

From what has been said the last few days it sounds like Murphy will start the season on the DL, and Wright will be ready for opening day.

So here’s your opening day line up.

1. Valdespin RF
2. Tejada SS
3. Wright 3B
4. Davis 1B
5. John Buck C
6. Lucas Duda LF
7. Collin Cowgill CF
8. Turner 2B
9. Niese P

Tejada hasn’t hit a lick yet so they might be tempted to put him in 8th and Turner 2nd in the line up, but Tejada does well batting 2nd, historically.
- Russell's Mets March 23, 2013 at 12:16 pm
  
  oops I meant to put in Byrd batting 7th not Cowgill.
  - Jim March 23, 2013 at 12:41 pm
    
    Would valdespin play CF instead of Byrd? I’m not sure which position valdespin has been playing this spring
    - Russell's Mets March 23, 2013 at 12:50 pm
      
      he can play either RF or Center. Has played both positions.
- METS62FAN March 24, 2013 at 10:51 am
  
  RUSSELL, NOT BAD; BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS WHERE U IGNORE ST #s IN FAVOR OF PAST SEASON “PROVENS”
  
  PRESUMING MURPHY & WRIGHT ARE IN THE LINEUP MORE OFTEN THAN BOT, FOR THOSE GAMES, MY PREFERRED LINEUP WOULD BE
  1) COWGILL-CF
  2) TEJADA-SS (WILL EVENTUALLY “LISTEN” & RETURN TO CONTACT HITTING)
  3) MURPHY-2B(PERENNIAL 290+ HITTER WITH SINGLE DIGIT HR POP HISTORICALLY)
  4) DAVIS-21B
  5)WRIGHT-3B(PERFECT PROTECTION FOR DAVIS & IF LOOGIE BROUGHT TO FACE MURPH & DAVIS WRIGHT GETS HNM REMOVED BEFORE DUDA HITS)
  6) DUDA-LF
  7) BYRD-RF
  8)BUCK-C
  9)PITCHER
  
  DESPITE CURRENT TWINGES EFFECTING THEIR CURRENT APPEARANCE DATA, I’M COMFORTABLE HISTORICAL STASTS ON TEJADA & MURPHY WILL BEAR OUT MY SELRECTION OF THEIR SPOT. AS I STATED WRIGHT BATING 5 HNOT ONLY EFFECTIVLY BREAKS UP THE BACK-BACK DAVIS/DUDA SEQUENCE IT WILL BENEFIT BOTH ESPECIALLY IF LATE GAME SITUATION CAUSES OPPOSING MNGR TO USE HIS TOP LOOGIE TO FACE MURPHY THEN DAVIS, MORE THAN LUIKRELY THAT BULLET IS SPENT BREFORE WRIGHT’S AB ASSURING DUDA A RHP UNLESS THE MNGR WISHES TO BLOW HIS ENTIRE PEN TO SMITHEREENS.
  
  BTW, MY BENCH DEPLOYMET OF VALDESPIN(LHH) TURNRE(RHH) & QUINTANILLA
  (INFIELD-DEFENSE)
Jim March 23, 2013 at 12:39 pm

What do you guys think the AAA batting and pitching order look like to start the season?
BrooklynsOwn March 23, 2013 at 1:25 pm

Cowgill is proving why he’s a career minor leaguer, the more major league pitching he sees the more he gets exposed. Won’t be playing everyday come June 1st, if that.
OmarsLegacy March 23, 2013 at 2:08 pm

CC isn’t a major league player. The fact he’s on this team is testament to how weak a team we’re going to field. The Mets should simply go with their youth and see what happens. Worthless players like Cowhill and Byrd will not help them. Cowhill is Andres Torres reincarnated. Why another scrub? It makes no sense.
DrDooby March 23, 2013 at 4:48 pm

Vs LHP:
1 Cowgill, cf
2 Tejada, ss
3 Wright, 3b
4 Davis, 1b
5 Byrd, rf
6 Buck, c
7 Duda, lf
8 Turner, 2b ( with Murph)

Vs RHP
1 Valdespin, rf
2 Turner,2b
3 Wright, 3b
4 Davs, 1b
5 Byrd, cf
6 Duda, lf
7 Buck, c
8 Tejada,ss

That’s pretty much what I expect for now. It’ll look better once Murphy is back.
Mr North Jersey March 23, 2013 at 5:47 pm

Recognizing that it’s only Spring Training but one of the things that I feel a bit more confident in as we head into the season has been the play from our catchers. Buck has had a solid Spring both with the bat and the glove and what I have seen of Recker I don’t have much to complain about thus far. If d’Arnaud can also continue to get his at bats and remain healthy along with some of the other catchers in the system the Mets may actually end up with more depth at catcher than I have seen in some time.
Lifelongmetsfan March 23, 2013 at 11:12 pm

2b Valdespin
ss Tejada
1b Davis
Lf Duda
Rf Cowgill
3b Turner
Cf Van Deker
C Buck
P

In July 2013 after Valdespin and Duda and a pitcher are traded for a real major league power bat outfielder and hopefully Van Deker develops, Travis D. comes up

Cf Van Deker
LF Valdespin
3b Wright
1b Davis
RF Real Live Major League power hitting outfielder
C Travis D.
2b Murphy
SS Tejada
P

We’re going to lose anyway we minus well see what Van Deker and Valdespin can do…
- Trs86 March 23, 2013 at 11:15 pm
  
  Den
  - van March 23, 2013 at 11:17 pm
    
    Vright.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	42	30	.583	-
Phillies	35	37	.486	7.0
Nationals	34	36	.486	7.0
Mets	27	40	.403	12.5
Marlins	22	48	.314	19.0

Last updated: 06/19/2013

Latest From Mets Minors

Tweets by @Mets_Minors

Check Out These Great MLB Links!

For wholesale prices on New York Mets gifts and equipment, check these stores out!
Mets Autograph Signings
Mets Fan Apparel
Mets Autographed Baseballs
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Equipment

For the best seats and lowest MLB ticket prices, go to PurchaseSeats.com. Get your Mets Tickets now and follow them on the road with Yankees Tickets, Phillies Tickets, Nationals Tickets and Braves Tickets!