Updated 3/22
I wanted to share Adam Rubin’s projected Opening Day roster which is not too dissimilar to what I projected.
Rotation: Jon Niese, Shaun Marcum, Matt Harvey, Dillon Gee and Jeremy Hefner.
Bullpen: Bobby Parnell, Brandon Lyon, LaTroy Hawkins, Scott Atchison, Josh Edgin, Pedro Feliciano and Greg Burke.
Infield: Ike Davis, Justin Turner, David Wright, Ruben Tejada and John Buck.
Outfield: Lucas Duda, Collin Cowgill and Jordany Valdespin.
Bench: Marlon Byrd, Mike Baxter, Anthony Recker, Omar Quintanilla and Zach Lutz.
I’m not sure about Lutz, but I do hope he makes the cut….
Original Post 3/18
Beat writers took to Twitter after today’s game and began posting their projected Opening Day lineups. With the reality now setting in that Johan Santana and David Wright could start the season on the DL, here is my projection for our opening day lineup as well as our 25 man roster. My notes follow.
Opening Day Lineup
- Jordany Valdespin, 2B
- Collin Cowgill, CF
- Marlon Byrd, RF
- Ike Davis, 1B
- Lucas Duda, LF
- John Buck, C
- Justin Turner, 3B
- Ruben Tejada, SS
- Jonathon Niese, P
Opening Day Roster
C : John Buck
1B: Ike Davis
2B: Jordany Valdespin
SS: Ruben Tejada
3B: Justin Turner
OF: Lucas Duda
OF: Collin Cowgill
OF: Marlon Byrd
Bench: Zach Lutz
Bench: Mike Baxter
Bench: Omar Quintanilla
Bench: Brandon Hicks
Bench: Anthony Recker
SP: Jonathon Niese
SP: Shaun Marcum
SP: Matt Harvey
SP: Dillon Gee
SP: Jeremy Hefner
RP: Bobby Parnell
RP: Brandon Lyon
RP: Scott Atchison
RP: LaTroy Hawkins
RP: Josh Edgin
RP: Greg Burke
RP: Pedro Feliciano or Robert Carson
DL: Frank Francisco, Johan Santana, David Wright, Daniel Murphy
Notes:
It looks like any shot that Kirk Nieuwenhuis had of making the team is now gone. It was my hunch all along. Matt den Dekker is another one who won’t be on the OD roster and as I’ve said before, until he can increase his contact rate we won’t see him unless the injury bug hits an already shaky outfield.
I have Mike Baxter making the team, but not because he earned the spot, the Mets have no depth and other options are hitting even worse than he is. Zach Lutz will see some time in the outfield in addition to third base. I don’t think Justin Turner is long for an everyday job and when Daniel Murphy and David Wright come back, I wonder if Turner gets waived.
As I’ve maintained, Travis d’Arnaud will not be on the roster come April 1 despite some scuttlebutt about that yesterday. Like I told another Met blogger yesterday, sandy Alderson does not make player moves based on the whims of fans. There is a methodology to everything that he does.
My sleeper to make the team was Jeremy Hefner back in early February and now he’s not only on the roster, but in the actual starting rotation itself. Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia will start the season in Triple-A they just don’t look like they are ready for the challenge. Not yet.
Still not sold that Alderson will go with just one lefty in the bullpen. The last two years haven’t worked out for the Mets when they went that route and I’d be shocked if they did it now with even worse right-handed crossover relievers than before.
We’ll see how close I came in 13 days when the Mets open the season against the San Diego Padres. You can get tickets to the game at Seat Crunch for the best seats and lowest prices.
