Kevin Kernan of the New York Post spoke to Mets manager Terry Collins who continues to say the Mets are heading for the playoffs in 2015.
“I really like our team. I am so excited. There were always big missing pieces in the past. Now there’s not. We’re not going to put a number on it, but we’re going to win. I don’t think that there is any question that we should be playing in October next year.’’
Collins told Kernan that he will likely go with this lineup to begin the season:
- Juan Lagares
- Curtis Granderson
- David Wright
- Lucas Duda
- Michael Cuddyer
- Daniel Murphy
- Travis d’Arnaud
- Wilmer Flores
Look for Cuddyer to play right, where he is most comfortable, and Granderson to move to left. Against certain lefties, Cuddyer will shift to first, with John Mayberry Jr. in right.
He also went onto say that all of this needs David Wright to really work, whom he looks at as the difference maker.
“Sure, everybody could use another bat, but the bat we need is No. 5,’’ Collins said of Wright, who is returning from a shoulder injury and will start hitting next month. “Cuddyer is a great signing, but believe me, when David gets healthy, that’s the difference. If he has a bounce-back year and does what he has done in the past, our lineup is completely different. That takes a lot of heat off the other guys.’’
Starting pitching is still the key and the return of Matt Harvey, and the rebuilt young bullpen, have Collins most excited.
“Every night, we’ve got somebody who can compete on that mound,’’ Collins said. “When you’ve got guys who night after night compete, you don’t go into big losing streaks. It’s tough to beat those kind of guys every night.”
“I can see Zack watching deGrom and Harvey, saying, ‘I can do that. Matter of fact I might be able to do better than they do.’ So now he steps up. This kid has grown up.’’
Kernan points out that or the first time in his five years as Mets manager, Collins is finally thinking big.
