Mets Likely Starting Lineup

by Eric Simon on Mar 23, 2009 11:20 AM EDT

Now that it looks like Daniel Murphy will probably bat second, I think we have a pretty good idea of what the Mets' starting lineup will look like come Opening Day.

1. Jose Reyes
2. Daniel Murphy
3. David Wright
4. Carlos Beltran
5. Carlos Delgado
6. Ryan Church
7. Brian Schneider
8. Luis Castillo

Wright and Beltran might flip, but otherwise I think this is it. Delgado, Church and Schneider would make three consecutive lefties, but I don't know that there's a better way to construct the lineup. Whatever you gain by splitting them up you would lose (and then some) by giving Wright or Beltran fewer plate appearances. Then again, the optimal lineup has Wright batting fifth anyway, so maybe we'll see Delgado hitting cleanup and Beltran hitting third. So, I guess what I'm saying is that we know Murphy is hitting second, and we know these other guys will be in there somewhere. Other than that, pfft, who knows?

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I don't know if it was a recent quote

But I remember Manuel being quoted as saying Delgado was going to hit clean up.

by Gina on Mar 23, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah

If he seems healthy and he’s covering the ball, I have a feeling that’s what we’ll see. I’d prefer that in a way too, get a bit more speed in the five hole, whether its Beltran or Wright, and break up the lefties a bit.

by Mark Himmelstein on Mar 23, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Lefty/righty

My guess is he does his typical lefty/righty matchup.

Lefthander on the mound, Beltran cleanup, Delgado 5th.
Righty on the mound, Delgado cleanup, Beltran 5th.

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 23, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

One better way to construct the lineup:

Play the catcher who’s a better hitter AND a RHB.

by JoshNY on Mar 23, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

And who isn't on the disabled list

I love Hippo just as much as the next guy. But I really believe that the more AB’s he gets, the less productive he is. I have a feeling that if we started Castro, we would eventually hate him. And no one wants that.

"One of the nice things about baseball is that there are no rules you can't break." - Jim Bouton

by Prince on Mar 23, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe you're right

by JoshNY on Mar 23, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

weak

i dunno,
im semi-excited about this upcoming season, but the more i look at the lineup the more i get doubts in my head.
they have some exciting players in reyes, wright, and beltran. But the uncertainty with Everyone in the lineup makes me shake my head and get ready for dissapointment again. Not one person is a serious clutch hitter. I love reyes wright and beltran. but since they lost to the cardinals a few years back it just seems like no one can come up with the big hit consistently.
The big bats will produce through the season, i believe that, but the real NEED now for this team is the bottom of the order to produce.
Church could be a threat… kinda like what nady was when he came over to the mets. Nothing SUPER, but would come up with timely hits. Church played well last year till his brain got rattled.
Castillo… all we can hope for is some sort of resurgence of his florida marlin days. get him in a groove and then stick him back in the 2 spot and pull murphy down the lineup for more strength at the bottom.
Then that brings up the whole too many lefties in the line up, which is why its probably better that way you posted.

im excited about the bullpen being able to lock down games finally this season.
im excited for citi field.
but the past 2 seasons leave that lingering doubt in all mets fans minds.

by ImaMoose on Mar 23, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions