Introducing Your 2012 New York Mets Lineup:

then he should not be playing, also are the mets electing not to have a 9th hitter?

Actually, a lineup of say
1) Pagan
2) Murphy
3) Davis
4) Wright
5) Duda
6) Bay
7) Thole
8) Tejada
isn´t all that bad and actually could provide above average offense if the injury bug finally moves on and David Wright & Ike Davis play up to their capabilities. It doesn´t seem far-fetched to assume that 6 or more of these players will post a .350+ OBP in 2012, having done so or having come very close in 2011 and/or 2010. Sure, it´s not a flashy lineup. However, this lineup may not be worse than than the lineup put out their by the Phillies, Braves, Nationals and maybe Marlins (if they don´t sign Reyes, if they do, the Marlins probably have the best lineup in the NL East).

The Mets main problem in recent years – and probably in 2012 as well – has been their lack of quality pitching. Sure, RA Dickey is a great # 2/3 SP on a contender. Jon Niese is approaching that status too and needs to stay healthy for a full season for a change. Those two are set.
However, we don´t know whether Johan Santana will be able to pitch every 5th day, 30 times next year and whether he´ll be anywhere near the pitcher he was from 2008-2010, let alone before.
Mike Pelfrey is a # 4/5ish innings gobbler who lacks an out pitch. Dillon Gee is gutsy but probably a cheap # 5 starter. If Santana were healthy and Pelfrey turns into an ace next year, the rotation is fine. If not – which is highly likely – we keep waiting on Harvey, Wheeler, Familia, etc. hoping one of them comes through eventually by 2013 or 2014.

And the bullpen has been a mess for years. Give this team a bullpen like it had in 1999 / 2000 or even 2006 / 2007 and it´ll be in contention.

However, that also doesn´t appear all too likely.

So, again, with the above mentioned lineup, this team could seriously contend if

1. 1 health isn´t a big issue for regulars (we´re due for better health, so I believe that´s likely)
2. 2 the Pelfrey & Santana post totals at least in the range of their 2010 production or better (unfortunately, highly unlikely)
3. 3 the bullpen turns from one of the worst in the league into one of the best in the NL (unlikely to happen quickly without the emergence of Mets versions of Kimbrel & Venters)

Well done, Crazy Remy. Also, I didn’t know Angel Pagan was capable of winning a decathlon and a marathon. Very informative stuff!

but this exceeded even my wildest dreams. A beautifully crafted, expertly written and thoroughly researched masterpiece sure to go down in the annals of AA history. And you even ended it in a thought-provoking poll! The only thing it’s missing is a “Small Market Sandy” reference.

However, why would the announcer put the emphasis on the first “a” in Pagan’s name? That’s where you lost me, Remy.

the youngest DH in MLB actually fielding a position

But you get a rec regardless.