{"id":864,"date":"2010-12-10T09:25:58","date_gmt":"2010-12-10T14:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ceetar.com\/optimisticmetsfan\/?p=864"},"modified":"2010-12-09T23:09:41","modified_gmt":"2010-12-10T04:09:41","slug":"ddl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ceetar.com\/optimisticmetsfan\/2010\/12\/10\/ddl\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mets Drastically Different Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s likely the Mets Opening Day lineup will contain seven of nine different names. \u00a0Mike Pelfrey will likely be pitching instead of Johan Santana, which definitely hurts, but offensively the team will be starting the season off on a much better foot. \u00a0We’ve got Ike Davis at first instead of Mike Jacobs. \u00a0Probably Daniel Murphy at second base instead of Luis Castillo. \u00a0Jose Reyes instead of Alex Cora. Josh Thole instead of Rod Barajas. \u00a0Angel Pagan instead of Jeff Francoeur and Carlos Beltran instead of Gary Matthews Jr. <\/span><\/div>\n

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Alex Cora\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jose Reyes<\/span>
\nLuis Castillo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Angel Pagan<\/span>
\nDavid Wright \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Carlos Beltran<\/span>
\nMike Jacobs \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 David Wright<\/span>
\nJason Bay \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Ike Davis<\/span>
\nGary Matthews Jr.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Jason Bay<\/span>
\nJeff Francoeur \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Daniel Murphy<\/span>
\nRod Barajas \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Josh Thole<\/span>
\nJohan Santana \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Mike Pelfrey<\/span><\/div>\n

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Doesn’t that make you feel a little better about 2011? \u00a0Jacobs and Matthews didn’t get a ton of time, but the other four guys did. \u00a0Add in a non-concussed Jason Bay and that lineup really should compete with anyone. <\/span>
\nI know there is some reservations about not making big changes and running out the same lineup in a “hope and pray” scenario that no one gets hurt and guys return to some semblance of career average, but there is a little bit of hope and crossing of fingers for every player. \u00a0It’s easy for some, particularly boisterous talk show hosts, to look at the Mets situation and not see how Mets fans would want to come out to watch the same guys play that have failed in years past. \u00a0It’s easy to assign blame to the guys that were a part of it all and that are more front and center, easier to pick at Reyes’ animated behavior or one pitch that beat Beltran. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The problem hasn’t been that Beltran or Reyes are bad players, but that they haven’t been healthy. Injuries happen. \u00a0They’ll happen in 2011 as well. \u00a0Alderson doesn’t need to sign big flashy players, but a couple of guys that provide more acceptable backup numbers than what we’ve gotten in past years would go a long way. \u00a0Players could get rest when they needed it. The Mets could be more conservative with injuries without feeling the need to have players play hurt, not go on the DL, or be rushed back from injury before they’re ready. <\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest reasons for the Mets failures the last couple of years are in the first column, not the second. \u00a0And the biggest reason they might not succeed in 2011 (Obviously we’re talking offense right now. \u00a0The Mets pitched well last year, we’ll see what’s in store in 2011) is if the lineup features 2011’s version of Mike Jacobs a little too regularly. <\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 It’s likely the Mets Opening Day lineup will contain seven of nine different names. \u00a0Mike Pelfrey will likely be pitching instead of Johan Santana, which definitely hurts, but offensively the team will be starting the season off on a much better foot. \u00a0We’ve got Ike Davis at first instead of Mike Jacobs. \u00a0Probably Daniel … <\/p>\n

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