This post is for the sole purpose of providing the complete outlook of the players in the field and not the pitchers of the New York Mets for the 2008 MLB season.
The Mets projected lineup will most likely lead off with speedy shortstop Jose Reyes, followed by second baseman Luis Castillo, and third baseman David Wright. Reyes (my second favorite player in Major League Baseball) has shown signs this spring that he is likely to be one of the top shortstops again in the MLB. He is a very exciting player as he led the National League in stolen bases (78) for the third consecutive season, although his batting average went from .300 in the 2006 season to .280 in 2007 and was heavily criticized when he performed very poorly during the Met’s collapse in September. Castillo, an extremely quick player as well, re-signed with the Mets this offseason looking to pickup his fourth gold glove in five seasons and trying to help the Mets win the World Series, which would be his third. Wright was voted to his second MLB All-Star game in the 2007 season and finished fourth in NL MVP voting. He batted a very impressive .325 and joined the 30-30 club with 34 stolen bases and 30 home runs. He was awarded the 2007 Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Award at third base. The 25 year old has an extremely promising career and is looking to capitalize this season.
Following the three infielders is superstar center fielder Carlos Beltran and powerful first baseman Carlos Delgado. Beltran is known as a “five-tool player,” because of his excellent fielding skills, a good throwing arm, and the ability to hit for average, power, and steal bases. Although he had a better season in 2006, Beltran still had 33 home runs, 112 runs batted in, and 153 hits while earning his fourth consecutive MLB All-Star appearance. Beltran opened his mouth in the offseason after predicting the Mets will win the NL East this season, so now he must do the deed and fulfill his promise. Slugger Carlos Delgado didn’t put up his usual numbers last year only hitting 24 home runs and having a slugging percentage of .448, both were his lowest total since the 1995 season. He had a rough spring partially because of his hip injury and if he wants to be a key player in the championship run he has to be healthy, which is definitely a concern at the age of 35.
Rounding out the bottom of the lineup are all new Mets, starting with the number six hitter Ryan Church, followed by left fielder Angel Pagan, and finishing off with the catcher Brian Schneider. Church takes over for retired veteran Shawn Green in right field and is coming off an impressive season where he had career highs in many offensive categories and hopefully has finally found himself on a winning team. The third year Pagan will be starting in place of the injured Moises Alou and hopes to bring some some “pop” to the end of the lineup. The number eight hitter is the new man behind the plate, Brian Schneider. After catcher Paul Lo Duca was not re-signed in the offseason, the team needed someone new and traded for Schneider from the Washington Nationals over the winter. He isn’t a very offensive oriented catcher but is very reliable on the defensive part so he should be a good fit.
The Mets have a solid bench crew with veteran infielders Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson, outfielder Endy Chavez, and catcher Ramon Castro. Easley and Anderson are versatile players, both solid on the defensive end and can fill in for most infield positions. Chavez will be reserve outfielder for most of the season and is a good defensive player and has speed on the basepaths. Castro is likely to start the season on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring. Raul Casanova is the leading candidate to take Castro’s spot on the roster. When Castro is healthy, he has a good bat for a catcher (actually probably better then Schneider).
When it comes down to it, this is the year for the New York Mets. They have reached the playoffs just once over the past seven years, and after last year they are due for a big run. With Santana and Pedro leading things off and Billy Wagner closing on the pitching front- other hitters should be scared. Offensively, we know what they can do with the big bats of Reyes, Wright, Beltran, and Delgado. The other x-factor is the injured Moises Alou. If he is able to return from groin surgery, he will make New York’s lineup even more intimidating.
In the eye of Manager Willie Randolph, anything but becoming the World Series Champions is considered a failure.
