(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
There is a silver lining to the Mets' troubles this year. For the last few months, they have been conducting something close to open auditions for jobs next season, and this trial of players may very well prove to be a blessing.
Next year’s probable return of Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran will be the equivalent of signing two top free agents. The Mets may have found a Todd Helton type first baseman, Daniel Murphy. In fact he may be a rebirth of, shall I say it, Keith Hernandez. The way Hernandez talks about Murphy, he apparently sees real potential in Murphy as an impact player with both the glove and the bat.
Angel Pagan has demonstrated that he can play a decent centerfield, has speed, and can hit with some pop—I see him in left field in 2010. Yes, Pagan needs work on the base paths and with defensive decisions, but he has potential.
Next year the Mets’ starting lineup could look very interesting and it might look like this.
1 Pagan LF S
2 Castillo 2B S
3 Reyes SS S
4 Francoeur RF R
5 Beltran CF S
6 Wright 3B R
7 Murphy 1B L
8 Santos CF R
This lineup brings to spacious CitiField speed, some power, and a good balance with switch hitters, and left and right swingers. Next year might be the opportune time to bat Jose Reyes in the three spot. Certainly, Francoeur and Beltran both represent legitimate power in the middle of the lineup.
The big outfield at CitiField is an opportunity for the Mets to field one fine defensive outfield with outstanding speed in left and center and a fabulous arm in right.
Santos has demonstrated that he is durable, is a good defensive catcher, and can hit in the clutch and with enough power to be an asset at the plate for a defensive catcher, even if Jerry Manual is not sure of Santos’ being an every day catcher.
Wright and Murphy hitting sixth and seventh make this a formidable lineup. Opposing pitchers will not be able to pitch around any one player.
The bullpen appears to have some strength with Rodriguez, Putz, Feliciano, Green, Stokes, and Dessens, with the Mets in need of a tough lefty to add to the mix—Takahashi may not be the solution.
Starting pitching is a lock! Well, at least for the ace—Johan Santana. Since the Mets apparently are broke, don’t expect some quality free agent signings, but one can hope that the Mets will find four starters among a host of starting pitchers in their stable, who are returning next year. Starters coming back will be Maine, Perez, Redding, Nieve, Pelfrey, Parnell, Misch, Figueroa, Muniz, and Niese. Just forty percent of these pitchers need to be successful starters.
The best candidates riding the bench are Tatis, Cora, Martinez, Sullivan, Evans, and an as yet unknown catcher, Schneider should be gone for next year. Depending on contract status, the preferred infield backups are Cora and Tatis. Cora has shown leadership, good defense at both second and shortstop, and an adequate bat, while Tatis has demonstrated a very good glove at third and first, with a big stick—he will have to stop hitting into double plays.
Cory Sullivan has flashed a fine glove and a very strong and accurate arm in all three outfield positions. Mr. Evans, will need to show something in the next month and if he does, he might be a good stick off the bench, but he has competition. Let’s not forget Ramon Martinez who was quite adequate at both short and second and swung a good stick. However, of these candidates, there can only be four and a catcher.
Let us not forget the star of the future that arrived on the scene and fell flat on his face. This five tool player laid one very big egg in his debut at CitiField. The word “overmatched” does not quite cover the appearance of Fernando Martinez.
At least the Mets have some real possibilities and potential for 2010, without the need to spend a whole lot of money, which they apparently do not have.
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