It’s not officially spring training for the Mets until the manager puts himself under the microscope for a questionable decision.
This year’s controversy came rather quickly, and it revolves around the centerpiece of the Mets franchise: Jose Reyes.
The frustrated Mets fanbase has been so accustomed to their star shortstop batting leadoff that they are unwilling to consider him batting in any other spot in the lineup.
He is the prototypical leadoff hitter. A line drive hitter who is more than capable of parking the ball in the seats, Reyes has undoubtedly made his mark on the base paths. Compiling 301 career stolen bases—78 of which came in one season, a Mets record—Reyes has been a nightmare for opponents every time he comes up to bat.
The preferred method of reacquainting Reyes into the lineup after playing merely 36 games in 2009 is a slow and cautious approach. Instead, Manuel seems set on placing Reyes into a slot in the lineup in which he has never batted from before.
It sounds like the Mets are pushing the bill. In addition to overcoming a serious leg injury, now Reyes is going to have to adjust to something he has never faced before.
Controversial? You bet. Crazy? Not at all.
First of all, Manuel deserves to be commended for having the guts to even consider this move. After one of the most miserable seasons in Mets history—which is saying a lot—it would be natural for Manuel to lay low this spring and follow conventional wisdom.
But making his entrance into Port St. Lucie by dropping the bombshell that he plans to bat Reyes third until Carlos Beltran returns is something nobody would have predicted, nor approved of.
Reyes was born to be a leadoff hitter; there is no questioning that. But right now the Mets need him to bat third. If he were to bat in his normal slot, here is how the lineup would look:
1. Reyes
2. Luis Castillo
3. Jason Bay
4. David Wright
5. Jeff Francoeur
6. Daniel Murphy
7. Angel Pagan
8. Rod Barajas/Omir Santos
9. Pitcher
That lineup is flawed for multiple reasons. Wright and Bay would be interchangeable at three and four, but neither fits the bill as a third hitter. The third hitter is supposed to be the team’s best overall bat, and considering the streakiness of both Bay and Wright, neither is equipped to execute in that position.
This would also leave Murphy at six, which is an underrated RBI position in the lineup. I believe Murphy will have a strong season, but he has not done enough to warrant an RBI slot in the lineup.
Additionally, Pagan batting seventh is worthless. He may have been the biggest bright spot for the Mets in 2009, and in this lineup, he would be batting in a black hole with a light-hitting catcher and the pitcher batting behind him.
Overall, it’s a decent lineup at best. It doesn’t maximize the talent in the lineup, which is more prevalent than people believe.
Here is the projected lineup if Reyes is to bat third:
1. Pagan
2. Castillo
3. Reyes
4. Bay
5. Wright
6. Francoeur
7. Murphy
8. Barajas/Santos
9. Pitcher
Plain and simple, this is a much better lineup than the previous one listed. Pagan batted .306 with a .350 OBP last year, which is slightly higher than Reyes’ career average. The slim downgrade from Reyes to Pagan batting first outweighs the negatives of having a light-hitting and speedy player batting seventh with nothing behind him.
This allows the Mets to place their best power hitter in the cleanup spot (Jason Bay). If Reyes bats leadoff, Bay would be forced to bat third because David Wright is simply not a No. 3 hitter.
Reyes is the most consistent stick in that lineup, which makes him a great asset batting third.
Francoeur was arguably the Mets' most consistent bat in the last half of 2009, and he’s batting sixth. Murphy converts from a misfit in an RBI slot into a luxury as a quality hitter batting seventh.
It’s a risk because of what happened to Reyes last year. We know he is prone to letting his emotions override what he has to do, and there is a possibility this could happen when he starts the season in a spot in which he’s never been before. But he’s 26 now. It’s time to act in the best interests of the team.
Championship teams need to take risks to get over the hump. This is a move that won’t be easily accepted from the fans and media, especially if the squad gets off to a slow start. But they are a better team with Reyes batting third.
Reyes’s overall potential may not be maximized in that situation, but this isn’t about Reyes becoming the best leadoff hitter in the game; it’s about winning a championship. Bat him third, Jerry.
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