I haven't written much about David Wright, because anyone trolling around the Mets blogosphere is probably well aware that he's the best prospect the team has had in some time. Last year he made the transition from "boy he could be something" to "why bother with Triple-A?"
There isn't a whole lot of mystery to setting a batting order. Is it nice to have a high OBP guy leading off? Certainly. Is it a bonus for him to have speed as well? Sure. But the most basic organizing principle of a batting order is to have your best hitters at the top, thus ensuring that they come to bat more often than your worst hitters. Which brings me to Randolph's ridiculous plan to have David Wright bat eighth.
David Wright is not going to be one of the best third basemen in the league. He already is, and he certainly should be hitting in front of at least Mientkiewicz and Cameron. Unfortunately, Randolph is under the impression that he's the pledge educator of a fraternity, rather than the manager of a professional baseball team. So Mets fans will just have to wait until Wright "pays his dues" to see their team put to optimal use.
Notes
Has anyone else noticed Dae-Sung Koo? I know very little about him, except that he's Korean, left-handed, 35 years old, and has pitched 11.2 very strong innings this spring. He's struck out 12, walked 4, and given up 0 longballs. Any team that's going to be relying on Felix Heredia as a lefty setup man should give this guy a serious, serious look.
It turns out the all-seeing eye of PECOTA is very much in line with my predictions for the NL East this year. Here is the whole article (Premium). The order of finish is identical, and the proximity of the Braves, Marlins and Mets lends my crazy and since disavowed "Braves finish 4th" prediction a bit of analytical credence:
W L PCT RS RA
Phillies 90 72 .554 833 744
Braves 82 80 .506 758 749
Marlins 81 81 .502 724 720
Mets 81 81 .497 736 741
Nationals 74 88 .459 685 749
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3 comments:
wright has 1/2 year under his belt. he has not proven to be the best hitter we have yet. cameron cant hit before the pitcher for the simple fact that he will swing at anything. moving doug m. there only throws off the l/r order that they are going for. i say put wright there to start with, and let him prove himself. if nothing else he gains a great idea of the strikezone by hitting in front of the pitcher and actualy becomes a beter hitter because of it.
surprised theres no mention of zambrano after yesterdays stats. perhaps you would have had to account for randy johnsons similar day against minor leaguers.
Carlos Beltran is the best hitter the Mets have, but Wright is already at least good enough that his talent is being wasted hitting 8th. I don't think there are reasonable doubts (even in Randolph's mind) about his hitting, it's just that it's somehow considered inappropriate to bat someone so young in the heart of the order. He belongs there, or at least 6th.
Zambrano? It's nice he didn't give up any walks against Jeff Duncan and company, but c'mon. Does he really look like Randy Johnson to you?
normally id say no he doesnt look like johnson, but yesterday they sure pitched the same against minor leaguers no less
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