Here's today's Mets lineup for their exhibition game against the Nationals in Viera.
Reyes SS
Lo Duca C
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Alou LF
Milledge RF
Hernandez 2B
Park P
Substitute Green for Milledge and Valentin for Hernandez and change the pitcher and you've got a possible Opening Day lineup. Willie Randolph has experimented with Wright in the second spot a lot this spring. So what's your preferred lineup, Mets fans? Tell Willie how he should do it.
Comments (13)
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Delgado
Alou
Green
Valentin
LoDuca
Glavine
That should be the opening day lineup.
If Wright hits 2nd, the bottom of the order is too light. Better to have LoDuca or Valentin in that slot, and utilize Wright's power in the middle of the order.
Last year I thought batting LoDuca second was a bad idea. After how successful it was, it works for me again this year keeping Beltran and Wright in the meat of the order.
LoDuca is a GREAT #2 hitter. Why would Willie even consider batting Wright second? I'm sure he's just fiddling around during the spring. Why would we want Wright to have to do things like take a pitch to give Reyes a chance to steal second. David Wright should see the ball and hit the ball!
Reyes
Wright
Beltran
Delgado
Alou
Green
LoDuca
Valentin
This puts the guiys you want getting the most at bats at the top where they should be. Yes I know Duca had a great season in the 2-hole, but I do not believe he can repeat it. Wright is patient enough to allow Reyes to steal bases, and is good enough with the stick to rack up the RBI's that LoDuca did not last year. This lineup also allows Willie to have the lefty righty balance that he loves so much.
You could argue that it leaves us a little vulnerable in the last third, perhaps, especially since it is unlikely that either LoDuca or Valentin will be able to reproduce their 2006 numbers, but its a great lineup.
Reyes
Loduca
Beltran
Delgado
Wright
Alou
Miledge
Valentin
I hope all NYM fans join me in my demand that Omar & Willie make the Mets everyday eight younger, faster, and more interesting by removing Shawn Green permanently and making Lastings Milledge the Mets right fielder. I realize this would probably tick off Carlos Delgado for a few weeks, but come on, he is a professional and he would deal with it. Milledge has proven so far this spring that he has matured as a person. In addition he is definitely more of a threat at the plate and in the field than Shawn Green.
Dan I like your argument but if thats the case take Alou out before Green talk about Geriatric.
Reyes
Lo Duca
Beltran
Delgado
Wright
Alou
Milledge
Hernandez
Pitcher
Lets get something straight because anyone who suggests "Lo Duca will not repeat his performance from last year" as a reason to remove him from the #2 clearly has no baseball acumen. There is a very clear and distinct reason why he was chosen for that spot last year and why he will be there again this year. Throughout his career he has been a fantastic 2 strike batter and he has a very level swing with consistent contact.
We batted Beltran in the 2 before and it was a terrible mistake. Wright is not ready to supplant Delgado yet as he did taper off a little last year and can certainly use the comfort of knowing it doesnt all rest on his shoulders.
That being said, I really believe that Milledge and Hernandez should be our starters come opening day. I know that AH hasnt done much this spring training but the kid is a great defender, fast and young! He is a good friend of Reyes and would be just another fun addition to our club house. Milledge is simply better than Green. Green has worn out most of his excuses and I did not buy into his lies about discovering a hitch in his swing. He just isnt much of an everyday player anymore and he really is a defensive liability on the field. Yes more so than Milledge.
Reyes
Lodoca
beltran
delgado
wright
alou
millage
hernandez
i hope all you mets fans relize that val isn't goin to have the year he did last year so lets give anderson a chance
TO ALL PAUL LODUCA FANS:
OMAR MINAYA HAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT HE WILL not NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH PAUL.
So....FOR 2007 YOU WILL SEE A GREAT SEASON FROM LODUCA IN A WALK YEAR or....YOU WILL SEE A SULKING AND BITTER NON-PRODUCTIVE PAUL LODUCA. FOR THOSE FLUSHING FANS EXPECTING THE SAME PRODUCTIVE PAUL LODUCA AS IN 2006...GUESS AGAIN SPORTSFANS, HE WILL SULK AND MOST DEFINATELY not PLAY HURT.
I just love LoDuca's bat control in the 2-hole, but Willie knows that Wright needs to be more patient at the plate and stop expanding the strike zone. If he's taking more pitches so Reyes can steal, that's a good thing. LoDuca is 35 and the decreased at bats in the 7-hole will help his legs.
MARTY
WHERE DO YOU GET THAT INFO?
WHY ARE YOU YELLING?
This is to "huh" , my friend I apologize for writing in all Caps..and for computer yelling. I am contrite and honestly ashamed. But honestly, if you don't follow the Mets and read the press release info or the beat writers columns..then how DO YOU --EXPECT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH PAUL LODUCA?? ANSWER THAT PLEASE?
WAKE UP!! HELLO McFLY??