A Long Summer or a Rough Start?

When you look at where the Mets stand on April 24, 15 games into the 2009 baseball season, things look really bad. The Mets are 6 and 9 and already 5 games behind the out-of-nowhere Florida Marlins. The starting pitching (with one noticeable exception) has been terrible. Clutch hitting is out of style. The season is over.

Or is it? There's no denying that the starting pitching has been horrid, but when they turn it around - and they probably will - there is no saying what this team can do. True, the hitting - particularly clutch - has been weak. But you have to remember: For crying out loud, we're 2 and a half weeks into the season.

Tell me: All the people who have been decrying the Mets for what they've done in their first 15 games, have they signed on Zack Greinke and Johan Santana as unanimous Cy Young award winners for 2009? All you people who think that John Maine and Oliver Perez will keep getting blown out of these ballgames - are you banking on Carlos Beltran winning the batting title?

I think not. Bashing the starting pitching early is particularly stupid. Remember Mike Pelfrey last year? Remember everybody bashing Johan Santana for his average start? He won the ERA crown.

The fact is that it's way too early to make good judgment less than 5% of the way into the season.

That's how I'm seeing things! Got a problem?

What's up Doc?

Nothing much. The Mets signed my nephew.

Gary Sheffield, the nephew of former Mets pitching phenom Dwight Gooden, and a major league superstar himself, has signed with the Mets.

Sheffield, 40, leaves behind a checkered past with seven teams (most recently the Tigers), and joins the Mets as a DH in the National League. Though he's played plenty of outfield in the (somewhat more distant) past, Sheffield has played just 39 games in the outfield over the past 3 seasons.

Presumably, Sheffield would displace Ryan Church in right field for (at minimum) the games against left-handed starting pitching. Since Sheffield's signing, it has become apparent that Church may serve as understudy in left- and center-field in addition to whatever work he gets in right.

At the very least, this deal provides the Mets with an experienced right-handed bat who would be available for pinch-hitting duties.

As Opening Day Nears

As Opening Day nears, it seems as though Jerry Manuel will have Luis Castillo batting eighth, the arguments otherwise (which can be found here) notwithstanding. Jose Reyes will bat in his customary leadoff spot, and Daniel Murphy will bat second. The third slot in the batting order's duty will be split by David Wright and Carlos Beltran, while the other will bat fifth. Carlos Delgado will bat cleanup. Ryan Church and the catching tandem of Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro will round out the top eight spots in the order; the pitcher will bat ninth.

It is unclear as to whether Luis Castillo would bat second in games that Daniel Murphy does not play. Should he not, the two-hole would probably be manned by Fernando Tatis.

Here is the Starting Lineup with last year's statistics: (BA/OBP/SLG/HR/RBI)
1. SS Jose Reyes (.297/.358/.475/16/68)
2. LF Daniel Murphy (.313/.397/.473/2/17) in 131 at-bats/
LF Fernando Tatis (.297/.369/.484/11/47) in 273 at-bats
3. 3B David Wright (.302/.390/.534/33/124)
4. 1B Carlos Delgado (.271/.353/.518/38/115)
5. CF Carlos Beltran (.284/.376/.500/27/112)
6. RF Ryan Church (.276/.346/.439/12/49) in 319 at-bats
7. C Brian Schneider (.257/.339/.367/9/38) in 335 at-bats/
C Ramon Castro (.245/.312/.441/7/24) in 143 at-bats
8. 2B Luis Castillo (.245/.355/.305/3/28) in 199 at-bats

It's a solid lineup, which, coupled with the quality rotation and great bullpen should comprise the team to beat in the National League East.