World Baseball League Forum

The Mets opening day starting lineup.


1.) Carl Crawford CF
Crawford is with is third team in less then a year. The Mets picked him up in a trade with the Tampa Bay on 12/10. Crawford hit .287 with 19 homeruns and 50 stolen bases in 621 at bats. Crawford will bring the much need speed to the top of the lineup. The Mets had only 64 stolen bases last season that was 11th best in the NL.

2.) Jimmy Rollins SS
Rollins is another guy the Mets brought in during the offseason. Rollins signed a 4 year deal worth about 51 million dollars on 12/31. The Mets hope that Rollins can bounce back from a season in which he only hit .265 with 17 homeruns and had an OBP of .303.

3.) Luis Rivera 2B
Rivera is in this fifth season with the Mets and will again be the everyday second basement. Rivera in 2013 commit only one error in 158 games. Rivera also hit .298 with 35 doubles however he did strikeout 111 times.

4.) David Wright 3B
David Wright is a 4 time all-star a career .303 hitter and the Mets franchise player will remain with the Mets till at least the end of the 2018 season after signing a 4 year 64 million dollar extension on Christmas day. Wright hit .297 with 27 homeruns and 112 RBI’s in 2013

5.) Miguel Cabrera 1B
The four time All-star Miguel Cabrera will again be the Mets first basement. Last season Cabrera hit a career low .262 however he did hit 27 homeruns and drove in 101 runners. Cabrera Started 161 games 152 of them at firstbase.

6.) Josh Thole C
In the offseason the Mets decided against going after free agent Brain McCann instead the Mets will bring back Thole for this sixth season with the team. The Mets are happy with is career .270 avg and is ability to draw walks and the fact that he doesn’t strikeout too much. The Mets only worry is that he only threw out 20% of base runners last season.

7.) Andre Ethier RF
Ethier will bat 7th in a very good lineup and will play right field for the 2014 Mets. Ethier hit 15 homeruns and drove in 96. Ethier started 158 games committing only 3 errors in rightfield .

8.) Cedric Hunter CF
Cedric Hunter a 4th year player will play centerfield and bat 8th. Hunter hit .256 with 15 homeruns


Starting Pitching

1.) Todd Ruel
Ruel will be the number 1 guy in the rotation. Ruel the Mets 12th round pick in 2009 amateur draft last season played most of the season in the bullpen. Ruel pitched in 55 games with a 6-0 record and 3.89 ERA.

2.) Jeff Icenogle
The biggest surprise for the Mets in 2013 was Jeff Icenogle, he was 15-6
with an ERA of 2.94 in 189 innings.

3.) Eric Robinson
Robinson who played in on the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2013 will make the
jump to the big league club. In 17 starts he was 8-5 with a 1.79 ERA and 136 strikeouts in
115 innings.

4.) Tanner Scheppers
Scheppers was converted to a starter after the 2012 season and it
seem to be a good move so far for the Mets. Scheppers in 2013 pitched in 185 innings
with 12-12 record and a 4.14 ERA. Scheppers has very good stuff, but some has
control issues. He walked 4.52 batters per 9 innings in 2013.

5.) The fifth spot going in spring training is up in the air. The Mets when out and signed Aaron Harang, Brett Myers and claimed Jered Weaver off of waivers from the Reds. Mets manger as stated that Aaron Harang is the favor going into the spring because he as the ability to go late into games. However he also stated that everyone will get a chance to win the job.


Bullpen

When you talk about the bullpen, you have to start with the ace closer Claudio Desperate. He had 46 saves in 2013 and as 114 saves in his first three seasons in the WBL. Aardsma and Glover will be the setup for the Mets. Aardsma had an era of 3.74 in 65 innings and Glover the left-hand specialist had a era of 2.53 in 67 innings. Bowmen, McGeh and the rookie Alberto Moreno will round out the bullpen.

The additions to the lineup should be very helpful! Nice work.

Nice preview Rick. Good job.

Now, just gotta get past those pesky Marlins.