What Would Surprise You Most During Spring Training?

With just a few weeks until Spring Training begins, many roster spots are already filled and many non-stories are carved in stone.  However, there are always a few unexpected occurrences down in Florida and I thought I'd toss a few out for debate and consideration. 

Ike Davis Starts Off Hot

Hey, crazier things have happened.  Russell Wilson beat Peyton Manning and no one thought that could happen either.  Suppose Ike Davis musters up whatever “I’ll show them!” fortitude he has and slugs the ball the way he’s shown in the past…

Lucas Duda Beats Out Ike Davis

Whether it was shedding some weight or knowing he would play 1B if he plays at all, but the big man finally starts showing not only a good eye at the plate but the power to hit 25+ HRs while maintaining a .280 or better batting average.  His initial season he batted .290 so it’s not out of the question.  Still, he never seemed to put it altogether, so doing so AND being handed the 1B job would be a huge surprise.

Duda or Davis Are Traded

The Mets finally realize that going into the season with two left handed one dimensional first basemen is an untenable situation and one of them is bundled off to another team for a piece or pieces that could help in the future.  Since there was no market for Davis during the Hot Stove Season and Duda never seemed to be marketed, it would take hot springs from one of them to generate some interest.  Still, it might be better to take a Rookie League prospect who could help in 3 years from now than to stash one of them in AAA just in case.

Daniel Murphy is Traded

The Mets see enough of Wilmer Flores’ bat and alleged improved agility from his sessions in Michigan to allow them to market Murphy more aggressively than they did Ike Davis.  Doing so would save them over $5 million which could be put into upgrading elsewhere (such as shortstop).   Given his more consistent track record and, by most clubs’ budgets, his modest price, he would net more than the inconsistent Lucas Duda or the enigmatic Ike Davis would. 

Ruben Tejada Is Not the Opening Day SS

Given that the only “competition” they’ve acquired for Ruben Tejada consists of AAAA player Omar Quintanilla and AA shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, it’s pretty much a fait accompli that Ruben Tejada will get one more chance despite being in the club’s doghouse.  Consequently, for it NOT to happen would be a huge surprise to pretty much everyone.

Ruben Tejada Rediscovers His 2011/2012 Mojo

Working deep counts, getting on base regularly, hitting in the high .280s – that’s what he did during those two seasons.  If he did that again, for as much grumbling as the fanbase has done about him vis a vis alternatives like Stephen Drew, if we could be assured of that player coming to the 2014 team then most fans would sign up for those results right now. 

Eric Young is a Reserve and Not a Starter

There’s no denying that Eric Young, Jr. energized the Mets with his great speed and above average glove work in left field last year.  Then again, after watching the likes of Lucas Duda fumbling around, anyone would have seemed to be an improvement.  There’s no denying the man’s speed.  After all, he led the league in stolen bases – a feat doubly impressive given his paltry .310 OBP and .249 batting average.  Still, what’s truly surprising is the juxtaposition of the club’s omnipresent mantra about OBP with Young’s career-wise mediocre numbers in that regard.  Yet everywhere you turn there are stories being written quoting the guy who fills out the lineup card that he’s the prime candidate to be his leadoff hitter.  For most of his career he’s been a great 4^th outfielder and that’s what his role should be here now that they’ve finally answered the “What outfield?” question posed by Comedian-In-Chief Sandy Alderson during the 2012/2013 off-season. 

Juan Lagares Forces Himself Into the Lineup With His Bat

Throughout his minor league career Juan Lagares has been an aggressive and mostly effective hitter, compiling batting averages of .338, .370, .283 and .346 in his last four stops in the minors.  He was named top player in the winter league while hitting in the high .370s before they cut his season short as a precaution due to a minor injury.   A lot of people seem to be writing him off as all glove/arm and no bat during his first taste of the majors last year, but a hot spring could turn some heads. 

Health – Parnell, Mejia, Edgin, d’Arnaud

Of course, as Mets fans we’re closer to this team than we are to any other, but it seems that the club has been somewhat snakebitten by the injury bug over the last several years with players like Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Bobby Parnell, Travis d’Arnaud, Matt den Dekker, David Wright, Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Scott Rice and many others missing large chunks of time due to stints on the DL.  This Spring there are four players whose health could very much determine the success of the club in 2014.  Bobby Parnell was thriving in his first season as closer until shut down with his neck issue.  Jenrry Mejia was nearly Harvey’s equal in his four starts after the All Star Break before bone chips shelved him.  Travis d’Arnaud may have come east from Las Vegas a lot sooner if not for that foul ball chase that resulted in a broken metatarsal.  Josh Edgin started out poorly last season, but after 6 weeks in AAA he came roaring back with 23 post-promotion appearances resulting in a 0.91 ERA before a fractured rib felled him at the end of July.  The team going north with everyone healthy would be a huge surprise. 

May the Best Men Win in the Bullpen

There are only a few no-brainer decisions for the Mets for the bullpen for this coming season.  Bobby Parnell, if healthy, will be the closer.  Vic Black will be there.   Scott Rice had rapidly evolved into one of Terry Collins’ favorite pitchers and he’s left handed, so he’s a shoo-in as well.  For the remainder of the spots it should be an open competition among Gonzalez Germen, Carlos Torres, Josh Edgin, Jeurys Familia, Ryan Reid, Joel Carreño, Kyle Farnsworth, Jeff Walters, Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lannan and John Church.  I’m assuming Jack Leathersich, Jacob de Grom and Cory Mazzoni all need more seasoning (though I feel the same way about Familia, in my gut I think they will rush him into a reliever gig he doesn’t yet have the command to handle). 

Chris Young Is a Man on a Mission

With only a one year contract in his back pocket, Chris Young may be playing his future baseball life.  Though many question the wisdom of throwing over $7 million at a player whose results have been trending downward, it is possible that his quad injury hampered his 2013 productivity and not playing every day after having been a starter most of his career could also have impacted his output.  More importantly, he may be on a one-year rampage to land the kind of deal that Angel Pagan got from the Giants.

Juan Centeno beats out Anthony Recker

If Travis d’Arnaud is indeed healthy and playing 5 days a week, there are not too many at-bats for the backup.  Anthony Recker proved to have a little bit of pop and decent catching skills but was known more for his suspect bat than his handling of pitchers.  Still, over 200 major league ABs he’s a career .194 hitter.  Juan Centeño was always known more for his glove and arm than his bat, but lately in the minors he’s turned in solid singles hitting with averages of .318, .285 and .301 the last three years.  Since he’s a left handed batter it might make sense to sit d’Arnaud against righties like Stephen Strasburg or Matt Cain and give the ABs to someone who might have a chance at a hit. 

Career Minor Leaguer Anthony Seratelli Wins a Roster Spot

Every now and then you find a late bloomer who arrives to the big leagues and performs well enough that people ask, “Where has this guy been?”  A good example is the former Chicago Cubs slugger Bryan LaHair who didn’t crack the bigs as a regular until age 29 and made the All Star Team as a rather old rookie.  While no one is suggesting a similar success awaits Anthony Seratelli, his minor league numbers show someone with defensive versatility, power and speed.  He’s played over 100 games at 1B, 2B, SS and the outfield.  He’s hit as many as 17 HRs and stolen as many as 35 bases while batting a career .276.  In his age 31 season he’s not likely ever to be a starter in the majors barring injuries to other players, but as a super sub he seems to have a lot going for him.  He’s a non-roster invitee to Spring Training but the little switch hitter might play himself into a reserve role on the big club given what he has to offer.    

What would surprise you most with Spring Training set to begin?