Pages

1/31/20

Reese Kaplan -- Rojas Rearranging the Deck Chairs?



Luis Rojas knows a great many of his players from having coached them in the minors and others from having observed them while serving as the Quality Control Coach in the majors (or from their well decorated stat sheets).  That familiarity already has a great many folks speculating on the lineup construction Rojas will use come Opening Day assuming no great transactions or injuries occur between now and then that will dramatically alter the plans.

Here’s my first take on it…whether or not it makes sense is surely open to debate:

          CF          Brandon Nimmo
          SS          Amed Rosario
          RF          Michael Conforto
          1B          Pete Alonso
          3B          Jeff McNeil
          LF          JD Davis
           C          Wilson Ramos
          SS          Robinson Cano

Now obviously there are a great many issues with who is batting where, but let’s first start with the obvious names who are not here.  I don’t feel either Yoenis Cespedes or Jed Lowrie will be ready to start the season in Queens.  As such, to me they are non-factors in the lineup. 


The second issue that will surely raise eyebrows is the elevation of Amed Rosario to the number two hole in the batting order.  Nimmo may indeed be on on-base machine, but Rosario has more pure baserunning speed and should be at the top of the lineup to help set up the run producers that follow.  No one should argue with that logic but the ramifications on the aging duo of Wilson Ramos and Robinson Cano is pretty obvious. 


There’s no good way to paint the picture but with facts.  The Mets got decided lucky with Wilson Ramos’ health last season and he played in a great many more games than folks feared he would be capable of delivering.  He hit for average, power and aside from clogging the bases, he was a good run producer when he was the one standing at the plate with lumber in his hands. 

It's not as easy to be charitable to Robinson Cano.  The trade that thus far has become the blackest mark on BVW’s front office record did show signs of life late in the year in September after he was healthy and perhaps feeling less pressure.  He drove his moribund average up to .265 at one point in September though finishing at .256.  That’s a real stunner for a guy with a career .304 average coming over the Mets by way of Seattle and the Bronx.  Frankly, I don’t care what he’s paid.  Until he demonstrates that he’s still got juice left in his game, he has to prove it and a veteran should be well suited to hitting in front of the pitcher. 

While the projected lineup is not a perfect L/R alternation, it’s as close as they can hope to get assuming they are granting single-sided hitters like JD Davis a regular starting opportunity rather than a platoon with Dominic Smith.  You’ll note I inserted Jeff McNeil into the 5-hole between the two right handed sluggers, Alonso and Davis.  If you look at how he finished the year, it’s not unreasonable to think of McNeil as a latter-day Cano, capable of hitting for both batting average and power. 


Have at it.  How would you arrange the deck chairs on this hopefully no-longer Titanic?

10 comments:

  1. CF Nimmo
    3B McNeil
    1B Alonso
    RF Conforto
    LF Davis
    2B Cano
    C Ramos
    SS Rosario
    P

    ReplyDelete
  2. Will Rojas be able to get away with hitting Cano 8th? Cano is still BVW's guy and Cano played a role in getting Rojas hired. Reese, I love your line up-mostly because of the left-right-left thing you have going on. I also am happier with McNeil in a power/run producing spot. Conforto and McNeil could easily flip depending on who's hot and who's not. If Rojas is forced to put Cano in a premium spot-say 3, 4, or 5 then that r-l-r dynamic doesn't work unless McNeil goes to 2, Cano 3, Conforto 4, and Alonso 5. While I would write that line up out most days I don't really think it will play out that way, unfortunately.

    ReplyDelete
  3. No way does Rojas bats Cano in the 8th slot. No way. I do think that Cespedes will be ready to start the year and as such, this would be my lineup.

    Nimmo
    Rosario
    Cano
    Alonso
    Conforto
    Cespedes
    McNeil
    Ramos

    Two fast players to begin with followed by left/right power hitters that can hurt you. I think that Cano, Cespedes, Familia and Diaz will all be on a mission this year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. There will be lineup tinkering. What is nice is by Mets historical standards, that is a superior line up. Yours or Bob W's. That line up ought to be HIGHLY productive. And if Cespedes and Lowrie are healthy, and stay, and Smith here too, they will have a problem the Yanks have often had - which fine hitters to sit today. Allows you to rest guys and keeps them healthy...and if someone (or some two) get hurt, you are still good to go - except for Ramos' spot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Interesting, Reese.

    I am torn between Jeff batting second and fifth. I see you logic and I also think Rosario is about to make a leap forward with the bat in his hands. I also like the thought of my two best OBP guys hitting first and and second, so the big guys can follow.

    As far as Cano is concerned, his best days are likely behind him, but he can still be an asset if he stays healthy. I think 8th is too low for him......maybe swap him and Ramos? Ramos is a solid, veteran bat so he can handle hitting in front of the pitcher. Plus, if he gets on base, he can be moved over with a sacrifice, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bob W nailed the right lineup...
    While Rosario is Improving he is such a poor OBP guy he should never hit in the top 2 as long as guys like Nimmo, Mcniel and conforto are on this team (sorry but speed doesnt matter as much as standing on 1st Base does and you can walk there)...

    Eddie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Let's remember that starting lineups have been passed down to the manager prior to each game.

    I expect, especially due to the rawness of Rojas, this process to continue.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't understand why Reese wants 2 SS's in the lineup, with no 2Bman, but I'll wait for his explanation😁.

    The big question IMO is where to bat Amed. I agree that I want better OBP from him him before moving him to #2, but I don't like him at #8, behind 2 slow baserunners.

    Maybe #6, with Cano 7.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good catch. I had flipped players around but missed updating positions. I blame my brain injuries in December :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. A couple of comments

    First, I like either Reese's or Bob W's lineups above, but with one change to each. I have not yet decided whether I like Amed up top or not - I would prefer to see a few more walks first, I guess.

    But the minor tweak to Bob's is flip the pitcher and Amed and hit Rosario ninth ahead of the rest of the top of the order 3 or 4 times through. I believe this actually gives more RBI opportunities to the 2, 3, and 4 hitters.

    The tweak to Reese's is to flip Cano and Ramos.

    OK, now that I think about it my final vote is:

    Nimmo
    McNeil
    Alonso
    Conforto
    Davis/Cespedes
    Cano
    Ramos
    Pitcher slot
    Rosario

    On the days when there is a lefty in there and Nimmo gets a breather, probably spring Rosario to the top and insert Marisnick in the 8 hole.

    ReplyDelete