by Chris DiGeronimo
The New York Mets had a successful 2019 season and will look to build off that success in 2020. Fans are clamoring to see what rookie sensation Pete Alonso will do in his sophomore campaign. They are also lining up to see if Jacob DeGrom can win his third straight Cy Young award. There is a lot to look forward to with this young and hungry Mets team. For years the Mets have been led by one of the best pitching staffs in baseball but this year is different. They have finally built a lineup that is good enough to match the talent that they have on the mound. With the likes of Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, and a healthy Yoenis Cespedes, the sky's the limit for what this team can accomplish. We break down our ideal Mets lineup this season… one that should give the Amazins an opportunity to compete with the crowded NL East and beyond.
1. Brandon Nimmo - CF
The happiest man in baseball was limited to 69 games in 2019 as he suffered from neck issues for most of the season. Nimmo returned September 1st, and for the rest of the season slashed .261/.430/.565. He had a lot of success in the leadoff spot and should be a candidate to fill that role again in 2020. Nimmo is one of the most balanced players on the team, he has an analytically savvy offensive approach that includes a solid average and a high on-base percentage. His glove is also very serviceable for center field but is very versatile and can be moved to one of the corners if needed. New manager Luis Rojas will look to utilize Nimmo’s talents even with a crowded outfield. His admirable work ethic should keep him in the lineup everyday if he is able to stay healthy and continue to produce like we’ve seen in the past.
2. Jeff McNeil - 3B
“The Flying Squirrel” had an outstanding first full season in the big leagues in 2019. He was an All-Star and was in contention for the NL batting title for the majority of the season. McNeil finished his sophomore campaign hitting .318 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI. McNeil essentially had a tale of two seasons in 2019 as he hit .349 in the first half with 7 home runs and .276 with 16 home runs in the second half. If McNeil is able to hit for both a high average while keeping that second half power he can be one of the most dangerous hitters in all of MLB. He is a crafty hitter that always seems to find a hole in the shift, which makes him a perfect candidate for the top of the lineup. Rojas cannot go wrong with McNeil either leading off or hitting in the two hole. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is able to capture the NL batting title in this shortened 60 game season. On the defensive side McNeil can play pretty much every position but will probably be the everyday third baseman due to lack of depth and talent at the position.
3. Pete Alonso - 1B
If you sit down and try to write a fictional story about a magical rookie season, it wouldn’t be as good as the rookie season Pete Alonso had in 2019. “The Polar Bear” finished 2019 hitting .260 with 53 home runs and 120 RBI while taking home NL Rookie of the Year honors. On his journey to 53 home runs he became the first Mets player to hit 50 home runs in a season, he set the Mets single season home run record and set the MLB Rookie home run record, breaking Aaron Judge’s previous record of 52. He also defeated Vladimir Gurrerro Jr. in an epic upset at the Home Run Derby, and was named an All-Star. A season like that is very hard to duplicate, so there is obviously going to be a dip in production from the Polar Bear in 2020. In order for Alonso to improve his game he has to become an all-around hitter and I believe he has the talent to do that. Pitchers are going to quickly adjust now that they’ve seen what he can do, and he has to do the same with his approach. On the defensive side Alonso has an ever evolving defensive game and he has his sights set on a Gold Glove. It is going to be very interesting to see if he can claim all the defensive awards in 2020 like he did on the offensive side in 2019.
4. Michael Conforto - RF
Michael Conforto has been on the superstar watch list since his All-Star appearance in 2017 but he hasn’t been able to put it all together. He had a decent 2019 hitting .257 with a career high 33 home runs and 92 RBIs, but also suffered his second consecutive season with over 145 strikeouts. If Conforto wants to reach that superstar status he has to become a more consistent hitter to go along with the power he has shown over the last few seasons. In 2017 he hit .279/.384/.555, there is no reason why he wouldn’t be able to put up those same numbers or better in 2020. I believe with the shortened season, Conforto will be able to breakout and live up to the superstar potential that is waiting to be activated. He is also a piece of the crowded outfield so that should also give him some extra motivation to perform at the plate and in right field.
5. Yoenis Cespedes - DH
Yoenis Cespedes has been one of the more electric names in baseball since his incredible throw from left field to nail Howie Kendrick at the plate during his time with Oakland. While the Mets have struggled to find consistent offensive producers, Cespedes has been relatively steady, but has struggled to stay on the field. Yoenis has appeared in just 119 games over the course of the past three seasons, most recently missing all of 2019. The Mets have always had the pitching rotation to make a deep run into the postseason, it will be interesting to see if Cespedes will be able to help remain healthy enough to produce for his all-star rotation. In addition to remaining on the field, his mobility will also be a big factor especially in the NL should they move away from the temporary DH slot available this season. Mets Manager Luis Rojas told reporters that he was pleased with the way Cespedes was moving and running. Hopefully he is able to stay healthy and get back to the exciting player we all grew to love.
6. Robinson Cano - 2B
It’s no secret that Robinson Cano had a very disappointing first season back in the Big Apple. He hit 13 home runs, had 39 RBIs and batted .256 in 107 games. It was the worst season of his career, but Cano could be poised for a bounce back season in 2020. Manager Luis Rojas has faith in Cano and the Mets will look to give the overpaid second baseman every opportunity to succeed. While he may no longer be the star player he used to be, Cano is a veteran who should be a competent fielder and hit better than last season. History bodes well for Cano as a performance enhancing drug (PED) user. Alex Rodiguez, Barry Bonds and Nelson Cruz have proven that PED users can be extremely effective hitters into their upper 30s and even 40s. If Cano can stay healthy, he can be a valuable player for the Mets.
7. J.D. Davis - LF
J.D. Davis was one of the biggest surprises of last year and he will look to add to that success in 2020. After coming over from Houston in the offseason, Davis was able to get an opportunity to play everyday and he made the most out of it. He batted .307 with 22 home runs and 57 RBIs in 140 games. Davis is a clutch hitter and can get hot in a hurry. Davis was so clutch last season that his performance propelled Barstool to make a shirt that said “Call J.D. Davis, 877-Runs Now”. On the defensive side, he is a natural third baseman but he did a solid job playing left field for the majority of the season. His bat will force the Mets to keep him in left, and give them some versatility at third base if needed. Look for Davis to be a big contributor to the Mets offense in 2020.
8. Wilson Ramos - C
The Water Buffalo had a decent first season in Queens, as he hit .288 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI. Ramos fulfilled a need that the Mets have been looking for for quite some time, an impactful offensive catcher. He even had a 26 game hitting streak that lasted from August 3rd to September 4th. Ramos will look to be that bottom of the order power bat again as we head into 2020. With all the good things Ramos brought to the plate there were also some bad things. Pitchers such as Jacob DeGrom and Noah Synderrgard complained that they didn’t like the way Ramos called games, and frequently requested back-up catchers Rene Rivera and Tomas Nido catch them instead. As the season went on they worked out their differences and his relationship with both pitchers improved and they were able to have success down the stretch. With a whole year under his belt, Ramos should be totally comfortable with the pitching staff and vice versa, and he should continue to rake on the other side of the plate.
9. Amed Rosario - SS
Amed Rosario is coming off a career year in 2019 and will look to build on that success as the starting shortstop in 2020. In 2019 he hit a career best .287 with 15 home runs and 72 RBI. Since getting called up in 2017, Rosario has had his ups and downs both at the plate and in the field but I think with some more confidence and some more experience Rosario can get it all together. Another factor is where does he fit in the lineup? When they first called him up he was advertised as a leadoff hitter but hasn’t been too productive in that role. Last season they experimented with him in the 9 hole and he was able to find some success. Rosario’s main job this season is to get on base and be a productive shortstop. If he is able to find some power and steal some bases along the way that would be the icing on the cake. Overall, I believe this should be a very productive season for Rosario.
Bench
Dom Smith
Smith has been the odd man out over the last few seasons. He was supposed to be the first baseman of the future but got overthrown by the arrival of Pete Alonso. He was supposed to be a big power hitter but he hasn’t been able to reach his full potential. Since first base is occupied we might see Smith get some run in the outfield if needed. He was able to play left field to some success last season before a leg injury derailed his season. Last season he hit .282 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs 89 games in 2019. The best trait about Smith is that he is a team player and a great locker room presence and it doesn’t look like playing time is going to affect his attitude.
Jake Marisnick
Marisnick was an interesting add to the roster in the offseason. He has a great reputation as a defensive outfielder but I don’t believe his bat will get him much playing time over the other options the Mets currently have. Look for Marisnick to be a 4th or 5th outfielder, getting playing time as a defensive replacement.
Jed Lowrie
The only good thing Jed Lowrie has done for the Mets was help the Brooklyn Cyclones win the 2019 NY-Penn League championship during his rehab stint in September. No one actually knows the extent of the injury that has plagued him for over a year and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better anytime soon. I would not be surprised if he doesn’t play a game for the Mets this season.
Tomas Nido
Nido is a great defensive catcher and is a good replacement for Ramos when he needs a day or two off. He has gotten some clutch hits in the past but his bat does not designate him as an all- around catcher. Last season he hit .191 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI in 50 games. I expect him to be a solid back-up catcher option for the foreseeable future.
Luis Guillorme
Guillorme is a defensive wizard. He can turn two like it’s nobody’s business and he doesn’t commit a lot of errors. The problem is his bat cannot keep him on the field. In 2019 he hit .246 with 1 clutch home run and 3 RBIs in 45 games. Much like Marisnick, Guillorme will be a defensive replacement and a pinch hitter for the Mets in 2020.
Comments