Lets Take A Look At The Infield

Today is the third breakdown of the Met roster, the infield. With our corner infielder's hitting for power and our shortstop with blazing speed offensively we should be fine. The one major question mark is still second base. Minaya constantly attempted to move the incumbent Kaz Matsui throughout the offseason but he could not find any suitors for the $8.5 million he was due. Manager Willie Randolph has made it clear that Spring Training results will ultimately determine the second basemen. As of now it's between, Matsui, Brett Boone, Jeff Keppinger, and Anderson Hernandez. At first base the Mets have their first true offensive threat since the days of John Olerude. Carlos Delgado brings leadership, but most importantly a big left handed swing to the Mets lineup. Although he arrived in unconventional fashion after turning down an offer from the Mets last year, he was acquired due to the payroll slashing Marlins. Defensively Delgado is not a lapse as he has a career fielding percentage of .992, granted he won't save Reyes and Wright as often as Doug Mientkiewick did maybe the two have experienced their growing pains. As long as Delgado remains healthy he will put up numbers. His career batting average is .284 to go along with 369 home runs. Teams have put a Barry Bonds-esque shift on him, and he has been patient and going the other way. After an adjustment to his batting stance prior to the 2004 season, his stats flourished, as he has averaged over 35 home runs per year during that span. In comparison to the Mets platoon that played first base last year including Mientkiewicz, Mike Jacobs, Chris Woodward, Jose Offerman, Miguel Cairo, Brian Daubach, and Marlon Anderson, Delgado played in 18 less games, had 60 less at bats but had 26 more hits an average of 76 points better, 10 more doubles, 3 more triples, 12 more homeruns and 53 more RBI. Delgado is a definite upgrade offensively. Over to the other corner position, where the Mets have one of the most talented young players in the game in David Wright. In today's day and age fantasy sports can often tell how successful believe a player can be, if there's any truth to those indications Wright should be fine as many rank him in the top 20. In his first full major league season last year, Wright bounced around the lineup as Randolph did not want to put excessive pressure on him. This year it seems as if Wright will bat third after he hit .306 last year with 27 home runs and a team leading 102 RBI. Although Wright has played in 229 career games he still has the presence of a rookie trying to make a good first impression. Wright arrived to camp 18 days before required. Ever since he was drafted in the first round of the 2001 draft out of high school, scouts new there was something special about him. His work ethic is un-matched as he continues to put time into his defense as well. At third base last year Wright underwent some growing pains, but most were alleviated by Doug Mientkiewicz. Last year Wright had a fielding percentage of .948 as he compiled 24 errors. Look for an improvement in both categories this year. Wright is able to hit for average and for power off left handers and right handers, look for him to be a presence in the Mets lineup for years to come. One more side note, Wright made just $322,500 last year, someone's due for a raise. At shortstop we have a healthy Jose Reyes. Reyes is another young gun, from the Mets farm system but with all the time spent on the disable list prior to last year it seems as if he's been here forever. In his first healthy season with the Mets Reyes compiled an average of .273, with 60 stolen bases and 17 triples. The one knock on Reyes is his patience at the plate. He walked just 27 times last year, which upped his on base percentage to .300, which is below where it should be as the lead off hitter. Reyes did show great improvement throughout the season and continued to try to utilize the bunt as an extra dimension to his offense. Defensively Reyes has the natural abilities to become one of the premier short stops in the league. With speed and athleticism to complement a strong throwing arm, once Reyes is able to have complete control over it he will be dangerous. Reyes is able to make the spectacular plays more often then not, but routine plays hindered him a little bit last year. Reyes had a fielding percentage of .974 as he compiled 18 errors. Reyes range factor was a 4.28, this is determined by put outs + assists divided by 9 innings. Reyes has mentally matured as well, this was evident by his ability to go the other way last year. As a switch hitter Reyes often tried to pull the ball but once he attacked the plate with a game plan his production increased. All in all Reyes should be one of the more dynamic players in the league in years to come and as long as he stays healthy he has found himself a permanent home a top the Mets lineup and at shortstop. Second base is the big question mark. Most people believe it is Kaz Matsui's job to lose but Willie Randolph doesn't necessarily agree. Matsui's career has gone down in a whirlwind. Just two years ago he was the starting shortstop on Opening Day, but after the Mets management finally came to their senses, Reyes returned to short, so Matsui made the transition to second base last year. This year Matsui is fighting for a job with Anderson Hernandez, Brett Boone and Jeff Keppinger. In his major league career, Matsui is a .265 hitter with 10 home runs and 68 RBI. Defensively he isn't great as he compiled 9 errors for a .970 fielding percentage. Brett Boone is seemingly on the decline of his career but believes he will turn things around if given the opportunity. Boone is a career .266 hitter with 252 home runs, and 1,021 RBI. Defensively Boone has a career fielding percentage of .986. Jeff Keppinger and Anderson Hernandez are the youth in this competition. Keppinger has shown great offensive abilities. In his 33 games with the Mets in 2004 Keppinger hit .284. In his three years at the University of Georgia Keppinger hit .380 and struck out just 44 times. Keppinger would've had time to prove himself last year but suffered a knee fracture right around the same time Matsui went down. Anderson Hernandez has shown great defensive flashes and was promoted last year for 6 games while hitting a woeful .056 as he compiled just a single hit. But in extended time at the Triple A level Hernandez compiled a steady .303 average for the Norfolk Tide. As second base is not a position in which offense is a must this competition remains wide open. Finally our good old friend the catcher, Paul Lo Duca. Mike Piazza will go down as one of the best if not the best offensive hitting catchers of all time and us Met fans truly took that for granted. When Piazza was "slumping," he was still produces much higher then the average catcher but we were just use to the .300 average 25+ HR 100+ RBI season. But Piazza was paid to hit, and he should've but that's now all past news. Lo Duca is as solid as it comes all around. A career .285 hitter, he is so versatile he can and will hit anywhere from the 2 spot down to the 8 spot. He allows Randolph some flexibility with his lineup. Although he lacks power, he rarely strikes out as he always puts the ball in play and utilizes the gaps well. Lo Duca will hit the ball wherever it's pitched as he is just as comfortable going the opposite field as he is pulling it. He is solid defensively as he has a career .991 fielding percentage. His career caught stealing percentage is .331and he has a catchers ERA of 3.73. In retrospect Piazza has a career .990 fielding percentage with a caught stealing percentage of .239 to go along with a catchers ERA of 3.81. Lo Duca is determined to create a relationship with his pitchers and will ultimately help out our staff. All in all the Mets infield has the potential to be one of the most offensively prolific in the game. In our corner spots we have the offensive production expected, and if healthy Wright and Delgado should combine to surpass the 60 HR mark, and the 200 RBI plateau. If Reyes becomes more patient at the plate his on base percentage will sky rocket which will lead to even more steals. Once Reyes truly learns to utilize his speed by bunting he will be a tough out. At second base none of the options are truly horific offensively and they will most likely occupy the 8 hole anyhow. Defensively nothing below average will be expected. Reyes and Wright will be able to go above holding their own, Delgado is always consistent, and second base well is second base, errors aren't expected there. All in all barring any injuries this infield will make the Mets lineup one to fear. Ya Gotta Believe!