- One Ace to Rule Them All – We know the Mets have lots of pitching and with Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz all set to start 2016 with the Mets the biggest question that Terry Collins will be called on to answer is, “Who’s the top dog?” The early favorite is Harvey who has the longest tenure and most fragile ego of the quartet but it’s hard to pinpoint who is actually the best pitcher. This will only get harder once Zack Wheeler is back.
- Infield of the Forgotten – With Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera holding down the middle infield positions, pay attention to Dilson Herrera and Gavin Cecchini. Herrera and Cecchini are both blocked for 2016, barring injury, but they’ll both get their looks. Don’t be surprised if one or both of the internal Met options looks to show the Mets their mistake in passing them over.
- Where’s Wilmer? – With all the moves the Mets made you might be wondering where Wilmer Flores fits in. The answer is that he’s backing up David Wright’s back and making starts against left-handed pitching for either Walker or Lucas Duda. Expect to see Flores taking reps at every spot in the infield as he prepares for his role as super-sub.
- Waiting for Lefty – The Mets have Jerry Blevins, Anthony Bastardo, Josh Edgin, Sean Gilmartin and Josh Smoker in the system and will likely only be looking for two (three at most) to join the 25-man roster after Spring Training is over. Odds are that Edgin will see extra time in AAA and that Gilmartin might be transitioned back to starting but Smoker is a true dark-horse to make the team.
- The Best Offensive Outfield Since 1987 – Since the glory days of Daryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson and Kevin McReynolds the Met outfield has never been much of an offensive force. Now, with Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto the met outfield is an offensive strength and not an offensive liability.
- The Worst Defensive Outfield? – While our outfielders may have potent bats the Mets will need to address the fact that Cespedes is a less-than-ideal defender and that Conforto isn’t a plus defender in left. It will be interesting to see how the outfield defense holds up now that they can play together as a consistent unit.
- Our First Good Look at Smith – We’ve heard about Dominic Smith since he was drafted and now that he has successfully graduated from Advanced A basbeball he’s going to get some time in the Major League camp. Scouting says that he displays good power in batting practice and the stats indicate that he has great contact abilities. It’ll be good to see him take some swings with the big league club.
- How Does Terry Collins Build the Lineup? – In 2015 Collins bluffed us through Spring Training, placing Juan Lagares in leadoff, only to switch his plan and have Granderson at the top of the lineup for the majority of the season. This season, Granderson is still likely the best option to lead things off for the Mets but Conforto’s role is in doubt. Based upon his 2016 results and his projection he should be hitting around the #3/#4 spot in the lineup but Collins has a history of not trusting younger players.
- What Will Be Done With De Aza? – Good money says that the Mets will use Alejandro De Aza as the primary left-handed pinch hitter and 5th outfielder, but there is a chance that De Aza earns himself a starting role on another club (via trade) if he plays well. With Darrell Ceciliani gone and Brandon Nimmo scheduled to play another season in Las Vegas the Mets will probably wish to retain De Aza in his current role.
- How Healthy is the Captain? – David Wright is still the face of the franchise and while he’s no longer the driving power of the offense, he is still an important piece for the 2016 season. It would be good to see Wright playing the field and hitting the ball with authority. He may never hit over 15 home runs in a single season ever again, but he can still be a plus hitter in the lineup.
Yeah, I’m curious to see about Gilmartin, Montero and Verrett and how they’re used during the Spring. On talent, all three deserve to be in the majors but it wouldn’t surprise me if one or more of them end up in Triple-A starting.
I could see all three of them winding up in AAA.
I agree unless they keep Gilmartin in the long role until Wheeler comes back, but I think they want to stretch him out in case they need him. Very nice to three capable starters in waiting. Not #1s or #2s but capable..
Didn’t Nimmo do something to his foot that’s going to put him on the shelf for a disturbing length of time?
I see an article from last May…
He tore a tendon, but isn’t expected to miss much time. It was a three week injury.
Two things, David Wright is no longer the face of this franchise. If it even has a face, it’s Cespedes. Him and maybe the starting pitching are the guys people will think of when they think of the Mets. Also, both Cespedes and Conforto are better defensive players than you give them credit for. Cespedes was hurt in the WS, but played center pertty well during the regular season and all Conforto did was constantly surprise people and exceed expectations with his defense.
Cespedes being the face of the franchise is hilarious. It’s Wright still, and if it wasn’t, it’d be any of our pitchers.
Wright is my top concern, though all won’t be revealed in ST regardless. I am curious to make up my own mind on Cabrera’s defense. Keith Law just flat out said he couldn’t play. The numbers are bad. This is a $23 million player. And I simply have not watched him play. This is a burning question for the club, particularly if he proves inadequate.
Cespedes works in center since our starters have another year under their belts, which should make them even more dominant. We will probably see Lagrares/de Aza in center when Colon pitches.
Why does it matter who the “best” pitcher is? They will all get the same number of starts as long as they remain healthy. It makes no difference who is penciled in as #1 or #4 except the honor of the Opening Day start and that quickly gets forgotten (our last 3 Opening Day starters were Niese, Gee and Colon).
Bobby Valentine always said that his #1 was the starting pitcher that day.
I just hope d’arnaud is covered in bubble wrap in Port st Lucie.
Curious to see where MLB station ranks him when they come out with their top 10 catchers and if that ranking assumes that he doesn’t get hurt.
Given that Plawecki did not hit as expected last year, do we send him back to AAA to start the season and add Monell to play once a week? he could use a few hundred extra at bats to be sharp until All-star break call up. Seems a waste to sit him when he could be playing everyday.
+1