We get all revved up for Opening Day, we get a tremendous win over a disliked division rival and then … a day off. It’s a little frustrating. So, to fill this void, let’s get around to guys who didn’t get a preseason prediction. Hopefully the fact that they’ve played 1/162 of the schedule won’t bother you too much when you see these guesses of mine.
Hitters
Pete Alonso – 504 PA, .235/.320/.450, 25 HR, 75 RBIs
Jeff McNeil – 560 PA, .290/.340/.445, 15 HR, 68 RBIs
Jed Lowrie – 450 PA, .245/.330/.410, 12 HR, 45 RBIs
Amed Rosario – 575 PA, .265/.310/.395, 12 HR, 50 RBIs
Todd Frazier – 250 PA, .225/.310/.410, 10 HR, 36 RBIs
Juan Lagares – 210 PA, .250/.290/.340, 5 HR, 22 RBIs
Pitchers
Edwin Diaz – 72 IP, 2.22 ERA, 110 Ks, 25 BB, 7 HR
Seth Lugo – 88 IP, 2.40 ERA, 90 Ks, 25 BB, 6 HR
My expectation is that McNeil will get full-time ABs, with Frazier and Lagares seeing their playing time suffer. Lowrie’s reduced time is injury related. And even 450 PA may be generous, given that we don’t know when he’ll actually return. Diaz comes very close to matching last year’s phenomenal numbers and Lugo spends the whole year in the pen and puts up great numbers as a reliever. My expectation is that Jeurys Familia will be similar, although slightly worse, than Lugo.
I’m ok with most of them. The two I disagree slightly on are Rosario’s and Lowrie’s batting averages seem too low for me, and I hope Lagares can do better than that, even at #8. I’d play Lagares and Broxton in CF exclusively with Lagares 60% of the time the first month, and if he doesn’t do much go 60% with Broxton in May. If by May’s end Lagares is still scuffling, well, he can keep Callaway company until Yoenis is ready.
+1
560 PA for McNeil. That presumes a lot of OF time once the infield gets more crowded. I hope he can make it out there because I like him and his fancy bat.
I still think we might have too many infielders. I know there will always be a guy or two on the IL, but I have a feeling that either Frazier or Smith will have to get traded before long. Also I doubt Hechavarria is going to want to spend the whole season in Syracuse.
Yeah, my assumption is that Lagares won’t hit so that McNeil becomes the starting LF and they make defensive changes late in close games like they did on Opening Day.
And if Hecchavarria has an out clause in his contract, I thank him for giving it a shot.