When everybody is healthy and playing to the top of their abilities, the New York Mets have a fearsome lineup, one of the best in the league.
Every position is covered by a talented offensive player that may or may not be having a good season, but everybody knows he is capable of being a good performer.
Talent From Top To Bottom
The Mets have two capable catchers in James McCann and Tomas Nido.
First base is well covered by slugger Pete Alonso, while it’s also Dom Smith’s natural position.
Jeff McNeil and Javier Baez are capable of being excellent offensive second basemen, and the latter is also a plus defensive player.
Francisco Lindor is the highest-paid position player and remains a great shortstop even if 2021 hasn’t been his best year.
McNeil has the ability to slide over to third base, where J.D. Davis’ bat and Jonathan Villar’s speed and versatility also help.
Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Pillar are both good defensive center fielders: the former is a far better offensive option while the latter offers a better glove.
Smith and Michael Conforto have struggled this year, but they have the ability to turn it around and offer comfortably above-average offense in the corners.
Ideal Positions In The Lineup
As of now, Lindor is injured and has mostly struggled when he has been on the field (.228/.326/.376 slash line with 11 homers and eight steals.)
However, one has to think that, when healthy, he will occupy either the second of the third spot in the lineup.
Nimmo is the leadoff hitter, and rightfully so: his blend of on-base ability (an outstanding .422 OBP in 2021), speed, and occasional power is perfect for the first spot.
Alonso needs to be batting third or fourth.
Everyone else beyond those three are interchangeable and depend on who’s playing and who’s hot.
Ideally, Conforto would be the fourth or fifth hitter, but he has really struggled this year, with a .200/.327/.332 line after his brilliant 2020.
Michael Conforto is on the bench for the second time in three days tonight as he tries to emerge from a 4-for-39 (.103) slump.
Mets manager Luis Rojas believes Conforto's issues right now are mental: pic.twitter.com/73dBnXoM3A
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 2, 2021
He should get going sooner than later, and when he does, he is an excellent run-producing piece to slot in either one of those spots.
The same situation applies to Smith.
McNeil’s ability to make contact goes well at the top of the lineup, so he is relegated to the bottom not because he doesn’t have the ability to be a good leadoff or two-hole hitter, but rather because the options available are better at this time (unless Lindor takes longer to recover or struggles upon getting back).
Baez has an excellent power-speed combo, but has a sub-.300 OBP that would be less than ideal on the first half of the lineup.
All in all, the Mets’ dream lineup for the postseason (with no injuries and everybody performing to the top of their abilities, otherwise it wouldn’t be ‘dream lineup’) would be something like this:
Lineup With No DH
CF Brandon Nimmo
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
LF Dom Smith
3B Jeff McNeil
RF Michael Conforto
2B Javier Baez
C James McCann
Pitcher
Lineup With DH
If the Mets advance to the World Series, where they would need to play games at American League parks (and with a designated hitter), it would look something like this:
CF Brandon Nimmo
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Pete Alonso
LF Dom Smith
3B Jeff McNeil
DH J.D. Davis
RF Michael Conforto
2B Javier Baez
C James McCann
I dont think Mets fans realize that in late August/all September when we are healthy our lineup will look like this:
1. Nimmo (CF)
2. Lindor (SS)
3. Alonso (1B)
4. Baez (2B)
5. McNeil (3B)
6. Smith/Davis (LF)
7. Conforto/Drury (RF)
8. McCann (C)
Bench: Villar, Pillar, Nido#LGM— greg (@LifeOfDoughboy) August 3, 2021
Mets fans may not see it now, but they do have a great lineup that will look better as it gets healthier.
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