At 2-3 with a handful of pathetic offensive performances under their collective belt, I was already prepared to stop watching the 2017 New York Mets; not because I don't believe in them long-term -- in fact, I predicted that they would return to the World Series (and lose) -- but because stranding runners in scoring position is the most frustrating thing in the world.
No one strands runners in scoring position as frequently as the Mets. I just can't handle it emotionally.
However, I kept watching (as always) and was pleasantly surprised by back-to-back competitive victories over the Marlins and Phillies. Sunday night's game was tight at 3-2, but New York was able to pull away with timely bombs from Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto.
Good sign #1: Tacking on runs when ahead.
Last night was even better, thanks to controversial headhunting and Bruce's lefty-on-lefty f**k you blast in the 8th, which put the Mets ahead 4-2, after trailing 2-0 in the early going. Jacob deGrom was shaky out of the gate -- no thanks to poor defensive reads by Jose Reyes and Curtis Granderson -- but a critical 1-2-3 double play allowed deGrom to escape a potentially damning hole. From there, the Mets were able to hang in until Bruce provided two momentum-swinging shots.
Good sign #2: Fighting back from an early deficit.
Unfortunately, the construction of the batting order is still a disaster. The Mets can optimize their win total with the correct full-time starters hitting in the appropriate lineup slots. Here's my list of suggestions:
1. Conforto should be the everyday centerfielder. Granderson still has pop in his bat, but he rarely squares a ball up. His at bat quality is unacceptable. He often goes down on 3 or 4 pitches. He's old and his days as a full-time player are likely over.
3. Asdrubal Cabrera should lead off. Neither Reyes or Granderson get on base enough to occupy such a crucial spot in the lineup.
4. Here's my everyday lineup:
1. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS
2. Michael Conforto - CF
3. Yoenis Cespedes - LF
4. Jay Bruce - RF
5. Neil Walker - 2B
6. Wilmer Flores - 3B
7. Lucas Duda - 1B
8. Travis d'Arnaud - C
What do my fellow Mets fans think about that?
