Yes, the rumors are true. New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel has been contemplating batting Luis Castillo first in the order for the 2009 season. If this change were to occur, Carlos Beltran would likely bat second, and Jose Reyes would drop to third. It's a very thought provoking idea when considered, seeing as it may be capable of producing more runs for an already offensively talented Mets team. Rather than have Luis Castillo sit aside Brian Schneider and the starting pitcher at the bottom of the lineup, where he would likely have no effect, Manuel has considered batting him leadoff in order to maximize his abilities. Castillo is not the player he once was, but this offseason, he promised the Mets that he would work on getting back into shape, and fans are hoping that this statement means dropping a few pounds. Now, towards the end of his career, with his knees giving out frequently and his ugly slap swings becoming more expected, Castillo could be on the brink of a possible "rejuvinating" of his career. No one expects him to steal 50 bases this year or bat at the .300 mark, but putting him at the top of the order would provide the Mets with a relatively consistent baserunner. Castillo can hit singles pretty well and he has a good eye at the plate. If you look at this possible switch in the eyes of a manager, it makes sense. With Jose Reyes becoming a more patient and talented hitter over time, there is nothing that suggests he wouldn't perform well in the number three spot. At the same time, if Reyes produces in his new spot, you receive the added bonus of production from Luis Castillo and allowing him to feel comfortable in the lineup.
The proposed lineup change would not only benefit Castillo, but take a look at what it would do for Beltran. In 2007, Beltran batted .294 in 17 at bats in the two slot and in 2008, he batted .375 in 18 at bats. Those are nice averages for limited time batting second. Another thing that must be taken into consideration is the ability to drive in more runs with Reyes batting third. Hypothetically, if the change isn't made, you may have Reyes batting first and Castillo second. The odds of Reyes scoring off a Castillo hit are not as great as the odds of him scoring when he has David Wright and Carlos Delgado batting directly behind him. Even if Luis Castillo is out, Beltran still has a nice set of wheels and if you have Reyes' extra base capabilities behind a solid runner, there is a greater chance of scoring runs. So, when you think about it, batting Castillo first might not be a huge downfall, it might actually help produce more runs. However, we will have to wait and see what happens in spring training and I'll be sure to write about any updates in this new and interesting scenario.
Signs of Hope: The Mets currently have four major candidates for the #5 spot in the starting rotation. Among them are Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, and Jonathon Niese. Between all four of those guys, you have to like the looks of the five spot. That is a pretty good looking group to duke it out for the final spot in the rotation and whether you get an innings eater in Livan Hernandez or a promising youth in Jonathon Niese, the five spot looks to be just fine.Besides, aren't all of these possibles better than options of the past like Chan Ho Park, Alay Soler, and Kazuhisa Ishii? Obviously, with one spot and four pitchers, not everyone can make it, but with the group of four, you could always throw one of the veterans in the pen. If Livan Hernandez gets the spot, Jonathon Niese can be sent to Triple A, and you could have an experienced pitcher like Tim Redding in the bullpen.
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