[JimMorrison]

Spring training went by quick for our Mets and we actually played pretty well, going 14-16. No injuries either which is a big deal for us as we really don’t have a ton of depth on this team. One big injury and we could be in trouble.

The preseason predictions are also showing us improving with a win-loss record of 66-96, setting us at 8th in the National League, ahead of the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. I would love to see a season under 100 losses here and that alone would make a 13 win improvement from last season. Now onto the hitters!

Catchers:

Hobie Landrith, 33 (.200 AVG, 64 OPS+, 0.6 WAR) - Hobie was our starting catcher last year and will be our opening day starter in 1963 as well. His bat is pretty solid for a catcher but last year he really struggled at the plate. He did have a career high in homers (10) for us last year and his defense is pretty solid, I just hope by 1964 he is not the starter again,

Jerry Grote, 20 (No stats) - Grote was our second round pick in the amateur draft and has some potential to be the catcher of the future. Both his bat and defense need to improve, but I really don’t have another backup option in the minors and I don’t think he’ll be completely overmatched here. I will be relying on Landrith to do most of the catching, but Grote will get some starts and I hope he can hang in there for now.


Infield:

Ernie Banks, 1B, 32 (.268 AVG, 111 OPS+, 29 HR combined with Mets and Cubs) - Banks was a nice mid-season acquisition for the team, but once in New York, Banks struggled and wasn’t nearly the same player as he was when with the Cubs. He will be our starting first baseman regardless of his stats last year and there’s not much competition for him here. I am hoping he will be an above average hitter who can get some power back for us, and it is nice to have some proven talent in our lineup!

Gil Hodges, 1B, 39 (.190 AVG, 55 OPS+ in 210 PA) - Bluntly, Hodges was terrible last season and was a big reason why I was happy trading for Banks at the deadline. He was really worse than I could have imagined and his talents have completely vanished. I didn’t have a say in the expansion draft and if I did, a 38-year-old struggling first baseman would not have been my priority. This will be his last chance with us and it’s been frustrating. Maybe he could be a great manager?

Joe Morgan, 2B, 19 (No stats) - The first overall pick in the draft has looked as good as advertised in the Big Apple. Morgan hit .308 and had an OPS+ of 142 in the spring and has really held down the starting spot at second. I am not expecting him to immediately be our best hitter, but he should really be above average at the plate and that in itself is more than enough for right now.

Orlando McFarlane, 2B/3B/SS, 24, (.319 AVG, 161 OPS+ in AAA for Detroit) - Orlando is going to be our utility infielder as he can play all four infield spots. His defense alone is a huge asset and he can hit well enough at the major league level as well. I think if things go well, he could find his way into a starting infield spot as 3B and SS are pretty weak at the moment. Very happy to have him on this team honestly.

Don Zimmer, 3B, 32 (.242 AVG, 93 OPS+, 1.8 WAR) - Zimmer was frustrating to me in 1962 but looking back at his season as a whole, he wasn’t really that bad. There’s some value in having a below average bat with some solid defense at third. He will not be a part of the first great Mets team, but he isn’t a terrible option for now. If McFarlane can hit well, I could see him taking Zimmer’s spot at third but we will have to see how the season plays out.

Elio Chacon, SS, 26 (.243 AVG, 91 OPS+, 1.3 WAR) - Chacon is going to be our starting shortstop coming into the season but I really think we need an upgrade here. Like with Zimmer, I can deal with a below average hitter but his defense at short was a big liability last year and I need to find someone who can actually play the position better. With some more experience at short, McFarlane could take Chacon’s spot, but he’s much more of a 2B/3B type than a great shortstop. Chacon is still younger but I don’t think he’s the guy but we really don’t have any better options for now.

Outfield:

Frank Thomas, LF, 33 (.288 AVG, 121 OPS+, 2.4 WAR) - Thomas is an older player on the decline, but was still the best player on the 1962 Mets by far. As the only good hitter on the team last year, Thomas is going to start for us in left and I hope he can at least match last season’s production.

Richie Ashburn, CF, 36 (.263 AVG, 98 OPS+, 2.0 WAR) - I thought Ashburn was going to be our best player going into the 1962 season, but he was really disappointing as he just really struggled to hit for contact. His walk rate was as good as it’s been and he didn’t strike out much at all so it was really just a batted ball issue. Richie played some really good defense at center for us and as a now 36-year-old, I can’t really sit there and complain about that. My scouts have not seen a real decline with him but this could be a player who could drop off fast. This deadline I may use him as a big piece to hopefully get some younger players and prospects, especially if he’s hitting better than last season.

Jesus Alou, RF, 21 (.261 AVG, 72 OPS+, -0.7 WAR) - Alou was acquired midseason from the Giants in the Jim Hickman trade and his potential leaps off the charts here. Alou did not impress in his half season with the Mets, but he made some improvements over the off-season and is looking to be a solid hitter. His ability to hit for average is really high and he could be a great lead-off option for us. I am giving him the starting RF job as a way to just give him a shot. If he struggles, I am not in panic mode but I want to see if he can hold a spot in the line-up because my scouts love him.

Ed Kranepool, LF/RF, 18 (.261 AVG, 99 OPS+, 0.8 WAR) - Kranepool was a pretty big contributor to this line-up at the ridiculous age of 17 and while his ceiling isn’t as high as some others on this team, he had a very great rookie year in 1962 all things considered. On a pure statistical level, I should probably be starting Kranepool over Alou in right, but Ed is still only 18 and if Alou struggles in the first month or so, he will be the one taking his spot. Kranepool will be a super useful pinch hitter and outfield option off the bench here.

Willie Smith, LF/RF/SP, 24 (.359 AVG, 202 OPS+, 6.9 WAR in A league for Detroit) - Our one actual signing in the off-season is one of the weirdest players in the league as he looks to be a true two-way player. I signed him as an outfield option but our manager Casey Stengel really wants him in the rotation too. Since Smith is still figuring stuff out and has never played in the majors, I just may have him be a pitcher first and an outfielder if we really need him. It’s not really a situation where he is better at one either, he’s an above average hitter and pitcher and could be a #2 starter on this miserable rotation and a #3/#4 option on an actually talented one. One of the bigger storylines this season is going to be how we use Smith and for now I am planning to let him focus on his pitching.

This line-up has a lot of holes but there are some really talented players in there who could become something special. Morgan, Alou, Kranepool, McFarlane and Grote are the real development pieces to watch while Banks, Thomas and Ashburn could be trade pieces if their value is high and we can get some young talent back in a trade. This should be a much more interesting year than ‘62 and I am hoping we can be a below average offensive team.

Next I will go through the rotation and bullpen and then the start of the ‘63 season!