Looking at the New York Mets’ one-through-eight, it truly is one great batter after the next. In fact, it is one of the deepest lineups in all of baseball. Across the board, they are great. The question is just how great.
Well, if we look back from the 2017 season, we can get a glimpse as to just how exceptional they are. Starting from that point and going through the 2020 season, the Mets post some elite hitters at their positions (MLB ranks):
C James McCann 91 wRC+ (15th)
1B Pete Alonso 136 wRC+ (5th)
2B Jeff McNeil 139 wRC+ (1st)
3B J.D. Davis 115 wRC+ (14th)
SS Francisco Lindor 119 wRC+ (5th)
LF Dominic Smith 116 wRC+ (15th)
CF Brandon Nimmo 136 wRC+ (5th)
RF Michael Conforto 132 wRC+ (5th)
Those are five players in the top five in their position over the last four seasons. As per Fangraphs, if you are above 100 wRC+, you are above-average, whether minimally or substantially. That’s seven-eighths of the Mets’ lineup. Four of those players at 115 wRC+ or greater are approaching the elite category.
In fact, when you look at it, the Mets already have players in that great area. In his two healthy seasons, Nimmo was a 148 wRC+. Last year, Smith (164 wRC+) was the sixth-best hitter in all of baseball, and he was joined by Conforto in the top 15.
That’s the biggest takeaway with this Mets lineup. These are all players in their prime who have arguably not yet hit their ceiling. We could see more from everyone in that lineup. This lineup is an absolute nightmare for opposing pitching staffs and they promise to be that in 2021.
Really, few times in Mets history have they assembled a lineup this deep and this good.
When you combine that with a great rotation, more information at their disposal, and real support from ownership, this could very well prove to be a World Series-winning type of team.
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