Mets Skipper Wants To Get Look At Red-Hot Lagares In 9-Hole
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBSNewYork) -- Juan Lagares has been making his case for the New York Mets' leadoff spot with a scorching spring to build on a breakout season in 2014.
But manager Terry Collins wants to see what his lineup will look like with Lagares batting ninth -- yes, ninth, behind the pitcher. He told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that he may take a look at the speedy 26-year-old outfielder in a so-called second leadoff role Friday afternoon against St. Louis.
"It is something we are thinking about," Collins told Sherman.
Collins' unconventional lineup would have Curtis Granderson at the top of the order with David Wright No. 2, Lucas Duda behind him and Michael Cuddyer batting cleanup, according to the Post. In theory, Lagares would be setting the table for Granderson, Wright & Co. in later innings. The seven spots ahead of the pitcher would alternate between right- and left-handed hitters.
"It negates a lefty reliever coming in and taking out an entire inning easily," Collins said.
But some wonder whether Collins -- who put the pitcher in the eight-hole 10 times in 2014 -- would be wise to consider a lineup that, extrapolated over the course of a full season, would give considerably fewer at-bats to a hitter who had a .281 average with 24 doubles and 47 RBIs last year.
Lagares has been red-hot this spring, too. He's batting .395 after going 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs in Wednesday's win over the Yankees.
Collins' handling of the Gold Glove winner -- playing time, specifically -- was a major point of contention early last season.
"I know in our market it's a big issue. It'll be a headline, back-page story," Collins said of batting Lagares ninth, according to ESPN.com. "But I'll just to do it to see what it looks like. Nothing more than that."
MONTERO STILL IN MIX FOR ROTATION
It's a long shot, but a strong spring has given Rafael Montero some hope for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation, which Dillon Gee appeared to have locked up when Zack Wheeler went down with a season-ending elbow tear.
"Right now, we still like our options with Dillon, but there's no reason we can't go another way," Collins said on Wednesday, according to the Mets' official website. "We'll leave it open."
Collins said he was "very impressed" with the 24-year-old Montero, who gave up one run on three hits, striking out four and allowing no walks in picking up the win against the Yankees. Four of his nine spring innings (4.00 ERA) came Wednesday.
Whoever doesn't get the job is expected to break camp in the Mets' bullpen.
"I just came here to play baseball and to work on things to get better," Montero said through an interpreter. "That decision is out of my hands. I'm here to do my thing and get better. In the minor leagues, I was a starting pitcher. Now in the big leagues, I'm ready to pitch in whatever role they want. In the minor leagues, I want to start. But here in the big leagues, that's their decision."
The once-heralded prospect went 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) with the big club in 2014.
