The New York Mets

It is easy to say that The Mets are going to have a rough 2012 season. There is now four empires in the making in one division. The Braves, The Philles, The Nationals, and The Marlins are all strong contenders for the National League East.

In the 2011 season The Mets traded Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez who is also known as K-Rod. The Mets also lost Jose Reyes to the Marlins due to free agency. These three players were big parts to their team and now they have all gone their own way. Probably the most damaging aspect of losing these key players is the fact that they are all still in the National League. Beltran is now on the Cardinals, Reyes is now on the Marlins, and Rodriguez is now on the Brewers.

Johan Santana is supposed to coming back to pitch for the Mets in this upcoming season after surgery. I do not believe that Santana will be able to put up the numbers that he did with the Minnesota Twins, which feels like ages ago. Even if Santana posts a sub 3.5 earned run average The Mets' offense cannot provide enough support for Santana.

The Mets still have their franchise face of David Wright. David Wright has not been putting up the numbers he is paid to do. I consider Wright to be one of the most over rated player in baseball, which sounds harsh, but it really isn't. If The Mets were to trade David Wright for prospects and begin to reconstruct their team and replenish their farm system, they may have a promising season in the future.

Although The Mets are in a reconstruction phase, they have made some transactions. They signed a few relief pitchers including Ramon Ramirez, Jon Rauch, and Frank Francisco. Out of these 3 relievers the only one that will seem to have a decent impact on the team is Ramon Ramirez who posted a 2.62 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The Mets also signed Andres Torres, Ronny Cedeno, and Scott Hairston, who will probably receive a decent amount of at bats off the bench and platooning.

Second Batter Evaluation

After reading about the Lead Off Value, you may want to know how valuable a number two hitter is. A batter  batting second in the lineup has to be bale to get on base, get extra base hits, because they score the runner and have sacrifice hits and flies. The number 2 batter does not want to strikeout and ground into double plays. Getting on base will further fuel a first inning rally, as does driving in the lead off man with extra base hits and sacrificing yourself to advance the lead off hitter. You want your lineup to flow nicely and having a good second batter will be good after a good lead off hitter

OBP = On base percentage
SH = Sacrifice hits
SF = Sacrifice flies
2B = Doubles
3B = Triples
GDP = Grounded into double play
SO = Strikeouts
SBE = Second batter evaluation

SBE = OBP( SH + SF + 2B + 3B) X100
                       GDP + SO

Derek Jeter's SBE = 0.355(37)   X 100
                                      91                     = 14.4

A 14.4 SBE is above average, Derek Jeter is a pretty good number 2 hitter.

Dustin Pedroia's SBE = 0.387(49)   X100  
                                           97                
      = 19.5

A 19.5 SBE is great. Pedroia would make an excellent number 2 hitter

 For an additional fact: most lead off hitters are left handed. Having a number 2 hitter who is right handed or a switch hitter would negate the left on left and right on right match ups that the opposing managers love to use so much. With a right handed pitcher coming in to face the number 2 hitter, that right handed pitcher may stay in the game to face the left handed, slugging number 3 hitter.