With the offseason addition of Robin Ventura, the Mets infield is about as solid as they come -- with the bat and with the glove.
The left side of the infield features two 1998 Gold Glove winners in third baseman Ventura and 26 year-old shortstop Rey Ordonez. While Ordonez(.246, 1, 42) won't win the triple crown this year, he is the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith. Besides, what kind of numbers do you expect from a number eight hitter?
Robin Ventura(.263, 21, 91), age 31, is a different story. He will most likely bat fifth in the Mets lineup, behind John Olerud and Mike Piazza. But this isn't foreign territory to Ventura. After batting behind Frank Thomas and Albert Belle in Chicago, he understands the double-edged propositon of the five spot. Sure, the number five hitter enjoys having runners in scoring position, but also must face the reality that the bottom of the order follows him, decreasing his chances of seeing a pitch to hit. It may not be a problem in New York, though, with Bobby Bonilla hitting sixth and Brian McRae seventh. The most important asset Robin Ventura brings to the Mets, however, is the protection of Mike Piazza. National League pitchers can ill-afford to pitch around Piazza with Ventura standing on deck.
The Mets' most valuable player over the past two seasons has been first baseman John Olerud(.354, 22, 93). The 30-year old Olerud has been healthy and hit with amazing consistency in his two seasons with the Mets, losing the National League batting title in the final week of the 1998 season to Larry Walker. He's no slouch with the glove, either. The Mets can rely on another solid season from the lanky, left-handed veteran.
Edgardo Alfonzo(.278, 17, 78) will enter the 1999 season as the Mets' everyday second baseman, a new position for the budding superstar. Many thought Alfonzo, only 25, would be the cure for the Mets third base woes...until Robin Ventura came to town. Alfonzo accepts his new role as second baseman, though, and has volunteered to play the position in winter ball. The Mets have improved their infield, regardless of any adjustment period that Alfonzo endures, because he offers a huge advantage over last year's second baseman, Carlos Baerga.
Coming off the bench, the Mets have the versatile Luis Lopez(.252, 2, 22), age 28, and pinch-hitting specialist Matt Franco(.273, 1, 13), age 29. Lopez can spell either Ordonez at short, Alfonzo at second, or Ventura at third. Franco sees playing time at first and second.
Remaining infield positions will be filled by Mets farmhands.
Realistically, the Mets can do very little to improve
one of the best infields in major league baseball. The
defense is very strong up the middle and both corners offer
considerable power -- 20+ homers and 90+ RBIs.
