Position-by-Position Statistics (First-Half “Mets?”)

Now that the first half of this unique/shocking/disastrous/underdog/potentially comeback(?) season is over, I thought it would be interesting to look at how the Mets have fared statistically at each position. No one could have predicted that so many injuries would befall the Mets. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy to see how each position has performed statistically as a basis for comparison. Only third base has been played exclusively by Mets on the Opening Day roster (Wright and a Tatis cameo).

First Base (Daniel Murphy, Carlos Delgado, Fernando Tatis, Nick Evans and Jeremy Reed):

• Total: 81-310, 39 runs, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 49 RBI’s, 48 strikeouts, 30 walks, 2 stolen bases, .261 average, .325 OBP
• Without Delgado: 53-216, 24 runs, 10 doubles, 0 triples, 5 home runs, 26 RBI’s, 28 strikeouts, 19 walks, 2 stolen bases, .245 average, .306 OBP
• Daniel Murphy is hitting just .214 in 103 at bats as a first basemen. He also has 16 strikeouts and just nine runs. As an outfielder, Murphy is hitting .260 (still not spectacular) in 100 at bats. In those 100 at bats, Murphy has just eight strikeouts and 19 runs. Murphy has the most at bats of any Met first basemen in 2009.
• Stretched out 81 games, Delgado would have 71 RBI’s right now. Delgado was ahead of his expected pace as he had 23 RBI’s in 26 games before being injured.

Second Base (Luis Castillo, Alex Cora, Fernando Tatis, Ramon Martinez, Argenis Reyes and Wilson Valdez):

• Total: 78-294, 39 runs, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 0 home runs, 18 RBI’s, 47 walks, 30 strikeouts, 12 stolen bases, .265 average, .367 OBP (Luis Castillo has played second base in 66 of the 81 games).

Third Base (David Wright and Fernando Tatis):

• Total: 100-310, 51 runs, 23 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 43 RBI’s,  45 walks, 86 strikeouts, 20 stolen bases, .323 average, .409 OBP (80 games of Wright, six at bats of Tatis).

Shortstop (Jose Reyes, Alex Cora, Ramon Martinez, Wilson Valdez, Fernando Tatis, Argenis Reyes):

• Ramon Martinez, Wilson Valdez and Fernando Tatis have all played shortstop for the Mets this year.
• Total: 80-327, 30 runs, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 29 RBI’s, 33 walks, 40 strikeouts, .245 average, .310 OBP
• Jose Reyes still leads all Met shortstops with 146 at bats at the position.
• Ramon Martinez, Wilson Valdez, Fernando Tatis and Argenis Reyes are a combined 11-65 (.169 average) with 0 home runs and 7 RBI’s while starting at shortstop.

Leftfield (Daniel Murphy, Jeremy Reed, Gary Sheffield, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Tatis, Nick Evans and Angel Pagan):

• Total: 87-311, 59 runs, 17 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 40 RBI’s, 34 walks, 37 strikeouts, 3 stolen bases, .280 average, .351 OBP
• Murphy leads the Mets in both at bats as a first basemen and at bats as a leftfielder.
• Gary Sheffield is 29-91 (.319 average) with 5 home runs and 20 RBI’s as a leftfielder (as opposed to hitting .218 as a right fielder with one home run and 5 RBI’s in 55 at bats). Sheffield’s splits are surprising and I cannot think of one justification for this anomaly.  Sheffield is 10-25 (.400 average) with three home runs and five RBI’s as a DH.

Centerfield (Carlos Beltran, Jeremy Reed, Fernando Martinez, Angel Pagan and Ryan Church):

• Total: 102-315, 51 runs, 25 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 46 RBI’s, 40 walks, 46 strikeouts, 13 stolen bases, .324 average, .399 OBP
• Without Beltran: 24-86, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 0 triples, 1 HR, 7 RBI’s, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases, .279 average, .303 OBP

Rightfield (Ryan Church, Gary Sheffield, Fernando Martinez, Angel Pagan, Jeremy Reed and one glorious Emil Brown start):

• Total: 78-299, 32 runs, 20 doubles, 0 triples, 3 home runs, 26 RBI’s, 34 walks, 50 strikeouts, 6 stolen bases, .261 average, .336 OBP.
• While Church is starting to hit, this is not the kind of production you want out of a corner outfield spot. What is most disturbing is that the rightfield position has not been hit that hard by injuries. Ryan Church and Gary Sheffield have played in 54 and 15 games respectively at the position. At this point, refer to my article campaigning for Adam Dunn this past off-season. The same argument could be applied to a potential trade for Dunn (though Omar would probably have to give up too much). Dunn hits home runs and walks. Met corner outfielders have lacked both of these important statistics all season long. Let’s not forget that Citi Field would have little impact on a masher like Dunn. Right now, however, I would not trade the farm for Dunn. Such an acquisition is the functional equivalent of placing a band-aid over a gushing wound. Right now, Omar should just wait until the DL-Stars return and hope the Mets are still in the race.

Catcher (Omir Santos: 37 starts, Brian Schneider: 23 starts, Ramon Castro: 21 starts):

• Total: 75-288, 25 runs, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 54 RBI’s, 27 walks, 46 strikeouts, .260 average, .324 OBP
• Despite the poor average and OBP, the catcher position has been a pleasant surprise this season (Read: Omir Santos).
• Met catchers lead all Met positions with 54 RBI’s and are the only position on pace for 100 RBI’s. The next best position is Centerfield with 46 RBI’s. This is shocking. Met catchers are also tied with Met Centerfielders, Leftfielders and First Basemen with 9 home runs. Is Piazza back? No Met position could scrounge together double digit home runs in 81 games? Despite having David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado? This has been a bizarre season. Hopefully the Mets will still be in the race when the cavalry arrives in August-ish.

This has been a bizarre season to say the least. There is not one position performing the way Met fans expected outside of maybe second base and that may or may not be a good thing. Even Centerfield is surprising with Beltran hitting for average. Hopefully the Mets will still be in the race when the cavalry arrives in August-ish. Until then, I will enjoy being the “underdog” (enjoyment waning) and continue to analyze peculiar aspects of a bizarre season.