Wright place in the order?

Following up on the lineup talk from the other day...

I know David Wright hit some cleanup last year with mixed success, but I think the Mets have to figure out a way to get him back either to the 3 spot (ideal) or the 5 hole to maximize his production. There may be a perception that Wright can easily transition into more of a power hitting role, due to his strength and position. But putting him at 4 looks like a classic square peg in round hole situation from where I'm sitting.

Though he hit 33 dingers last year, David's at his best when he's driving line drives and going opposite field, rather than trying to pull the ball for power. In fact, the slumps David has gotten himself in over the past few years have in every case been a result of getting overeager to pull the ball resulting in a failure to stay back and drive it the other way. Asking for more power out of the guy is likely to exacerbate that issue.

David Wright gives you a lot offensively that many people don't realize. He hits to all fields, he moves runners over, he beats out double plays and he steals bases with great efficiency. In short, he's much better suited to a spot in the order that calls for a range of different situational skills, not one whose primary job is to swing for the fences. That role is more appropriate for Carlos Delgado, who's gonna give you more consistent power but far less consistent production in other departments.

But if it were just Wright hitting cleanup we were dealing with, I wouldn't be so concerned. The bigger picture problem here for me is that in Wright and Jose Reyes (slated to hit 3), the Mets are now set to have their best two players hitting outside their natural spots, and in Reyes' case, dramatically so. Throw in the idea coming out of camp that Carlos Beltran will hit 2nd and you've got the bulk of the Mets run production adjusting to uncomfortable roles.

I don't think I'm alone in being worried about the long-term ramifications - both on the field and off - of a decision to make your stars sacrifice for the good of your role players. Needless to say, that's not the way it normally works at the pro level of any team sport, let alone the most individually focused team sport.

We'll have to wait and see how this all plays out, but my guess is that the "turn everyone on their heads in the hope that we can squeeze a modicum of production out of Luis Castillo" experiment doesn't survive past Memorial Day.