New York Mets: Mickey Callaway’s funky lineups continue to do wonders

The New York Mets continue to put on offensive clinics while slowly but surely getting back the filthy arms of the bottom half of their rotation. While most of what Mickey Callaway has done this year has defied logic, he gets results.

The New York Mets might not even need to wait until Jacob deGrom on Sunday night to win a four game series against the Braves because no matter what Mets Manager Mickey Callaway is throwing out there, it seems to be working. There is a never dull moment when reading the Mets lineup card everyday and for that, I guess we should thank him.

Baseball in 2019 is odd. Almost everything about it defies logic. On a day where the Mets benched their hot rookie commodity Pete Alonso for Dominic Smith for no reason other than to get the latter reps, was another day the Mets scored six runs and won.

Now, the Mets sit at 9-4, first place in the NL East. However, the first place part isn’t as cool as what we have learned. The Mets have now done something not done since 2007, you know the season where they were good for most of it before an epic colla…this isn’t about that.

Here is what happened for the Mets on Friday night:

So yeah, this team is built on offense, an offense that is forever changing, just how Callaway likes it, apparently.

The Mets scored six runs again. In large part thanks to a two run home run by Brandon Nimmo who did not actually lead off this time, but was moved down the lineup. His slump to begin the year has been well documented, but with less pressure on him down in the order (he batted eighth) he was able to come up with a clutch home run that proved to be important.

That opened Nimmo’s spot up for Jeff McNeil who is arguably the Mets best pure hitter. He too, had a solid game in the leadoff spot this time, usually he is deeper in the lineup. He had two hits and two RBIs which very much helped in the win. He also played at third. That isn’t as important to the story but we can’t forget the infield/outfield hybrid the Mets are trying to do with him.

As for Alonso, he didn’t get the start, instead it was Dom Smith. He had a solid day as well going for two hits and has his average above .400 on the year still (he isn’t an everyday player).

So, once again, Mickey Callaway threw complete caution to the wind, if you could even say that. He continues to take out his best or hottest player in order to keep guys normally on the bench fresh. Dare I say that in the playoffs a great bench and depth is what will be important?

As much as the pure baseball in all of us wants to yell at Callaway everyday and as easy as it would be to just see a Mets lineup, memorize it, and have it never change would be, that is not how the Mets roll.

The New York Mets stockpiled players this offseason and might even have more than they need, but they are scoring runs at a historic pace and sit atop the NL East 13 games in, halfway through April. His lineups are funky to the purist, but in an analytically driven game, they might be just perfect. Baseball in 2019 is weird, but totally awesome. Still missed Pete Alonso, though.