Mets Getting it Done with Unlikely Heroes

I know it's still early in the season, only three weeks in, but once again the New York Mets offense looks extremely good. You might be thinking, well that's no surprise with Jose Reyes, Paul Lo Duca, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and David Wright at the top of the order. But would you still think it's not a surprise if I told you that Carlos Delgado is only batting .209 and hasn't hit a home run yet? Would you still believe that if I told you David Wright has no home runs and only four RBI? Paul Lo Duca is also batting a paltry .229.

The truth is most people thought the Mets' offense was very top heavy and yet three out of the top five guys are struggling to get it done. Despite that the New York Mets still find themselves with the most runs in the National League. The New York Mets find themselves first in the Majors in batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

Certainly a large part of this success is due to the two guys in the top of the order that are playing well. Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are two of the most dynamic hitters in the National League. Reyes leads the Majors in steals and runs and is fourth in the National League in batting average. Carlos Beltran is first in the National League in batting average and RBI, he's only a few home runs short of being first in all three categories and he's on pace to steal thirty bases.

But the New York Mets don't get the best offense in the National League with two good players. The truth is the bottom of the order is getting it done too. That's right, the bottom of the New York Mets batting order. People laughed when the New York Mets signed Moises Alou. People laughed when the New York Mets settled for Shawn Green as a starter. But just like last year the New York Mets keep getting it done. Just ask the "weak" starting pitching that is leading the National League in ERA and the Majors in batting average against.

But that's a different story. This is about the offense. This is about Moises Alou, the 40 year old, who is currently sixth in the National League in batting average and has scored nine runs in knocked in another ten runs. This is about Shawn Green. Shawn Green is still not the best defensive option by any means but he's making up for it by hitting .311 and also adding 10 runs and 9 RBI. This is about Ramon Castro, the back up catcher of the New York Mets. The back up catcher does not get much playing time but Ramon Castro has made up for it by batting .353 and hitting 3 home runs and 8 RBI in just 14 at bats. In just 14 at bats Ramon Castro is second on the New York Mets in home runs. This is about Endy Chavez who has once again come off the bench to bat over .300, just like he did last season. As it stands now, David Wright might be the last guy in the New York Mets starting lineup to get to 10 RBI. If the New York Mets offense is the best in the National League without Carlos Delgado and David Wright hitting, what is it going be like when David Wright and Carlos Beltran are hitting?

I know a lot of people thought the New York Mets weren't going to win the division. "There's not anything good in the bottom of the lineup," or "that starting pitching is weak", or "the relievers aren't as good this year", or, and this is the best one, "the Phillies are going to win the division!" I hate to break it to the rest of baseball but it's a bunch of wishful thinking. The New York Mets don't really have any holes.