Pitcher Batting 8th; 1st Time in Mets History

After Johan Santana’s no-hitter, you probably think you’ve seen everything that could possibly happen in Mets history. Think again. For the first time ever Monday night, a starting Mets pitcher is not hitting ninth in the lineup.

In the lineup card posted in the Mets dugout in St. Louis, Jacob deGrom is hitting eighth with Eric Young, just back from the disabled list, is batting ninth.

Terry Collins told the New York Post back in March that is something he might try.

“I think both (David Wright and Curtis Granderson) are RBI guys,” Collins said. “My thought is: How do we get them more RBI chances and also give David, in particular, chances to drive in runs. It is a possibility I might try (hitting the pitcher eighth). I don’t know that I will, but I might.”

It is ironic that Collins is doing this in St. Louis, where former manager Tony LaRussa pioneered the idea.

Honestly, I don not know if this is a good thing or not. But considering the way the Mets have been hitting, it certainly cannot hurt. It helps that deGrom appears to know how to handle the bat — he is hitting .455, on five hits in 11 at bats. No other Met can boast such lofty numbers.

This is a shockingly creative move by Collins, a move that Sandy Alderson probably had to approve for it to happen. So credit Collins and Alderson for finally thinking outside the box. And it only took four years!