John Mayberry to Play Against Lefties
Terry Collins said on Friday that John Mayberry will play regularly against lefties. This sets up a potentially dangerous situation in the Mets clubhouse, as someone will have to sit to make room for him.
The most obvious candidate is Lucas Duda. In fact, Mayberry was set to start in left field Friday against the Braves, with Michael Cuddyer moving to first and Duda grabbing some pine. However, Collins said in Spring Training that there would not be a platoon at first.
If Duda will indeed get a chance at lefties, another player will be benched. Since Cuddyer is a righty and thus would be wanted in the lineup against lefties, this could ultimately cost Curtis Granderson some playing time. Granderson appears to be a pretty easy-going guy, but this probably will not sit well with him.
It also does not make sense for the Mets to be spending $15 million per season on Granderson just to make him a part-time player.
The Mets have to live or die with Granderson. And if they truly believe Duda will be a mainstay at first base for years to come, they need to give him the chance to learn how to hit lefties. And if they are convinced he cannot, they need to get a better player with whom to platoon him.
John Mayberry was signed because he can come off the bench and hit lefties, plus make the occasional start against the toughest of lefties. That should remain his role.