Mets: Four reasons Michael Conforto deserves an Opening Day roster spot

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Michael Conforto is a better option than Jay Bruce

This one is very opinionated, but I personally like Conforto as an option over Bruce. There’s many reasons for this opinion, the previous three points help.

I wasn’t stoked over the acquisition of Bruce last season, but obviously I was happy with it. They needed to make a move for another big bat and Alderson pulled through once again. However, it’s safe to say that didn’t quite work out like everyone hoped.

There’s many different variables. Bruce is strictly a right fielder, and maybe a first basemen. As I already stated, Conforto can play all three outfield positions, and maybe first as well.

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In Bruce’s 50 games with the Mets last season, he hit .219, with a bad .294 OBP. It was proven with the boo’s that many Mets fans weren’t happy with the newly acquired outfielder. So far this spring, not much has changed.

Bruce is currently hitting .225 this spring, with only seven hits. As I mentioned, Conforto’s hitting .365 with 16 hits.

Many people like to say how it’d be good to have a big 30 home run bat like Bruce in the lineup with Cespedes. Thirty home runs are great, but home runs aren’t the key to offense.

Also, there’s Curtis Granderson and a healthy Lucas Duda, two that can hit 30 home runs in a season. So anyone saying that the Mets need Bruce for another 30 home run bat, they already have three.

Granderson has as many 30 home run seasons in his career as Bruce. Granderson’s also a significantly better hitter. Bruce has never hit higher than .281 in his career and has driven in 100 RBI once in a season. Therefore, what’s so great about Jay Bruce?

Conforto can easily hit .300. With him either in centerfield or right field and Granderson in the other, that’s a good outfield. I believe that’s a far better option than Bruce in right field.

I do think Duda will eventually be injured, which could potentially lead to Bruce playing first base. However, keeping Bruce on the bench is probably not ideal for the long term.

Next: Which pitcher are you most excited to watch this season?

I’m a big believer in Conforto. I think he deserves another chance to prove he can play for the Mets. His bat can be essential for this Mets lineup that needs to rely on more than just winning games with home runs.

There’s obviously reasons to keep him in Triple-A, given his major slump last season, but I think he should be starting on Opening Day for the New York Mets.