Patchwork Mets starting lineup from 1 year ago today resurfaces

Thanks to Tim Healey of Newsday, we can see just how far the New York Mets have come in a year. Despite being without Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer, we should all be thankful the starting lineup they had one year ago today is nothing like either they will put together to face the Colorado Rockies in their Saturday doubleheader.

Against the Miami Marlins, this was the starting nine Luis Rojas put together:

It’s hard to believe that the Mets were 22-17 after winning a game with what looks like a September 30th lineup for a last place club.

Even the worst Mets lineup in 2022 might not match this one

Anyone can win a single game and the Mets were able to accomplish this by facing the Marlins in what turned out to be a bullpen game for the Fish lasting 12 innings. Drew Smith picked up the win with Khalil Lee and Johneshwy Fargas driving in the runs in the top of the 12th to help secure the win.

That inning alone included at-bats from Jake Hager and Wilfredo Tovar as well. If you felt the Mets were getting hurt left and right this year, you only need to dip 365 days into the past to find them in a much worse position.

Of those nine starters from one year ago, the only two we’ll see play the same position are shortstop Francisco Lindor and catcher Tomas Nido. Dominic Smith is the only other guy still with the big league club but this year the Mets have no interest in putting him out in left field.

Perhaps the saddest part of this entire lineup from May 21, 2021, is the presence of Cameron Maybin in the number three spot. Sold to the Mets for only a dollar, it was just his second game for the club. By the end of it, he was 0 for 9 with 4 strikeouts. Maybin wouldn’t pick up a hit for the Mets until his final game for them on May 29 when he went 1 for 4 versus the Atlanta Braves.