2014 IPP: Eric Young

[Benjamin Grimm]

It was moderately popular last year, so we'll try it again this year. IPP stands for Individual Player Predictions. These will be threads where we share our expectations of how a player will perform in the current year. Feel free to make your predictions as specific or as vague as you like. (You can find a listing of the 2013 IPPs here.)

Final IPP thread of the year, unless somebody else starts one for a player that I skipped.

I think that Eric Young will start the season as the Mets regular center fielder and leadoff hitter. (I'd rather see Juan Lagares get the job, but I don't think that will happen.) Eric Jr. will keep his starting role and leadoff spot as long as he steals bases and gets a bunt hit every once in a while. I don't think that will last throughout the season, but probably at least into July. By then, if the Mets are in the race, they'll find a way to improve their outfield if possible, and if they're not, they'll shake it up with an eye towards 2015. My guess is that Cesar Puello will displace one of the Youngs, whichever one is performing more poorly.

[Edgy MD]

He may leadoff, but I can't see him starting regularly in center. I think he's about fifth on the depth chart there.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Also in my Big Spring Training Blockbuster, but more likely, gets traded if and when the other Young gets settled and any of den Dekker/Nieuwenhuis/Puello earn a look. The Mets are realistic about this guy -- they wouldn't have signed Grandy and Young if not.

So my guess is he begins the year as a useful reserve: pinch hits to lead off an inning, gives each of the other corners a rest now and then, pinch runs as the tying run, serves as emergency 2Bman. Only hope he has the constitution for it after his role last year.

50 games, 200 PA, .250/.300/.375, 19 steals, 2 HR.

Traded to Kansas City.

[MFS62]

Leads off more than he should.
More sizzle (SBs) than steak (OBP for a leadoff hitter).
May move to second base if (shudder) the Mets have to move Muffy to first.
Still will play 120 Games, put up .245/.305/.370 type numbers.

Later

[Guest d'Kong76]

Traded to Tigers

[Ceetar]

serviceable 4th outfielder. the more he plays, the worse off the Mets are.

.251/.318/.329 150 PA. 12 SB.

[Zvon]

He'll steal 33 bases.

[smg58]

Begins the year spelling C Young and Lagares against some righties and Grandy and Murphy against some lefties. May get a more clearly defined role if C Young plays like he did last year, but gets at least 400 AB regardless. Figures out that taking fat fastballs is not the way to get on base, and his numbers improve somewhat. .270/.340/.355, with 50 SBs (second in the league to Billy Hamilton).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He seems like a nice guy, and a Jersey guy. So it'll suck when he ends up bugging me by midseason like an earwig with a humming habit. Just enough "energy" early on to nudge ahead of a slumping Lagares in the race for playing time... then he'll stick in the lineup just long enough to suck up way too many ABs. Thanks, Terry!

89 G, 382 PA, .256/.320/.332, 49 R, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 28 SB, 25 XBH, replacement-deluxe value

[ashie62]

575 ab .265 54 sb not traded

[Edgy MD]

The blockbuster trade may not ship him out, but may instead open up a position for him.

I think he goes, however. To... to San Diego.