As spring training fast approaches I want to go around-the-horn on the projected Mets opening day lineup position by position.  I will talk about my thoughts on how that position matches up and how it should be handled.  Hope you enjoy.

There is nobody I am more excited to see back on the field in Port St. Lucie then Jose Reyes.  I am one of the people that loves Jose and I was cringing every time I heard people saying the Mets should trade him.  I think he is a unique talent and one that should be coveted.  Sure the guy is quirky and can make you scratch your head at times, but when you listen to the other players talk about Jose they all smile and speak about how much fun he makes things.  If you think that isn’t important playing on this team then you haven’t  been watching.

After Jose was lots for basically the entire season last year, there has been a lot of talk about how he is somehow a fragile player.  Yes I know he had leg issues in the first two seasons in the big leagues, but lets not forget too that for about a 4 year stretch there Reyes had played more games then anyone else in major league baseball.  He was a horse for this team.  And when you consider how he plays the game that’s pretty impressive.  Everything he does is at 100 mph.  It’s easy for a first baseman, or a DH to play 160 games a year, but for a shortstop who steals 50+ bases a year that’s impressive.

I’d like to think that last year was actually his body breaking down a bit from overuse.  And with the year off his legs should be fresh again.  More importantly I think he will have gained a lot of perspective on what it’s like to be away from baseball.  This should recharge his batteries and he sure looks happy to be back.

Let’s not forget either that Reyes is entering the final year of the 4-year $23.25 million dollar extension.  The Mets have an $11 million dollar option for the 2011 season, but I think both parties would rather have things resolved before then.  This is a BIG year for Jose Reyes.  He needs to prove he is healthy and can hold up, and he needs to prove he’s as dynamic as ever.  Another injury plagued season could take serious dollars off the table for him.  Inversely another All-Star year where he steals 50+ and scores 100+ could really propel him into the upper echelon of contracts.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I haven’t spent that much time talking about the depth behind Jose and that’s because there really isn’t much to say.  Much like the situation with Castillo at second base, there isn’t much depth at all.  Alex Core and Anderson Hernandez will provide the backup insurance if Jose were to pull up lame again.  But lets face it folks, if Jose can’t go, neither will the Mets.  He will be the engine that drives the Mets.  If, for any reason, we have to see extended appearances by Alex Cora or Hernandez then there are serious problems.

So love him or hate him, if your a Mets fans you really need to cross your fingers and hope that Jose Reyes has an explosive year.  His play will largely be a barometer for the Mets season.  I look forward to him bringing a lot of excitement to CitiField!