Pitchers batting second?

While the St. Louis Cardinals have used their starting pitchers in the eighth-hole of the batting order, the Mets one-upped them on Friday by inserting Livan Hernandez in the number two hole. Is this a harbinger of the two slot becoming a full-blown experiement for the New York National-Leaguers? Will other teams slide the pitcher up to two, hoping to sacrafice each and every time a leadoff man gets on base? The St. Louis Post Dispatch has the answer: a resounding NO!

Today’s starting pitcher, Livan Hernandez, is batting No. 2. Sure, Hernandez is a fine hitting pitcher, but he’s not really a worthy lead-in to the Nos. 3, 4, 5 — All-Stars Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and David Wright, respectively. No, the plan here is to get Hernandez an at-bat. While the Cardinals will continue using the DH for the first half of the month, the Mets are pushing their pitchers up in the lineup to assure they get an at-bat before their day is done. Jerry Manueal wants his pitchers hitting.

So Hernandez will likely pitch a couple innings, but by batting No. 2 he’s sure to get at least a swing.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Get those pitchers at bats so they're ready to sacrafice bunt, move players around and generally hit what they can once the season starts. Well played, Mets.