Mack – Positional Analysis: 1B

Good morning.

I do this every season though, in the past, I did it pre-season. I decided to wait until early May this time so we can all get an idea what kind of cards we have in the game.

First Base –

MLB:  Lucas Duda is supposed to be playing here, but he’s back in the training room again. In his absence, T.J. Rivera has sort of settled in as the temporary replacement here. T.J. is doing an admirable job in this role and could wind up splitting time with Duda all season, but neither of these guys represent the future for the Mets at this position. Once again, we’ll limp through the season at this position. Rating: C+

Prospects: There are three here, Peter Alonso, Patrick Mazeika, and Dominic Smith. Our ‘sure fire’ is supposed to be Smith, but I still haven’t signed off on that. Prospects don’t only hit .307/.362/.441 in the PCL but that is what Smith is hitting through Monday night. And, his results are highly dependent on whether the opponent pitcher is a lefty (.241) or righty (.327). Yes, Smith is going to be handed the baton in 2018, but don’t be surprised he isn’t platooned with T.J. if his lack of production against lefties continues. There is nothing special going on in Binghamton, but there sure is in St. Lucie. Prospect Alonso broke his hand so someone had to step in here. Actually two have. Mazeika took the catching equipment off and he’s been doing a wonderful job at first. He’s also hitting .364/.420/.616 with another catcher that is also helping out at first, Anthony Dimino. Dimino’s numbers are impressive also: .356/.443/.373. Mazeika hs the prospect chops here so I expect him to move to Binghamton first. Past this, there’s no one in Columbia to write home about and the first basemen back in extended camp (Jeremy Wolf, Carlos Sanchez, Victor Moscote, Kevin Hall, Luis Montero) are organizational at best.

Overall Analysis: It sure would be nice if Smith turns out to be the kind of first baseman we need in Queens. I give up on waiting for his power to develop, but his Golden Glove coupled with excellent gap hitting could make him the second coming of John Olerud or Keith Hernandez. Me? I go to the stat sheets every day to see what Mazeila is doing.You can’t find anything done wrong by this 23-year old. Three year BA’s: 2015: .353, 2016: .305, so far in 2017: .364. This year’s splits… against lefties: .355… against righties: .368.

Rating: On projection: A+… in actuality: Incomplete. My prediction is Alonzo is going to come back strong and turn in excellent results that would put him in line for a promotion to Queens in 2019. I then see Mazeika putting the catching equipment back on and he could become the home grown catcher we’ve been looking for, for so many years. Lastly, I see Dimino becoming the next T.J. and would be the second string catcher plus backup first baseman.