Tom Brennan - I LIKE WHAT I AM HEARING

Tom Brennan - I LIKE WHAT I AM HEARING

The incomparable Reese Kaplan’s article on Wednesday included several quotes from Mickey Calloway’s mid-week press conference, including:

1. “It will truly be an open competition for starting and bench assignments.  May the best man win.”
2. “Salary and draft position will not dictate opportunities and assignments.”
3. “We’re going to take defense and taking the extra base as seriously as we do the long ball.”
4. “The best 25 players are coming north with us without regard to available options or bragging rights for having found potential lightning in a bottle.”
5. “We will use players however we think they will best help us win games.”
6. "Rookies and young ballplayers will be given the chance to succeed (and to fail).  It's part of learning how to win."

Yes, indeedee, Bob, those sentiments are refreshing.  After hearing Calloway, even perennial complainer Elmer Fudd stopped lisping “Sufferin’ Succotash.”  And Wimpy just said, “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a spring training game ticket today.”

That said, absent injuries, we know pretty much which players have position player locks on major playing time: Yo Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto (when he is fully healthy again), Todd Frazier, Amed Rosario, and the hydra-headed catching tandem of Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki.

But prospect catcher Tomas Nido should realize that if he can put last season’s hitting woes behind him, he’d perhaps be ready for a quicker call up than might have been the case under former manager Terry Collins.

It seems to me that Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes, Asdrubel Cabrera, Juan Lagares, and Brandon Nimmo will be the ones jockeying for playing time.  On points 1, 2 and 3 above, Lagares and Nimmo should take heart. Point 3 should make Flores a tad nervous.  My guess is that all 5 will play a lot, with Cabrera playing the most. 

But Calloway is making it clear that playing is performance-based, not salary-based or seniority-based, which is a refreshing change. 

After all, had the Mets employed that philosophy in April 2017, the abysmally awful play of Curtis Granderson and Jose Reyes, who played that month almost daily despite combining to hit about .120, would have clearly been quickly curtailed.

What about minor leaguers’ hopes after those statements? 

Point 3 on defense should put a hop in defensive whiz Luis Guillorme’s step and a smile on his face – this manager values defense. 

IF Gavin Cecchini may in 2017 have regressed as a hitter while improving his defense from defective to normal, but hearing he has a chance to really impress has to energize him too, as should the departure of Natt, err, I mean Matt Reynolds, eliminating one competitor for Gavin.

Adrian Gonzalez will realize that if he cannot rebound from last season’s injury woes and perform well quickly, he will quite possibly be gone fast. 

Dominic Smith will have his incentive doubled to stay focused, in great shape, and fight fiercely to show he is ready to be a STRONG everyday major league first baseman.

While most spots in the pen are nailed down, the many relievers acquired in trades last season, along with the likes of Tyler Bashlor, Dave Roseboom, Adonis Uceta, Kyle Regnault, and Tim Peterson, have to realize that a pitching-savvy manager and pitching coach open to putting talent ahead of seniority gives them a real chance to be promoted in 2018 as they demonstrate an ability to shut down hitters and pitch fearlessly in tight spots.

This season is starting out with brimming optimism, in my book – and it is only February.  Booyah!