Tom Brennan - NO MORE FAT JOKES

Tom Brennan -  NO MORE FAT JOKES

"Did you ever hear the one about the fat first baseman?"

When Dominic Smith join the Mets last year, he weighed in around a portly 255 and looked far older than his age of 22. 

First impressions count - and his first impression, pardon the pun, did not go over big with eagerly awaiting fans. 

When you have a big butt, it can hurt to be the butt of someone's joke.  And people were cracking them.

People hoped when they first looked at Smith in the flesh that the abundant weight would not adversely affect his on-field performance. 

Despite a nice display of power, answering one question as to whether he will have adequate (or better) first baseman pop, his performance in the field and at the plate in his Queens debut was underwhelming. Below expectations. 

He was like a growth stock you would not want to overweight.

Kidding aside, he did not pass the audition, and many attributed that to what certainly appear to be excess weight.

So you, as one Dominic Smith. had a choice this winter, especially after the Mets signed multi-time but aging All Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez...fight back and get in the best shape of his life and compete, or mope and risk becoming another Mets Prospect also-ran. Lastings Milledge, Fernando Martinez et al.  We fans have seen more than our share of Mets prospect failures, but we love success stories.

Apparently, Smith chose Option 1, getting in the best shape of his life and competing, as an article on Smith clearly indicated...that through a comprehensive workout regimen and real focus on his diet, Smith's diligence and focus has him down to a lean and mean 224 lb and ready to compete, even if he ends up back in AAA for a period of time for a bit more seasoning.

He correctly assessed his failure last year, and he's attacking his shortcomings head on. Kudos!

It appears at this point that he'll be coming in to camp in quite superior condition, much more mobile, and ready to pursue being not just a position starter, but becoming a star in the major leagues. And that's a great thing.  We love stars in the Queens constellation.

No more fat jokes.

Instead, it appears the pretty soon the joke may just be on opposing national league pitchers. "Why do pitchers look like ducks against Smith?  Frozen ropes up the middle coming off Smith's bat, that's why, duck, duck, quack, quack."

And that's awesome. Good work, Dom. 

Keep it up. And keep it off.