7/4/20

Reese Kaplan -- What to Watch in Pre-Season II


With the second official pre-season camp in progress, most of us are anxiously awaiting certain key things to help get us back into the mood.  For many of us, it’s the simple stuff like hearing the crack of the bat, the smack of the leather as a ball hits the catcher’s glove, the strategic plans implemented by the manager both to run up the score and to prevent runners from scoring, and the offense that includes hitting, stealing bases and making guys on board cross the plate.

This year, of course, adds the wrinkles of the new roster construction, the lack of minor leagues and the implementation of the DH.  There’s also the runner-on-second to start extra innings, but that’s not likely going to have much impact on the pre-season games or the fan experience.  It does save the owners from paying hourly employees longer as the game durations shorten, but then so too does the consumption of food and the purchase of souvenirs.

For Mets fans, there are many individual battles to watch (if indeed the games are televised).  What about the formerly injured players like Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, Dellin Betances, Jared Hughes, Hunter Strickland and others?  Are they ready to assume the day-to-day grind of playing ball as starters?  Are they still on the mend and not yet ready to assume that much responsibility?


Then there’s the question of left field.  Everyone is assuming that Brandon Nimmo starts in CF and Michael Conforto in RF.  However, no one is sure who is going to be the regular left fielder.  Yoenis Cespedes has the offensive credentials to make him the front runner, but it’s the question of mobility that calls into question whether or not he’s capable of playing the field professionally.  If not, his best call if healthy is at the newly created DH spot.

Of course, if Cespedes is out of the playing position battle, then who is going to be penciled into LF on the new Opening Day?  Will it be hard hitting but poor fielding J.D. Davis?  Everyone wants to see his bat in the lineup but Pete Alonso owns 1st base, right now it would appear Jeff McNeil owns 3rd base, so that leaves LF as the only vacancy.  


Of course, with Yoenis Cespedes and Pete Alonso already in the lineup, maybe the Mets want to get a left handed hitter in the lineup to balance things out.  That would mean Dom Smith would get consideration in LF as well because his natural position is blocked.  Smith quietly had a great year in 2019 with a .282 average to go along with 11 HRs and 25 RBIs in just 177 ABs.  That’s over 30 HR power for the course of a full season.  


The rest of the infield is pretty much carved in stone, but the pitching staff is full of additional questions.  With Noah Syndergaard on his 12-18 month recovery from surgery, that likely means both newcomers -- Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha -- are part of the regular rotation.  Accompanied by outgoing Marcus Stroman, erratic Steven Matz and dual Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom it would appear that the Mets are well stocked for starters as long as they stay healthy.  It gets pretty murky after that should another starter need arise.  You have the usual suspects who have been tried in the past like Corey Oswalt and Walker Lockett.  You have newcomers like Erasmo Ramirez.  You have upcoming rookies like David Peterson.  You also have conversion projects like Seth Lugo.  None are very appealing with the exception of Lugo but then you cripple the already suspect bullpen.  

Speaking of the relief corps, where will the Mets be in 2020?  The assumption is that Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia will be improved versions of themselves.  Seth Lugo has been outstanding for the past few years.  Brad Brach is back.  Justin Wilson was mostly good last year.  Robert Gsellman was mostly bad.  Dellin Betances is a great addition if he’s indeed healthy enough to pitch like Dellin Betances.  After that it gets pretty murky.  You can allocate extra innings among a group of unproven pitchers or you can hope one of the retreads brought on board can muscle their way into the pen.  

Still, however the roster works itself out, it’s going to be good to see the Mets back in what passes for official action. 

9 comments:

Mack Ade said...

If... and I still think there is a big IF...Cespedes plays,I just don't see him risking his legs in left.

Use him as a DH and leave left to Davis and Dom.

Tom Brennan said...

Luis Rojas was talking about Cespedes as a primary DH - if he and JDD got 45 starts, each, and Smith 30+, I'd be happy with that.

I have a feeling Diaz, Betances, and Familia will do well.

"Only" 31 MLB players tested positive, around 1%.

NBA shockingly was at 5%.

Regardless, COVID is gonna make it tricky. Someone is bound to get sick, sooner or later. Team with the fewest positives wins.

bill metsiac said...

His season is key to many things. If his legs are healthy again, as a former GG LFer he certainly should give more D than either Smith or Davis.

His more likely role is as DH, but Luis has said he'd like to use multiple players in that role. Smith can give Pete some days off without sacrificing D. Cano may need rest from time to time, while keeping his bat in the lineup. And if we have enough offense everywhere else, Ramos may DH while putting better cathers behind the plate.

Here's a theoretical question:

If (yes, it's a BIG if) Cespedes is healthy and has a season close to his team - carrying 2015, is he necessarily done here? I'd say the Mets would have to consider offering a 2-year deal as DH. A lot of people ass-u-me that he's gone after October. I'm not so sure. Time will tell.

Mack Ade said...

I would not pay this kind of money for someone this old and brittle.

Take the money... Package Cano at 1/2 salary (we eat other half) and one B prospect (Reyes, H. Gonzalez, K Smith) for Arenado

bill metsiac said...

I didn't say anything about money. His age, health and production will create the market, and the market will determine the price.

Someone like the Yankees or Sawks might overpay, but in a level playing field anyone can get him.

I did include the phrase "team-carrying 2015 #s" in my post. For moderately good #s, there are lots of alternatives. But the 2015 Yo was something special.

bill metsiac said...

You really think the Rockies would deal Arenado for Cano (at half salary) and a B prospect?

I can get you a good price on ocean front property in Iowa. 😄

Mack Ade said...

Bill

The Rockies want to desperatly move Arenado's salary.

bill metsiac said...

And you don't think the competition for him will be intense? I'm not as high on him as most people are, given his stats outside of Colorado, but among the "most people" are GMs that are very eager to land him.

I'd say it would take at least a ML player younger and cheaper than Cano, plus at least one A-level prospect (think along the lines of Conforto + Gimenez) to get him.

And I don't think Brodie would do that. I certainly wouldn't.

That Adam Smith said...

The elephant in the room is that this team is probably better without Cano in the lineup at all.