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.