For many years the position of third base was almost a punchline for the NY Mets. They endured such luminaries there are Jerry Buchek, Bobby Pfeil, Wayne Garrett, Eric Campbell and others of even less acclaim. The David Wright years seemed to eradicate the humor from the Mets' hot corner woes, but replacing someone like The Captain with a player of similar talent was going to take quite a bit of doing. The Mets recently tried Todd Frazier, J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil and various options without much to show for the efforts. Going into 2021 the Mets once again are in the same situation of a cross-diamond update for Abbott and Costello asking, "Who's on third?"
Oddly, Jeff McNeil came up primarily as a third baseman and was inserted at second out of necessity upon his arrival. When the Mets tried McNeil at third he showed he was very much out of practice defensively. For a guy who fielded everything competently at second and most of the time in left field, when he was asked to man third he looked lost -- J.D. Davis level of lost. Still, no one is questioning his bat and they may tolerate him defensively if the offense makes up for that shortcoming. It could also be that with steady practice at his old position he would smooth out the rough edges and make a respectable follow up to David Wright.
Many folks are advocating having Robinson Cano shift to the other side of the diamond and take over at 3rd where there is not as much lateral movement required given the velocity of right handed hitters' batted balls firing like lasers up the line. Less movement might be a decrease in strain on Cano but no one knows how he would react to this change, whether a DH role would be more suitable or if he's realized as he approaches his age 38 season that he needs to do whatever it will take to keep him on the field the majority of the time.
Earlier I mentioned J.D. Davis who was so horrific at third base in 2019 that they tried to hide him in left field. That approach didn't work as Davis was vying with Dom Smith for defensive shortcoming headlines out in the grassy area. This past season while Davis' bat went south, his defense at third actually improved. If he is still on the ballclub, then he may be a viable option. However, the weaker bat has a great many folks questioning whether or not his previous season was a fluke.
Another position change possibility is one of the myriad of shortstops on the roster. Amed Rosario theoretically has the offensive capabilities to justify the move and he would be less of a defensive liability there than he would turning the double play with the second baseman. He's another one who had two straight strong finishes in 2018 and 2019 only to see 2020 not help underscore fans' affinity for him remaining on the team.
It likely wouldn't make any sense to insert Andres Gimenez or Luis Guillorme into the corner role. Both are truly superior defensive players and it would be a waste of that talent to stick them into the quick reaction but less challenging David Wright role. Also, neither has enough offensive potential to suggest fans and management would be satisfied with the output they would get from them at third base.
Aside from retaining the dubious services of Todd Frazier, any of the above options could be winners (save for the two superior shortstops sliding to their right side). Right now the first order of business is moving from ownership committee approval to full league approval of the acquisition of the team by Steve Cohen. Then, once he's in charge, the analysis and roster juggling can proceed at breakneck speed.
If you make a trade for Lindor and Giminez isn’t part of the deal. Then you can hide that bat of his at 3rd base because you’ll be getting better production out of SS position. If. It I like JD at the hot corner and feel his 2020 season was a fluke and not the norm.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot trade your best prospects for a one year of Lindor. He alone will not get the Mets into the playoffs anymore than Harper and Wheeler got the Phillies into the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets cannot continue to do the idiotic Kelenic type trades. They should instead take a two or three year approach to contend and stay in contention going forward. To do that, you have to build a strong minor league system. Just look at what the Braves do time and time again while the Mets are running in place.
Sign an ace type pitcher if one becomes available as a free agent. Sign a true CF or catcher but don't try to fix all the problems in one year. It won't work.
See what prospects can be had for Davis, Rosario or if Rosario can handle 3B or CF.
Mets must be build properly this time around or having Cohen as the new owner won't make any difference.
Moving Cano to 3B is really the only way they can afford to keep him on the team. At 2B or DH, he moves multiple players to positions they play badly. Alonso (1B/DH), Smith (1B/DH) Conforto (RF)
ReplyDeleteMcNeil (2B) Nimmo (LF) and Gimenez (SS) are your core - a really good offensive core - and represent their best defensive alignment. 3B could be Cano, if he can play there, or Rosario I guess. JD Davis doesn’t fit on a roster without DH AB’s for him. Otherwise, They need to bring someone in. I agree with the comment above - this is a two year project, with needs at CF, C, possibly 3B, and P, P, P. Don’t abandon the chance at long-term contention by trying to fix the whole thing in one offseason. Getting Cano off of 2nd or off the team is key to a much more workable alignment.
I think Mets can get away with Cano at 2B/DH for at least one more season. Though, yes, on this team he's not quite the right fit. My suspicion is he's not keen on shifting to 3B; and I don't know if he has the arm. Moving around the field is not nearly as easy as many fans make it out to be. If Mets can move him to another team, yes, that would free up McNeil to 2B (below average there, and injury prone) and Nimmo to LF.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that JD Davis is a hitter, a notorious "video review" guy, a student of hitting, who might have uniquely suffered from COVID-era restrictions. I won't draw conclusions on his 2020 numbers. I don't think he'll ever be average defensively, but Mets need to score runs, too. Depending what they do at C, SS, and CF, might need to go with the bat at 3B.
There's 2-3 extra pieces floating around if Mets keep the same roster. Rosario, Smith, Nimmo: Where do they play if Mets add a true CF (and they must)? Or do we accept that injuries happen and it's good to have an extra guy in the playing rotation? Nimmo as 4th OF. Smith as 1B. Alonso as DH/IB. Rosario as utility guy?
Do the Cubs want to dump Chris Bryant? I wonder about that.
Should be interesting. Need Cohen to get approved and gain clarity at GM position. I hope it's not Sandy (though I very much like him in role of Team President/Wise Council). A mediocre (at best) job across 7 seasons does not scream "second chance" to me. His tenure was a failed one by just about any measure.
Jimmy
I don't know why some think that JD Davis' 2019 was a fluke.
ReplyDeleteIn 5 seasons in the minors, Davis slashed 292/362/884.
He won the PCL Batting title in 2018 with a BA of .341
He does go into prolonged slumps, which is why, after being called up, his bat dissapeared. Houston gave up on him prematurely. That's the reason he was traded.
Yes, he had another prolonged slump last year, but in his first 28 games, he slashed 292/405/448.
At 3B, he has been erratic, but has a far stronger arm than anyone else at that position.
It would be a huge mistake for the Mets to trade him at his lowest value.
1st 28 AVs in 2020: BA 292; obp 405; ops 448
(followed by huge slumpo in 2020)