This began to change as the 70s wore on, even more so into the decade of the 1980s. The great Mets team of that era were often willing to give up something in the field if it meant putting a stronger bat in the lineup. It often worked out, but I believe that one of the reasons that the team finished behind the Cardinals in '85 and '87 was St. Louis' greater emphasis on fundamental baseball.
When Oakland's Bash Brothers duo of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire helped usher in MLB's steroid era, the game really evolved to favor offense over defense. It appeared that every club was populated with hulking sluggers who bore more resemblance to bodybuilders than the ballplayers I grew up watching.
Other changes happening in baseball concurrently with PED use also helped change the game quite a bit. Along with swinging for the fences more, hitters were asked to be more patient at the plate. This caused pitch counts to rise. It also produced more walks and strikeouts, with fewer balls put in play. That, in turn, triggered an even lower emphasis on baseball defense.
Sandy Alderson was the architect of those Bash Brothers teams in Oakland, and his tendency to favor offense over defense was still evident when he ran the Mets from 2010 - 2018. But the game has been evolving again, and run prevention has taken on greater importance in recent years, led by teams such as Tampa Bay. There is a realization among the smart teams that defense has been somewhat undervalued. This doesn't mean that we're heading back to a time when .200 hitting glove-first ballplayers ruled, but teams aren't quite as willing to give away runs as they used to be.
This brings us to the 2021 Mets. At his first news conference, Alderson noted that he understands the importance of run prevention in today's game. The Mets made a point of upgrading their up-the-middle defense when they signed James McCann to be their new catcher. They pursued George Springer to be their centerfielder, too, but ultimately lost out to the Blue Jays. With the National League looking more likely to be DH-less in 2021, the Mets don't appear to be pursuing Jackie Bradley Jr, one of the most gifted CFs in the game. So, while they are upgraded at catcher, second base, and shortstop from how they began last season, we're still probably looking at Dom Smith in LF, Brandon Nimmo in CF, and J.D. Davis at 3B.
No one can pretend that this is going to be ideal from a defensive standpoint. The Mets would be a stronger fielding club with better defenders in those three positions. The real question of 2021, at least to me, will be how much this costs the Mets. Luis Rojas and his staff are working with all three players to ensure that the Mets' defense is as good as possible with these men in the field. Now, that's hardly a revelation in spring training. To some extent, all 30 teams are working with their players defensively. That's always supposed to be happening in any camp.
As to whether this works out for the Mets, it will come down to effort and emphasis. It takes a lot of work to be a better defender. Once a ballplayer identifies his weaknesses in the field and the coaches design some drills to address those weaknesses, whether there is an improvement depends on the amount of effort and commitment on the part of the player.
Often in spring training, you will see players who aren't fighting for a job just going through the motions in defensive drills. Even the coaches seem more concerned with just getting through the drills rather than ensuring that the players are getting the most out of them. That really doesn't seem to be the case with the Mets this season, however.
8 comments:
Most of you know how important I feel defense is, especially in the 'middle field' positions where most action takes place.
C P 2B SS CF
We got better defensively this year at three of these positions with the additions of McCann, Lindor, and our two new centerfielders.
Not a Springer year but still a good one.
The "going through the motions" issue affects pitching, offense and defense. Most players have been doing preparatory drills since they were children. Now that they are bonafide major leaguers it doesn't seem all that important anymore to prove you can vary speed, rotation and location on pitches, that you can hit balls other than those that are thrown directly down the middle of the plate, and that you can position yourself and make intelligent throws when there is action challenging you defensively.
I completely disagree with the thesis.
Speed & athleticism are most closely linked to defensive ability. A player can't practice himself to a significantly stronger arm.
You can practice till the cows come home, but unless you have those gifts . . .
In the old days of open tryouts, the St. Louis Cardinals began each one by having the player run from home to first. They timed it on a stopwatch. If the player didn't make the cutoff point, the tryout was over.
Of course, obviously, practicing is essential for any player.
It's like all this silliness about the Mets being better on the basepaths. Okay, sure. Bring in faster guys.
Jimmy
I completely disagree with your premise, Jimmy. I'm not claiming that a bad defender can become a Gold Glover by hard work. That's obviously not true. But a bad defender can make himself closer to an average defender through hard work and a commitment to playing the field. The exceptions would be someone who is really not a good athlete or someone who was especially slow. Dom Smith, J. T. Davis, and Nimmo are not bad athletes or slow. They'll never be plus defenders, but they certainly can be better than they were.
J.D. Davis, not J.T.
Mike, I strongly disagree. You couldn't be more wrong.
First, the headline THAT YOU WROTE states, "Defense is Mostly Work and Commitment."
Ha, ha, ha.
Sure, work and commitment are important. Obviously. They are helpful. But they are no substitute for talent.
Look at this current Mets team and all of the complete and utter nonsense that people like you are writing. The Mets as a team has been incredibly, staggeringly bad in terms of defense and baserunning. You can look at their numbers -- the Athletic just had a piece, complete with graphs -- and it's clear that the Mets have been really bad at defense and baserunning (both closely linked to speed, athleticism). You think they weren't trying hard enough?
Now this misguided article -- and you are part of this -- goes on to talk about coaching strategies, and the new emphasis in camp, and positioning, and Tony Tarasco's miracles, and so on.
But the reality is that's Dom Smith in Left Field and Brandon Nimmon in CF and lumbering Pete Alonso at 1B and laterally slow JD Davis at 3B. It's only going to get, at best, marginally better.
It's not a coaching problem. It's not a work ethic problem. IT'S A ROSTER ISSUE.
If you wanted to improve defense and baserunning -- if that was an overall priority -- and I'm not saying that it should be #1, personally -- you'd change the players. You'd sign, say, Bradley, shift Nimmo to LF, and you'd instantly upgrade defense and baserunning. Done.
So you are focusing on all the nonsense -- trying harder! -- and missing the fact that this is a Sandy Alderson decision. A General Manager decision.
Can the guys "try harder"? Sure, of course. But look at the team. Smith, Davis, Alonso, McCann are NOT going to be good baserunners, taking the extra base and so on. So the hope is that with coaching and "trying hard" guys like Nimmmo, Conforto, and McNeil will all become better. They are all, by the way, 28 years old. You are hoping for marginal improvements at best, at a time when they have all passed their peak years. Sure, I think they can get *slightly* better.
In conclusion, defense is NOT AT ALL mostly about effort and commitment. I personally think they've been trying very hard.
What about stolen bases? What about a catcher throwing out runners? It's an athletic contest. The race is won by the swiftest.
If you were GM of the Mets, and you wanted to address those issues, you'd make roster decisions accordingly. Period.
Jimmy
Lastly, if you wanted to go out and improve defense and baserunning, you wouldn't make up a list of guys who TRIED REALLY HARD.
You'd look for speed and athleticism.
Personally, defense and baserunning are only one lens through which to view the team. There are other perspectives that might be even more valid. I've always believed in "the whole man" approach. I think it would be myopic to only view the Mets in terms of defensive ability -- though clearly it is a concern. I think they are overall improved with McCann and Lindor as everyday players. We'll have to see about McNeil.
Jimmy
Wow .. Jimmy, your comments are not only too harsh, much of what you say isn't reality.
There is no perfect individual. Everyone needs to work hard to improve some facet of their life, job, hobby, or whatever else you might want to think of (writing?).
Mike put together a very thoughtful and complete piece that was cogent, accurate and also complementary.
It is no secret that the Mets defense has not been at the top of the league now for many years (Mike's point about the Alderson years is well done). His points about Smith, Nimmo, Davis and Alonso being hard workers and wanting to focus on getting better on both sides of the ball are well placed.
For players at that level, there is very much talent and athleticism. Anyone under the age of 30 can get better by working at their shortcomings, just like most people can get better playing the piano with practice. Repetition and 'doing the time' can certainly fix some flaws.
We all understand that Brandon Nimmo is never going to be mistaken for Willie Mays, but he and the others can certainly help the team by identifying and working on their shortcomings.
And yes, defense and baserunning, along with hitting with runners in scoring position were just as much to blame as the pitching in 2020. They need to improve, they know it, and I am pretty convinced that they will work hard to do just that.
Thanks Mike, for another great piece of baseball writing.
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