Reese Kaplan -- Spring Training Should Be For Defensive Practice

A recent topic that’s come to the attention of a great many who cover the Mets is the future of Dom Smith.  For whatever reasoning Luis Rojas didn’t discuss he has benched or used Smith as a DH while allowing other outfielders to get their innings on the grass.

I don’t think anyone here is doubting Smith’s abilities with the bat.  He’s shown over the past two seasons that he’s turned that corner.  In fact, some of the younger players are now gravitating to him as a role model when he’s not even assured of starting every day.  

What’s puzzling to me is that the flaw you can cite in Smith’s game is his attempted ability to play the outfield.  Maybe I’m crazy, but I would think you would want to ensure he log as many innings as possible in the field because that is where he most definitely needs work.  I would not mind having Smith play left field every day if he could ramp up the defense to at least average.  Having him DH or sit on the bench doesn’t achieve that objective.

Now it is possible to see how some of the deep reserve outfielders perform by allowing Michael Conforto to rest or DH as you know he’s fully capable of playing his position.  Ironically, the “solution” to move Brandon Nimmo to right field makes no sense as he is still the league’s worst defensive center fielder.  He needs as much practice as possible at the role he’s apparently slated to play.  

Now everyone is pretty set on what Kevin Pillar can do in the outfield.  I’d like to see him play and reevaluate what has been described as his declining defense.  For Albert Almora, Jr. the question is quite the opposite.  Everyone knows he’s Juan Lagares-like with the glove.  It’s the doubt about his bat that make folks wonder if he’s ready to play semi-regularly in the major leagues after his swift descent from a successful first three years when he hit a combined .289 with modest power and little speed.  Since then he’s hit a combine .230 with the only positive aspect of his game being an increase in power without over inflating his strikeout totals.

The players below in the hierarchy are not likely to come north with the team but will fulfill roles in Syracuse and below.  You do want to see what newcomers like Kahlil Lee can do against a higher level of pitching.  You want to evaluate whether or not fringe players like Mallex Smith and Johneshwy Fargas can get the bat on the ball.  

The one outfielder some are very anxious to see is the right handed version of Brandon Nimmo named Drew Ferguson.  He’s hit as many as 17 HRs in a season and stolen as many as 30 bases while providing a .293 batting average and a .393 on base percentage.  At age 28 he’s not yet cracked the majors, so all that production is not earning him a chance. Unfortunately thus far he’s best known in Mets camp for emulating his left handed counterpart by providing a conspicuous defensive miscue.  

Similarly, you need to see how other players perform in the positions they might actually play when the games start for real.  Everyone knows what Luis Guillorme can do at shortstop, so shouldn’t he be trying his hand more frequently at the positions to the left and right of that role?  I have full confidence in his defensive abilities, but balls hit to third tend to come at you with higher velocity and balls hit to second approach at a different angle.  There’s no question in my mind Guillorme is a key reserve player for the Mets but he also needs practice at positions he will most likely be asked to play.  

Other players need to consider positional versatility if they seek to come north with the club.  With Tomas Nido out of options, he’s the clear frontrunner for the backup catcher position, but you’d have to think a guy like Pat Mazeika who can also occasionally play 1B offers more versatility.  Don’t forget veteran Caleb Joseph who appears to be the 2021 version of Rene Rivera, mostly glove and limited bat.