Back in his early draft days...young and svelte and full of promise
Man, am I the only one?
I thought this dude was gonna be the next Adrian Gonzalez.
In 2017 and 2018, he was getting adjusted to the big leagues as a youngster and fixing his weight and sleep issues.
He hit just .210 in those 2 seasons, but still mustered 17 doubles and 14 HRs in 310 at bats. Signs of promise.
2019, in limited play, he hit .282/.355/.525 as a Met. Nice.
As a point of comparison right now, mighty and revered Pete Alonso in 2022 has a lower slash of .278/.353/.513.
In 2020's shortened season, Smith hit .316/.377/.616. That .616, even with the short season asterisk, is the Mets' highest ever in a season.
Had me thinking: Adrian Gonzalez.
Last 2 years, though? While Pete has launched 47 HRs and driven in 130, Dom has regressed to this:
515 at bats, .238, just 24 doubles and 11 HRs.
Just a slash of .238/.300/.350.
No homers in the last 10 months (full disclosure - several of those months were the off season).
Still, for a guy who in 2019/20 hit a Freeman-like .299/366/.570, that slide all the way down to .238/.300/.350 is bewildering.
After all, he turns just 27 in a month from now. Thirteen months the junior of the recently exiled Robinson Cano.
Is he sulking because Pete is the star, cornerstone first baseman? Feeling unappreciated? Thinking, "If only I could go somewhere and start, I could put up numbers that will garner me a solid multi-year deal soon? After all, I am a free agent in 2025."
May I suggest a solution for you, Dom?
Hit a lot more, play a lot more.
Are you sulking? Pouting? We're in first place.
Hit a lot, play a lot, join the party. Hit for a winner, you'll get paid.
Or are you in age-related decline at the age of 26?
After all, how do you go from a .570 slug % in 2019/20 to a .350 slug % in 2021/22?
Seems impossible, but it happens sometimes.
Luis Guillorme gets far fewer plate appearances - is ALWAYS ready to play - never a single whine from him - and in 2021/22 has a higher batting average and OBP, AND roughly the same slug %, as Dom. He catches errant bats in his bare hands, too. And dazzles in the field more often than not.
Per Baseball Reference, Dom's career WAR? 0.5.
Guillorme's WAR, in far less MLB playing time? 1.8.
WOW on the WAR, folks.
Message to Dom:
Re-create 2019/20, and you will play almost every day. For the first place Mets. Cano's departure frees up plate appearances. He got 43 plate appearances in April, many of which would have gone to you. Grab hold of them. Hit, and the PAs will come. Buck ain't stupid.
Or get traded to a bum franchise like the As, soon.
Your choice.
Your thoughts, dear readers? It is OK to share - this is a safe space.
6 comments:
I met Dom when he arrived in Savannah. We sat down for lunch with his father and I warned him about how the humidity in Grayson Stadium had a way of prevented balls from going over the wall.
This was not the place to hit for the fences and I suggested he concentrate on spray hitting
He listened in between bites of hamburger and when done thanked me for the heads up
I never expected him to become a Mets starter someday though he did play one hell of a defensive game.
His comment recently was probably said out of frustration but it was said and most things said out of frustration and a true example of truth
He deserves to play regularly and the Mets need to find a team for him to do this.
For a pitcher.
Quickly.
It would sure help if his bat lights up. Up the trade value a bit.
Another lackluster Dom performance in game 1 in Coors and to me he's just going through the motions which is very sad.
Dom doesn't "deserve" to play everyday.
He played everyday last season to the tune of a -0.7 WAR.
The Mets are trying to win games.
There's not a team in MLB that would play him everyday at 1B. Why would they?
And why give up any talent to get him?
Plus he's making $4 million.
This is baseball. Dom needs to produce, play with heart, show he cares, and hit.
The people who continually make excuses for him boggle my mind.
And he's fat.
Jimmy
Jimmy, that succinctly captures it. Plus…he is too soft.
He needs a change in scenery.
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