Tom Brennan - Switching Positions to Move Ahead

                                                                    (PC - Ed Delany)

Maybe some minor leaguers could switch to an in-demand position like catcher to get ahead.

BEFORE I GET INTO MY ARTICLE, THOUGH, THE S.S. METS SHIP IS SAILING IN CHOPPY WATERS, SAILING FULL SPEED AHEAD WITH NON-HITTING TIRED VETERANS. TEAM HITTING HAS DRIED UP.  

GIVEN THAT, IF YOU HAD A GUY IN AA WHO IN HIS LAST 36 GAMES HAD GOTTEN ON BASE 74 TIMES VIA HIT AND WALK, .450 OBP OVER THAT PERIOD,  MIGHT YOU DO THE UNTHINKABLE AND CALL HIM UP TO A FALTERING OFFENSIVE SQUAD, WHICH IS A TRUE METS TRADEMARK?

WYATT YOUNG. 

YEAH, THAT GUY AGAIN. 

I KNOW, LITTLE 5’7” GUY, TOO INEXPERIENCED, INSANE SUGGESTION.

WHY, HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN TO AAA YET!  WAIT, WHAT? 

HE HIT .352 WITH A .446 OBP IN 19 GAMES IN AAA THIS YEAR?  

NAH…LEAVE HIM THERE…WHY BE CREATIVE AND MESS WITH FAILURE?

MOVING ON….

Sometimes, you’ve simply got to improvise.

When I interviewed AA standout Jeff McNeil in May 2018, I noted in my self-admittedly brilliant piece that he wasn’t playing the outfield, but had done so in college. 

So I asked him if he felt he could play outfield in the pros to present a diversified skill set, and he said he definitely could play the outfield.  No problem - it was his main position in college.

His ability to play both positions and hit like the dickens has turned him into a Mets star.

Juan Lagares is another example. 

40 errors in 82 games at SS at age 18? Good grief.  Good golly.  That even gave Ronny Mauricio a chuckle, I'm sure.

A switch to CF, though, and a Lagares Gold Glove followed. A switch worth millions in career earnings.

Ronny Mauricio has had 24 HRs and 79 RBIs in AA through Sept. 2. Do that at age 21 and he elicits some WOWS. 

But he plays the position Lindor owns/plays, with a whole lot more errors. 

That said, a Mets career might necessitate a Mauricio move elsewhere, say, to the outfield. That is speculation, as it has not yet occurred. But if he stays put in his position for now, when he rises to the majors, it won’t be at SS.  If he only played on Lindor days off, he'd sit an awful lot.  Like 160 games of sitting.  That wouldn't sit well with him. OF, maybe?

Who else is out there, that needs to “do a Jeff McNeil” to increase his versatility and value?

Jose Peroza is one. He had a recent, remarkable 30 consecutive on-base streak, so he’s good. Before 2022, I thought in fact that he and Baty actually were fairly even, but the 6 months younger Peroza was miserable at the plate in Brooklyn from April through June, much to my surprise.  I thought my judgment was too optimistic.

He then ignited in a blaze of fire at the plate, reaffirming to me his MLB potential. 

How’s his defense? Awesome. 

104 games at 3B, 2B, ans SS, and just 4 errors?  Dandy for a 6’1”, 220 slugger.  Heck, those look like Rey Ordonez numbers.

And he also had 9 errorless games at 1B prior to 2022. Clearly adept with the mitt.

But the Mets have lots of infielders, both on the Mets and in the minors (Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos, Wyatt Young, Jett Willams, etc.).  That’s a big crowd. 

So, I suggest turning on WAZE, which when activated, mapped out a route that recommends a tough transition to catcher as a possibility.  No suggestion that he’s considered it, or that he ever will, so it is unlikely. WAZE could be wrong, of course. 

But….catchers who can hit are in short supply. 

His last 3 seasons, the just-turned 22 year old has HIT. He’s had 29 HRs, 53 doubles, 5 triples and 152 RBIs in 887 at bats. Fine production. A lot of those ABs have been in “tough to hit in” Brooklyn.

Considering his age and results, I think he will be a big league player. Can he catch? Not sure, but he is built like one and shows he can generate solid defense. Catching could be the ticket to a long MLB career.

As a famous orange person once said in 2016, “what have you got to lose?”

Lastly, Mark Vientos. 

His 42 career errors at 3B in just over 200 games are not at all acceptable.  First base?  5 miscues in 38 games. But Pete is there. The slow afoot Vientos, though, has played 25 outfield games, with zero errors. If he works on his speed for the outfield, and on his 3B glove like it counts like no other time, with a true urgency, maybe he can be a versatile 3 position super slugger.

McNeil did the Multi-Position Mombo and is thriving. The above 3 hitters face the same challenge. Will they rise to it? Hope so. Others may want to do likewise in the Mets minors.