Reese Kaplan -- Preventing Runs Just as Important as Creating Them

Let's talk a bit about these concepts of defense and run prevention that are being sold to fans as a central core of David Stearns' long term plan for reshaping (not rebuilding) the New York Mets.  For as much as many of us have rightfully bitched and moaned about the lack of heavy duty offense and formidable pitching added to the roster this offseason, the fact is that there have been some parts added to address this notion of keeping the opposition from getting extra bases and runs due to a porous set of gloves out on the field when the Mets are playing defense.

Some of these changes are easier to understand than others.  Harrison Bader whose acquisition caused more than one Mets fan to scratch him or herself on the head to the point blood threatening to escape where the fingernails came in contact with the scalp is a classic example of great glove/no bat type of ballplayer.  Forget for the moment the great college connection to pending free agent Pete Alonso.  Instead concentrate on what Bader can do patrolling center field for the team.

Perhaps a better way to consider what the aggregate benefit of his appearance out there can be is to consider the shall we say adventurous way in which D.J. Stewart approached the run prevention part of his game when it was not a bat in his hands that got him into the lineup.  While he made a few relatively easy plays seem positively highlight-reel worthy, the fact is that he was not making it any easier for the Mets pitchers to keep runners from crossing the plate.  Substitute in a genuine Gold Glove caliber defensive player like Bader and you have to acknowledge that the improvement is certainly close to being a case of night vs. day.  

Consider the recent trip taken by David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza to the Dominican Republic to check out the Winter League efforts of recently injured and migraine suffering Starling Marte.  Way back in the 100 win season of 2022 Marte was providing his own defensive gems on a semi regular basis in addition to being every bit the kind of bat and baserunner the Mets had envisioned when they signed him.  True, earlier in his baseball career he'd been a center fielder but in his mid 30s the move to a corner seemed appropriate and the rewards were witnessed in the won/loss record.

Last season was quite odd in that recovering from multiple groin surgeries you would have thought would hinder his running game yet he stole 24 bases in little more than a half season's worth of games.  The defense, however, went from stellar to cringe-worthy.  Methinks the big trip down to the Caribbean was as much about checking on Marte's bat and legs as it was how he appeared to play defensively.  If he could approximate what he'd done in 2022 during his first year with the Mets, then it would add favorably into the run prevention plan.

Connected to this change was the cementing of Brandon Nimmo who had always been a corner outfielder into the role of center fielder.  While the trophy-givers were not likely going to put Brandon's name on their list of likely recipients, the fact is that he was doing a respectable job out there.  Oddly, he's going to be the one asked to move to a new position -- back to left field -- as Bader gets the majority of his time in center field.  Given the smaller dimensions needing to be covered in left with the Gold Glover in center and a solid defensive performer fully recovered in right, the much maligned David Stearns may indeed be onto something with the choice he made to obtain Alonso's old teammate.

On the infield the Mets out of injury-caused necessity have Jeff McNeil returning to the position where he has spent the majority of his career manning 2nd base.  Like Nimmo in the outfield, McNeil is perfectly acceptable as a second baseman though a Gold Glove is probably not making its way onto his fireplace mantle.  Still, he's familiar with what's needing to be done to form a strong up-the-middle defense alongside Gold Glove caliber Francisco Lindor at shortstop.  

The last piece of that defensive evaluation up the middle is catcher Francisco Alvarez.  While no one is going to confuse him with Jerry Grote back there calling the game, he's not in the mold of Wilson Ramos either.  He was a bit rough around the edges upon his first few weeks of play in the major league, but as the season progressed so too did his defensive skill.  The more he plays the better he's going to become in that regard.  His arm already seems capable and his framing improved significantly by September.  

Now at the corner's it's a bit difficult to be as laudatory when it comes to preventing runs.  Pete Alonso is there for his bat and he delivers in that regard.  Brett Baty was thought to be a two-way player but in 2023 showed neither side of his game was major league ready.  The Ronny Mauricio injury has pushed Baty into the top position on the third base depth chart and many are every bit as concerned with his glove as they are with his bat.  With 2024 being a transition year it will open up at least the first half of the season for Baty to play regularly to determine if he is ready to play innings with the best of the best or not.  

The final chunk of this run prevention approach has to do with two of the more interesting bats with less-than-impressive defensive skills.  D.J. Stewart already was appreciated for what he could do with his bat so he is slated to get time at DH.  Similarly Mark Vientos demonstrated last September what kind of run producer he could be when he finally got steady playing time and it is yet to be seen if that was a hot streak or merely indicative of what he is capable of doing.  In any case, both of these suspect defenders have had this aspect of their game eliminated by fighting for DH at-bats and thus contributing to the run production while not harming run prevention.

Like many of the offseason transactions and roster construction, there are a lot of ifs here.  However, the philosophy seems valid and if it saves a half run per game on average then it's something worth praising.  Now regarding the Mets' run production...that's another matter entirely.