Reese Kaplan -- Switching Can Indeed Be a Good Thing

In response to Paul’s article on the switch of players to try to bring the hot hands forward by relegating the cold ones to the minors or the IL..there was a very interesting reply from Mack regarding changes he would make to improve the roster now and correspondingly the Mets’ chances of winning games.  For the most part I agree with his assessments, but there are a few quibbles.  Let’s take them in the sequence proffered. 

The question of what to do with Luisangel Acuna is a case of a switch needing to be made.  He has shown his legs and his glove being strong assets for the big club, but his bat has been spiraling downhill since his hot April.  It’s now June and Acuna has become the player you would least like to see at bat when a run needs to cross the plate.  Having him go to Syracuse primarily to play center field where he needs more reps as he’s already shown his high competence in the infield. 

Ronny Mauricio’s early arrival with great fanfare based upon his scorching AAA numbers has come to a rapid bit of denial that the spin jockeys cannot make sound palatable.  He’s struck out several times and not looked like a guy whose ability with the stick and his legs would mean anything until he at least draws a walk and then starts landing some of those line drives.  I agree with Mack.  He’s a good athlete and needs regular playing time to adjust and get into a hitting groove once again.

On the next two bullet points Mack and I are on complete agreement.  I wanted to see Gilberto Celestino based upon his over .300 batting average and slick fielding, though it wasn’t necessarily Mark Vientos I would push to the 60-day IL.  I had volunteered it being Jose Siri who is recovering from a broken bone and can be backdated for quite a lot of time passed already. 

Speaking of Jose Siri, while his outfield play is adventurous and acrobatic, the fact remains that he is an all or nothing at the plate.  I wasn’t quite sure about the signing in the first place, but given his home run power and Gold Glove caliber defense I could understand the rationale being a 25% of the cost version of the man he replaced.  A DFA for Siri is not a bad idea but it requires David Stearns to admit his initial thought may not have been a good one.

I am also on board with Francisco Alvarez getting out of the spotlight to work with less media attention to get his offensive and defensive games back to where they should be.  Luis Torrens will cool off offensively but he plays solid defense as does advocated backup Hayden Senger.

Promoting Jett Williams to AAA is a bit of a questionable choice.  The Mets do not need a shortstop so he would likely needed to be assigned to center field as well.  However, if you’re going to send Acuna to Syracuse to work on his defensive skills out there, where do you play Williams?  Granted, you could make Williams a Syracuse shortstop as he’s had a lot more outfield time than has Acuna, but this plethora of speedy little guys needs to work as one, not fighting one over the other. 

The other item on the switch plan is pitching.  With Frankie Montas looking flat out awful in his limited time in AAA you have to figure out what to do with him.  Sean Manaea is in the same boat when he is ready for regular rehab play.  Behind them you have relief pitchers who need to be considered.  Brooks Raley is further along than anyone would have hoped and Dedniel Nunez could be valuable if he remembers what worked pre-injury in 2024 and make it part of his 2025 game plan.  Until then his control is his worst enemy.