One of the things that is most interesting about this Mets team during the shutdown is how the various players are coping with the absence of regular games. Pete Alonso has never been shy around the media, but this year he appears to be taking the front page media-wise from his buddy Jeff McNeil.
It seems almost every day there’s a new highlight in the media about what Alonso is doing to help charities, keep fans interested or does something to maintain the level of enthusiasm among the fans who are coping during this most difficult time without the normalcy of their baseball games. Maybe it was the great success he had last year. Maybe it was the confidence Brodie Van Wagenen showed in letting him come north with the team on opening day. Or maybe he’s just the old-fashioned kind of player people want to get behind to lead their team. Whatever it is or whatever the combination of factors is, keep it up!
Another player who has come forward quite a few times is the man-without-a-position, Dominic Smith. He’s certainly had his starts and stops throughout his minor league career, working his way into the majors only to perform at a substandard level. Then Pete Alonso blasted past him for the 1st base job, leaving the future of Smith somewhat uncertain.
Many players would capitulate to the bad hand they’ve been dealt and fade into oblivion, but Smith went in the exact opposite direction. Forced to learn on the fly to play the outfield, Smith made the most of his limited opportunities. In 177 ABs, he hit .282 for the season with 11 HRs and 25 RBIs. That is a 30+ HR pace. During this pandemic lockdown Smith has been front and center with broadcast opportunities, cookie dunking contests and being much more comfortable in front of the microphone than a great many regular players. When the 2020 or 2021 seasons begin and Smith is again struggling to get ABs, he will be cheered by the fans who have embraced him with fan affection.
Right on the heels of Dom Smith is the last minute addition to the roster by way of the Houston Astros, J.D. Davis. His playing opportunities were much more regular than anyone could have anticipated with Todd Frazier being, well, Todd Frazier, Yoenis Cespedes losing battles with surgeons’ knives and wild boars, and frankly why would you bench a guy who hit the NL with a vengeance the way Davis did?
Last season he hit over .300 with 22 HRs and 57 RBIs in about 2/3s of a season worth of at-bats. He has a similar problem to Smith in that there is competition for the OF as well as 3B. If the season started today, chances are Jeff McNeil would be at 3B and there would be a battle for LF among Yoenis Cespedes, Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis. One assumes Nimmo would be in CF with Jake Marisnick getting some playing time as well. Too much quality is a nice problem to have.
6 comments:
Alonso, Smith and Davis - that's a lot of offense. In fact, especially if "extra 3 months" Cespedes is healthy and ready, this is a very potent offense.
Those who are not fit, or don't hit, can sit. Someone else will no longer sit, and then hit.
And to continue Tom's rhyme...
"And our current manager is fit, not full of s*** like the last two."
Reese, should Beltran make it three? Or just two, with an asterisk? :)
Three (including the technology used to cheat on games).
If there is a 2020 season, it will almost certainly be a DH year & all 3 (Pet, Dom, JD) can play with McNeil at 2B & Cano & Yp sharing the DH.
Itchin' for some pitchin'.
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