In the ultimate “What have you done for me lately?” scenario, Ronny Mauricio has had a terrific spring, batting .313 with a home run and 5 RBIs over 32 ABs (the same number of chances given to identically hitting Bo Bichette also at .313). With Francisco Lindor still not 100% certain to begin the year on the active roster as he continues his surgical recovery to his hamate bone, there certainly seemed to be room for a spare shortstop for a few weeks at least just to be on the safe side.
Of course, the Mets are not barren without other options. Infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco both have had many games at shortstop during their careers and if it is merely a 10 day or thereabouts delay it is possible that one of them could man that position until Lindor is deemed completely capable of the day-to-day workload a starting shortstop endures.
Thursday evening the announcement was made that option-holding Ronny Mauricio was being sent to Syracuse once again for “the opportunity to play every day.” While that sentiment does make some sense it also ties into the contractual ramifications over who is easiest to bury in the minors due to player options.
Corresponding with this move Carlos Mendoza is going to spend some of the rest of Spring Training giving less-than-stunning shortstop Bo Bichette time to get accustomed to his former position again in the event he’s needed to substitute for Lindor at all. It is kind of puzzling to see him playing there as he is also learning a new position of third base and shortstop reps prevent him from doing so. You’d think Jorge Polanco would be on a similar path to ascertain whether or not he is capable as a Lindor backup player but he too is trying to master the new position of first base.
The other recent cuts made by the Mets contained no surprises, though the removal of Francisco Alvarez in the fourth inning of the last game was most definitely a point of concern. After working on revising his offensive approach Alvarez has had a very strong spring hitting .364 over 22 ABs including a tape measure home run. The Mets are fairly deep at catcher with backup Luis Torrens as well as Austin Barnes, familiar backup Hayden Senger and Ben Rortvedt, the two newcomers are both on minor league deals. For a short term replacement if Alvarez is indeed having a health issue they are well covered.
As Opening Day approaches the biggest roster questions still remain rookie Carson Benge and NRI reliever Craig Kimbrel. Some of the other contending players who vie for these same positions are not doing much to solidify their roles but often veterans who are already on the 40-man roster get the nod out of respect for what they have accomplished in the past and the ease with which they can be added to the final 26 men on the roster.
Moving forward people are anxious to see more of Nolan McLean now that the WBC playing has ended as well as continued work by Francisco Lindor. 99% are advocating Benge become the starting right fielder but no one knows for sure what will happen.
12 comments:
The hitting contenders will get screwed every year because there are only 13 spots on the roster for them. I know I’ve said it many times but back in the day in the 1960s and 1970s, and probably 1980s for the most part, there were 15 position players and 10 pitchers. Losing those two spots leads to a lot of grief. Obviously, if it was 15, Mauricio would be here. Very unfair. The pitchers? 46 guys got a chance last year. That’s three times as many as in 1969 and 1986. So if a guy doesn’t make the roster now as a pitcher, it doesn’t bother me, would be because most likely they’ll get called up sooner rather than later.
What I can't fathom is how AAAA and wash-up projects are considered viable options when better pitchers do exist. Granted, whatever they do in late March changes in May when Minter returns, but many of the non-contenders are getting a lot more rope than they deserve.
I think they think they can get by with the pitching that they’ll go north with and then let these guys that are prospects wrap up their engines and AAA and that way, when they’re needed, they’ll come up and be past the opening day jitters. That they won’t have been involved in. When I saw Wenninger and Santucci pitch, they already look like they could be starting for a number of Major league clubs to me. And although he didn’t pitch in too many games where the stats counted, Ryan Lambert falls in the same category -they probably want to add them in one at a time.
Rev up their engines, not wrap up…
Tom, in December, Carlos Mendoza proclaimed that Mauricio needed to play everyday because he had lost alot of developmental time due to injury. True, but he was also benched while on a hot streak for the great Cedric Mullins. Mauricio to the minors was basically a guarantee unless Lindor is injured and Lindor isn’t coming off the field unless two or three people are dragging him off of it.
Reese, I used to think that about Alderson too. I notice that the Dodgers do not go that route. They don’t hunt lightning in a bottle very often but the Mets love it, no matter who the owner is.
Some teams go out and get starting caliber outfielders. Others get Mike Tauchman. Some get solid relievers. Others get Luis Garcia, Bryan Hudson and for the umpteenth time, Dicky Lovelady.
Anyone have a word as to why Dylan Ross did not get in any games this spring? That seems to be the strangest thing of the whole spring if he’s not hurt.
I have my own thoughts on Mauricio; however, they are in my lead paragraph on Friday
I am very curious about what decision the Mets will make on Kimbrel. He has been good and bad this spring - which is the one that will show up? We can't have someone coming out of the pen in the late innings and giving up runs.
I'm worried about the pen if Kimball is an option.
Kimbrel should never have been signed. Has taken valuable mound time away from others
Lambert should go north
Gotta leave some room for the life’s this year
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