In corporate leadership speak, the bus driver is the one with vision, leading the charge. One of the most critical keys to success is making sure everyone is in the right seat. That is, making sure everyone is best positioned to perform optimally and support organizational goals. Just as a president doesn’t want a top salesperson handling payroll, a big league manager doesn’t want to see a first baseman playing left field.
Newly-named Mets manager Buck Showalter is known to place particular importance on defense. This has been a weakness for most recent Mets teams as Sandy Alderson, for one, has perhaps under-valued this aspect of the game.
The 2021 Mets were average or below average by most defensive metrics. They ranked 16 in defensive efficiency, 23 in errors committed, and 25 in fielding percentage. Last year’s Mets team featured zero Gold Glove fielders. Over the past five seasons (since we last made the playoffs) the Mets rank 14 in errors, and 15 in fielding percentage, 25 in DRS, and 27 in UZR. The teams atop those leaderboards have been playoff teams like the Astros, Cardinals, Dodgers and Rays.
As presently constituted, the Mets have better than average defenders at the three most important positions in Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, and Brian McCann. That’s a good start, but the team is average at best at the other positions and any injuries outside of catcher, first or second base (where Tomas Nido, Luis Guillorme and Dominic Smith are defensively capable backups) will hurt them significantly. Currently, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha should make for solid corner outfielders, but an injury puts a reserve infielder like Smith or J.D. Davis in left field to misjudge fly balls. Davis is equally inept at the hot corner where he currently serves as a backup to the average Eduardo Escobar. Jeff McNeill, if he returns, can be an average second baseman and is certainly preferable to the rangeless Robinson Cano who should either be a DH or DFA’d.
Showalter is going to want glove capable players on the field at all times. This means the Mets will need to add another reserve outfielder who primarily plays the position and is more experienced than Nick Plummer or Khalil Lee. Likewise, the Mets can use a reserve infielder beside Guillorme who can fill in at third and elsewhere. Bringing back Jonathan Villar would be a good start, as would bringing in a proven corner outfielder like Jorge Soler or Tommy Pham. It might also be worthwhile to stash a veteran like Ender Inciarte in AAA as outfielders, especially on the Mets, have a knack for getting injured.
Whether or not there is a DH in the National League in 2022, keeping Smith on the roster makes sense. His trade value is down, he’s a great clubhouse guy and he can back up at two positions as well as pinch hit or DH. Davis and Cano, on the other hand, are too limited defensively and should be replaced by players who bring more versatility and defensive prowess.
As Alderson is about to learn from Showalter, defense is not overrated; if anything it is quite the opposite.
I’m very relieved to read this about Buck. As a long-time coach, I value defense more than most guys. Nothing better than limiting the opponent to 27 outs… everyone benefits:
Pitchers throw fewer pitches, allow fewer baserunners, fewer runs.
Hitters have fewer games when they have to outslug the other guys… less pressure.
Managers get to play for early runs in games and then watch them hold up.
More wins.
If the Mets can land a better than average 2B, they should see a much stronger team defensively. Dump Cano. Use Guillorme more. Go Buck!
After the lockout, the rest of the offseason should be very interesting. I can see McNeil and Smith going to Tampa for a starting pitcher. I wouldn’t mind getting Glasnow or even Yarborough.
As for defense, I think we all agree that it needs to improve. That is where Smith and Davis dont fit into the puzzle.
In the old days, when teams were up, it was quite frequent to bring in a late inning defensive replacement. I miss the old days of baseball.
Glasgow? This is a win now team.
Very nicely written Matt. All the points are accurate including Alderson’s vision of a pitching staff that strikes out everyone, therefore not needing any fielders, LoL.
As Marte really is no better than Nimmo in CF, I wonder if they can use Nimmo in CF and put Marte in LF… you’re right, that Smith and Davis don’t fit well but neither will bring much back. One thing that was not said anywhere that I have heard about Showalter in the past is he likes teaching on the baseball field. I wonder if Showalter can improve some of the players we don’t think fit and make them more useful.
I don’t see Smith having any value whatsoever to the Mets.
I don’t think he’s available, but a guy in the mold of Kolton Wong at 2B would fit the Mets needs. Can’t go with McNeil there and obviously not Cano. Fill in games here and there, maybe.
JD, similar problems. Love the bat. Maybe a bench role, some DH, but it might just be time to move on and away from players who can’t field.
Nice article Matt. I think you really captured the situation well. Enjoyed the read.
I can see people valuing Dom, but I really don’t… I think the sleep apnea thing is hurting his energy level.
I can’t imagine JD would contribute much on a limited basis… he’s a hitter who really needs to get consistent ABs.
McNeil is falling fast. He needs to play 2B, hit in the 8 or 9 home, and produce. Don’t think he would survive another poor season on this team.
Marte has to be better than Nimmo in CF… just gotta be… more speed… and tell me he can at least throw back to the infield…
If true about Showalter’s focus on defense, then that’s the biggest pro-argument I’ve heard for hiring Buckeroo
Recall the 1999 Mets, who obtained very good results with gold-glove caliber defense across the IF with Olerud, Alfonzo, Ordóñez and Ventura (who combined for 27 errors!)
They finished 2nd in NLE with 97-66, eliminated by ATL in NLCS 4-2
This despite the fact that their top 4 SPs had ERA+s of 105, 101, 97 and 97
Different era. Defense no longer valued, teams rather have a 15-20 hr guy than a good field no hit SS or an elite defensive CFer. The shifts take away the value of a 2B with great range. With teams striking out so much the good gloves don’t get as many chances. With teams no longer stealing bases even the defensive catcher has lost value.
It seems almost everyone has forgotten just how good a first baseman Dom can be. One of the more interesting tasks that, unlike our last several managers, only Buck Showalter could pull off, would be to convince Alonso to become a full time DH.. With Dom then freed to play his native 1st base, he would undoubtedly more closely resemble the hitter we saw in 2018 and 2020.
Alonso won’t go easily. He just loves pounding that glove endlessly. At best you’ll get a 50-50 split with him and Dom at 1B. Dom’s gotta improve at the plate to make that work, though.
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I’m hesitant to trade McNeill, Davis or Smith with diminished trade value. No harm in letting them rebuild value while serving as deptg pieces to start the season.