Designated Hitter. The concept invokes a variety of opinions, however, the majority of National League baseball fans view it unfavorably. There’s great arguments on both sides, it would benefit the game in many ways and certainly add more excitement.
However, it would also mark the end of a tradition that has held strong for decades, despite the urging of many due to the potential gains in marketability and subsequent consumer demand.
Personal preference aside though, let’s say for a hot minute that the DH was instituted next year. How does that impact the decisions currently facing the front office, the pitching staff and ultimately, our two prized young catchers?
The Mets have excellent pitching depth, both in the majors and down on the farm. Top prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are hard throwing, high strikeout pitchers and by this time next year, they could both be regulars in the rotation alongside Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler. Now, there’s a lot that has to go right in order for this to come full circle, but the window for skepticism is closing rapidly. Thor and Matz have been lights out in a hitter’s haven. Harvey and deGrom have dominated long enough to prove they’re for real and Wheeler turned a major corner before tearing his elbow.
The point? Looking towards the future with the addition of the DH, the Mets stand the best chance at weathering the uptick in offense. Every team will have some concerns in regards to how their staff will be affected, but the Mets are sitting pretty in that category right now.
Adding the DH could also enable the Mets to keep both of their young catchers, something that’s already being debated quite passionately in Mets circles of late.
The idea of keeping both Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki on the same National League team, long term, without a DH- is wasteful. Both players are highly coveted and unless the Mets can find a way to get both players in the same lineup regularly, it probably makes sense to trade one of them while they’re still young, just entering their power curve, and having nice value.
The possibility of a first base/catching platoon once existed for TDA and Plawecki, but Lucas Duda has since gone Hulk on the entire league, all but guaranteeing himself a contract extension after the 2015 season.
In a world where the DH exists though, the Mets have the potential to pair up an unrivaled catching tandem with an unfathomably potent pitching staff.
Offensively, the team would benefit from a boost in run support. TDA and Plawecki both have explosive bats and this has always pushed their value beyond today’s offensive expectations from a catcher.
D’Arnaud was one of the best hitters in the National League prior to his injury and Plawecki has already started breaking out early in his rookie campaign.
There’s always good reason to hold on to what we know, to embrace tradition, but the Mets are entering a new chapter in the organization’s history, aimed at achieving perennial success.
The front office did an excellent job drafting and acquiring plenty of young position talent with high offensive upside and now, a good portion of that talent is ready to contribute.
At some point, hopefully soon enough so that both catchers will still be in Flushing, the National League will yet again be faced with a decision to incorporate the DH. The Mets, previously, had only their young pitching to build a future around with the hope that even a near return to October baseball would boost revenue streams high enough to buy another bat. As someone who has held strong in the belief that pitchers should hit, I find myself torn as a fan who is tired of seeing this team endure annual offensive droughts with little hope that a blockbuster trade will bring a superstar to Queens.
Everyone collectively held their breath through the developmental stages of d’Arnaud and Plawecki. The odds that both turned out as projected were decent, but now, the Mets have had a glimpse of what both players are truly capable of both behind the plate and at it. The Mets have themselves a pair of very solid hitters who can both evolve into impact players. The kind of players you want to keep. The DH would allow both d’Arnaud and Plawecki to each rack up about 550 at-bats while keeping them fresh behind the plate.
As a whole, the Mets have the pieces they need to be a high powered offense, with emerging talent already here and some top prospects knocking at the door. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll produce an offense just as prized as their pitching.
