Here in D.C. watching the Mets score 11 runs en route to their second straight win over the Nationals, I noticed that they did it in a very pre-launch angle way — without a single home run. They did it with purposeful at-bats creating deep pitch counts and using the whole field to spray hits around the park the way the founding fathers of this great game intended offenses to cook when they invented this sport.

We have become so in love with the home run that present day teams have forgotten that there are many ways to score runs in baseball. The Mets drove that point home yesterday. They used the whole field to strike run producing hits in a way that FINALLY makes teams pay for the shifts they employ on a regular basis.

Michael Conforto, J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos all produced big opposite field hits that helped the Mets construct three high scoring innings in which they plated three runs or more in each of those frames.

Here is Davis talking about his approach yesterday:

I noticed these drills in Port St Lucie during Spring Training and saw the team employ that strategy in games they played in Florida. I also asked players about it and they have all told me that veterans like Robinson Cano have led the crusade imploring the younger players to take what the defense gives them.

And all I can say is that it is about time in this sport that teams began to use the shifts against the teams that use them, rather than calling for baseball to ban shifts in some way. Mickey Callaway, to his credit, is taking the opposite approach, and if these first two games are any indication, his plan is to burn these shifts so dramatically that they will not only win games, but force opposing managers to decrease the percentage of times they use the shift.

Here is Callaway talking about beating the shift:

I will be very interested to see if the Nationals go shift heavy next weekend at Citi Field, because it played a huge factor in this game today. I do believe the shift can be an effective tool when dealing with legendary power bats, but to utilize it for almost every hitter is just flat out overkill. In addition, teams have played into it by not adopting a consistent counter strategy.

And today even power bats like Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos took what was given to them and the results were incredible. In this copycat league, I would bet the ranch that many teams will start looking at the Met strategy and begin using it in their offensive game plan. But it takes practice and commitment which the Mets showed in spring training and have continued as the season has begun. They have also used the strategy in the first inning two consecutive games giving them an early lead which could be devastating when opponents are facing the pitching the Mets bring to the mound on a day in and day out basis.

Here is Ramos talking about the offense:

Today, Zack Wheeler opposes Patrick Corbin as the Mets look for an early road sweep over a divisional opponent most experts think are better than them. It would be a huge statement and if it indeed does happen, Mickey Callaway’s new offensive approach in beating the shift could be a big reason why it occurs and why the New York Mets will keep making statements all season long.