It’s impossible to think about the Miracle Mets season and not think about Cleon Jones. The catch in left field to end the World Series of course, but also as the most significant offensive contributor throughout the season.

He had his best year in 1969. As it turned out, so did the Mets. Four years later, Jones struggled to stay healthy. It was almost a lost season both for the individual and the team. But, Jones healed up enough in September. As it turned out, so did the Mets. Jones was a crucial part in New York’s 11th-hour charge to the division title. He batted .278 after September 19,  belted six home runs, and collected 14 RBIs, leading the charge as the Mets emerged from a crowded six-team scramble with the division crown.

Cleon Jones – Photo Courtesy of NewYorkMets.medium.com

Jones had been a part of the franchise dating back to the inaugural season. Drafted on July 5, 1962, the team got looks at Jones in ’63 and ’65, with a significant minor-league stint in between. He gave brief glimpses of what was to come, but not before learning some hard lessons. Jones got himself into a tailspin he couldn’t get out of in 1967. Prolonged slumps, benchings, and public criticism from manager Wes Westrum: a thumbnail sketch of a forgettable year.

Transformative changes were on the horizon for Jones. First, Gil Hodges was brought on as manager that November. A month later, New York acquired Tommie Agee, a fellow Mobile, AL native as well as Cleon’s high school friend and teammate. The trade for Agee to the Mets from the White Sox provided more than just a familiar face in the clubhouse. It moved Jones from center field, a spot with which he was never comfortable, to left field.

A relaxed Cleon started fast in 1969, hitting .410 for April, blasting five homers in May, and posting a June batting average of .341 to catapult the Mets into challenging the Cubs for first place. It made Jones an All-Star starter and, he eventually finished third in the batting race. While the ’69 season was undoubtably Jones’s best, his best two weeks came during the pennant chase of 1973 as he salvaged what was nearly a lost year.

Jones, like much of the Mets roster, couldn’t escape an onslaught of injuries threatening to keep New York out of NL East title contention. Heading into September, Cleon’s bum leg had reduced him to 70 games. His bat and body were almost completely void of power with only five home runs (two on Opening Day) and 12 doubles. Despite the bothersome knee, Jones rediscovered his potent swing.

New York didn’t as much win the East as they survived it. The Mets showed they were the best team—and the luckiest. Never was there a better example than on September 20, when Jones took part in a play that indicated there was still some magic left from ’69.

With two outs and Richie Zisk on first in the top of the 13th against first-place Pittsburgh, Dave Augustine sent one beyond Jones’s reach in left field—destined to land in the Mets bullpen. But this ball had Mets destiny written all over it. The trajectory bounced it squarely off the top of the fence and back toward Jones. An inch farther, it’s a home run. An inch shorter, it’s an awkward ricochet. In either instance, a run scores.

Jones caught it from the rebound, turned, and fired to cutoff man Wayne Garrett while Zisk rounded third and headed home. Garrett threw to catcher Ron Hodges, who laid down the tag on a sliding Zisk.

“We were very fortunate to be able to make a play on that,” he said. “That was the turning point in the Mets winning the championship.”

Jones’s contributions to the Mets as they journeyed again through the NLCS and up to the seventh game of the World Series were timely if not nearly as significant.

His power subsided, but his Game 2 ninth-inning RBI single made way for three additional runs and provided the necessary cushion in a 5-0 victory. A wall-banging double in the bottom of the fifth in Game 5 broke a 2–2 tie in what would become a 7–2 pennant-clinching victory. Clutch hits were harder to come by in the seven-game World Series defeat to Oakland. He went 8-for-28 with three extra-base hits and a Game 2 homer.

The injuries proved too much to overcome afterwards and an unfortunate dismissal from the team in 1975 made for an abrupt ending to a terrific Mets career. Upon his exit, Jones had more hits, more home runs, and more RBIs than any other Met while playing a significant part in two pennant-winning teams and a world championship. It’s clear that no everday player in the first dozen years of this franchise was more impactful.

The post Spirit of ’73: Cleon Jones appeared first on Metsmerized.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The left field position for each of the five NL East teams remains mostly unchanged from 2022, with only one or two teams making a minor change. The overall group is underwhelming, especially when considering the amount of star players that play in the division. Continuing MMO’s series of position rankings in the NL East, here are the rankings of left fielders in the division.

5. Eddie Rosario, ATL

Eddie Rosario will forever be a hero in Atlanta Braves history because of his efforts during the team’s 2021 World Series run, but that luster has quickly faded. Rosario’s 2022 season was putrid, partly due to a swollen retina that required surgery midseason. His stats suffered because of it and in 250 at-bats, he slashed .212/.259/.328/.587 with five home runs and 24 RBIs, also posting a -1.1 fWAR.

Rosario swung at the same percentage of pitches in 2022 as he did in 2021, but his whiff rate rose from 19.2% to 31.9%. A source of hope for Rosario, though, is that he faced the shift over 80% of the time and performed much better against a non-shifted infield in 2022. With the shift completely banned in 2023, he can be expected to improve offensively.

Rosario has not been a quality defender at all throughout his career, and that remained so in 2022. He had -9 DRS and -5 OAA for the season, meaning he was a defensive liability in addition to his offensive woes. Even his arm strength, which was in the 94th percentile in 2020 and the 89th percentile in 2021, dropped down to the 54th percentile in 2022.

To give Rosario the benefit of the doubt, his 2022 was an outlier when you compare it to the rest of his career. His OPS+ of 64 was by far the lowest of his career, with the second lowest mark being 91 in 2016. If Rosario had never dealt with his eye issues, maybe his 2022 season would have gone differently. But he is now on the wrong side of 30 and is clearly the weak link in the Braves’ lineup. Unless he can find that 2021 postseason spark again, Rosario is the worst left fielder in the division.

4. Corey Dickerson, WAS

Corey Dickerson, like Rosario, has his best years behind him. A one-time All-Star, he has failed to regain the power he possessed in the beginning of his career when he hit 24-plus homers three times in a four year stretch. He hasn’t seen as much playing time as he did during those years, but even still he’s hitting home runs at a lower rate. Dickerson was average in every sense of the word in 2022, exhibited by his 0.4 fWAR and 100 OPS+. In 281 at-bats he slashed .267/.300/.399/.698 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in his lone year with the Cardinals.

Dickerson’s -5 DRS and 1 OAA in 2022 show that, while not a great defender, he can hold his own in left field. He won the only Gold Glove of his career in 2018, but with age catching up to him, that part of his game has been on the decline. Still, Dickerson will be expected to man left field for the Nationals in 2022, at least for the first half of the season.

It would be a surprise if Dickerson returned to his prime form now that he is 33 years old, but it would be just as surprising if his play fell off completely. Dickerson embodies mediocrity at this stage of his career, and thus takes fourth on the list.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bryan De La Cruz, MIA

Bryan De La Cruz is an exciting young player for the Marlins, acquired from the Astros during the 2021 season. With Jazz Chisholm set to take over in center field, De La Cruz is expected to be the team’s left fielder in 2023. Playing in 115 games last season, he slashed .252/.294/.432/.725 in 329 at-bats. As his on-base percentage suggests, De La Cruz struggled at getting on base, hindered by an abysmal 0.21 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

His finish to the 2022 season gives reason for excitement, though, as he hit .388/.419/.718/1.137 with six of his 13 total home runs in September and October alone. If he can build on this in his third season in the league, De La Cruz can be a true offensive weapon for the Marlins.

De La Cruz was defensively sound last year, but especially so in left field. He recorded 4 DRS and 1 OAA at the position and his arm strength was in the 89th percentile of all players. Shifting over to left field full time may be the best thing for De La Cruz’s career, as it is sure to make him an improved defender.

De La Cruz exudes potential and upside that Marlins fans should be excited about. His career is still young, though, and he is held back by his undisciplined approach at the plate. Until he can perform at a high level in a larger sample size, De La Cruz finds himself in the middle of the pack of NL East left fielders, but he has the ability to climb up the rankings in future years.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mark Canha, NYM

Mark Canha was an on-base machine in his first year with the Mets, posting the seventh-highest on-base percentage in the National League despite a .266 batting average. This was aided by the fact that he led all of baseball with 28 hit-by-pitches and maintained a deliberate and thoughtful approach to each plate appearance, engaging in prolonged at-bats that often resulted in walks or base hits.

Canha didn’t showcase much power until later in the year when he turned it on during a scorching August, recording a .979 OPS for the entire month. In all, though, Canha hit just 13 home runs with a .403 slugging percentage for the year, his lowest totals over full seasons in his career.

Canha is not a plus-defender in left field, but he doesn’t present a liability either. He ended 2022 with -4 DRS and 0 OAA, and his arm strength ranked in the 31st percentile. The Mets’ defense features several great defenders, including Brandon Nimmo to Canha’s left, so it’s not cause for concern that Canha himself isn’t a prolific fielder.

Most projections have Canha taking a step back in 2023. ZiPS, Fangraphs, and Steamer all have Canha’s batting average dipping into the low .240s and his OPS dropping below .750. Even if he does show some regression in 2023, Canha is still one of the better left fielders in the NL East.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kyle Schwarber, PHI

Mets fans know better than just about anyone how dangerous of a hitter Kyle Schwarber is. His best trait is crushing baseballs which he did at an elite level in his first season with the Phillies, hitting a National League-leading 46 home runs en route to his second consecutive All-Star nod and his first Silver Slugger Award.

He’s not just a masher at the plate though. He is extremely disciplined and takes walks when given to him, as he ranked in the 94th percentile for walk rate and the 87th percentile for chase rate in 2022. His .323 on-base percentage despite a .218 batting average is further evidence of his patience at the plate. His only offensive weakness is that he swings and misses often, which resulted in an MLB-leading 200 strikeouts last year. But when he makes contact, he’s as dangerous as anybody else in the league.

Schwarber’s biggest downside, as it has been his whole career, is his defense. Schwarber was simply horrendous as a fielder in 2022 with -14 DRS and -13 OAA, though that can be overlooked given the offensive threat that he is. Even with his poor defensive play, he still posted a 2.6 fWAR in 2022. As long as he can continue to be an elite power threat and an elite on-base threat, the Phillies will ignore his defensive struggles.

Schwarber will be 30 at the beginning of the 2023 season, but he has showed no signs of slowing down offensively. Among this group of NL East left fielders, Schwarber is far and away the most productive offensive player and that alone gives him the credibility to be ranked first on this list.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Left Field Edition appeared first on Metsmerized.

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets history with free agency. Our last two were James McCann at No. 8 and Luis Castillo at No. 7. Next up is a slugger who was dynamic when healthy but too often wasn’t on the field. 

As the Mets won the National League East and then the National League pennant in 2015, considering the state of the team prior to the trade deadline, where would they have been without Yoenis Céspedes? Then on August 2, 2020, which turned out to be his last day as a New York Met, all any Mets person wanted to know was: where is Yoenis Céspedes?

Ultimately, for all he did for that World Series team, Céspedes offered more questions than answers. His arrival to New York marked one of the great trades and his departure punctuated one their most egregious free-agent contracts.

In between was a slew of mysterious injury reports, less mysterious injuries, a dynamic presence on the field when healthy, a wild boar, golf outings, and finally fleeing the team in an exit only he could pull off.

Let’s start with the good, which was actually great. New York acquired the power hitting outfielder in a July 31st deal with the Detroit Tigers. Over 57 games, his OPS+ was 155, he hit 17 homer and drove in 44.

The Mets went from second place to division champs to league champs. When the season ended, it was hard to imagine not retaining Céspedes that winter. In January 2016, the Mets re-signed him to a three-year, $75 million contract, with an opt-out after the first year. This isn’t necessarily where things went off the rails, because despite leg injuries he ended up with the same OPS+ he posted for all of 2015. Named to the All-Star Game for the second time, his 31 homers and 86 RBIs led the team.

They needed every bit of it. The Mets rallied from being below .500 in August to end up as a Wild Card.

Benefiting from another terrific year, Céspedes exercised his opt-out shortly after the season. It took less than a month for the Mets to decide to keep him even longer: four years at $110 million with a no-trade clause. This was when the regret really began.

From 2017 through his brief stint in 2020, Céspedes played in just 127 games. More often the news that surrounded him dealt with topics other than his performance as a left fielder and middle-of-the order hitter.

The ’17 season was marred by first his left hamstring and later his right hamstring. In 2018, he needed surgery on both heels which put him out for 8-10 months. That timeline was severely altered in the craziest way possible. Because while recovering, he fractured his right ankle at his ranch. Details of the story were murky. Did he fall off a horse? Did he fall into a hole? Then, of all things, a report surfaced that the injury occurred while being chased by a wild boar. If that was the truth or not, it didn’t help get Céspedes on to the field any faster.

His 2019 season was completely wasted and 2020 was almost too because of the pandemic. But when the 60-game schedule started, so did Céspedes — finally. At DH, he provided the opener’s only run — a homer down the left-field line.

It was certainly a blast from the past — save for the cardboard cutouts in the stands and the cheering crowd noise piped in.

But this was the story of Céspedes in his final four seasons: flashes of greatness reminiscent of 2015 or 2016 soon eventually followed by a bizarre twist. Céspedes batted just .161 in the season’s first eight games. The home run was clearly a mirage as he looked nothing like a capable hitter.

Prior to a Sunday afternoon contest in Atlanta, he took off. Reports that he was missing came out during the game — and speculation about his condition and whereabouts were rampant. Then his agent announced the he opted out of the season due to concerns regarding COVID-19.

Yoenis Céspedes’ time in New York was exciting and intriguing. For a while, those qualities complimented success. In the end, they were more a burden than a benefit.

The post Mets Worst Free-Agent Signing No. 6: Yoenis Céspedes appeared first on Metsmerized.

David Peralta

Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: 35 (8/14/1987)
2022 Traditional Stats: 134 G, 490 PA, .251/.316/.415/.731, 12 HR, 30 2B, 59 RBI, 110 H
2022 Advanced Stats: 109 OPS+, 104 wRC+, 0.7 bWAR, 1.7 fWAR, 8.4 BB%, 23.3 K%, .307 BABIP, .313 xwOBA, -5 DRS, 5 OAA

Rundown

David Peralta has been one of the most under-appreciated players in Major League Baseball for nearly a decade. In his career he has never been an All-Star and has played for Diamondbacks teams and a 2022 Rays team that can most aptly be described as underwhelming and disappointing. With just one Silver Slugger award and one Gold Glove award in nine years in the league you would think he hasn’t had a big impact, but that simply isn’t true.

Since he made his major league debut in 2014, Peralta has a career OPS just under .800 and in only one full season has he had an OPS+ below 100. He was mostly productive last year in his age-34 season, in which he posted a .731 OPS and a 109 OPS+. These numbers are negatively skewed due to a poor stint with the Rays, whom he joined at the trade deadline. Before this trade, Peralta enjoyed a productive half-season with the Diamondbacks where he put up a .777 OPS and a 118 OPS+.

Peralta’s numbers show that he has been a reliable contact hitter throughout his career, eclipsing a .285 batting average in five of his nine seasons. He has also flashed power at times, blasting a career-high 30 home runs in 2018 and in 2022 he hit at a rate of 22 home runs over a full 162 games before his trade to the Rays in July.

In 47 games with Tampa Bay, though, he failed to register any home runs and posted a less-than-ideal .652 OPS. Whether this struggle was due to a failure to acclimate to a new environment, age catching up to him, or another unknown factor is unclear.

What is clear is that Peralta’s performance has declined the past two seasons. His last two OPS totals of .731 and .728 are below his career OPS of .796 and he has only hit 20 home runs in his last 1000-plus plate appearances. Additionally, his batting average, on-base percentage, and walk-to-strikeout ratio in 2022 were all the lowest of his career over a full season. This late in his career, can he turn it around? Teams interested in his services will have to answer that question for themselves.

Contract

Spotrac.com believes Peralta has a market value of $8.3 million, which they estimate he will receive on a one-year deal. This valuation feels reasonable, though it’s possible he might not even make that much. A.J. Pollock signed a one-year, $7 million deal this offseason, and it can easily be argued he’s the better and more valuable player of the two. Because Peralta is turning 36 this August and has shown a decline in his performance, he may have to settle for a cheaper deal wherever he goes.

Recommendation

It’s no secret that the Mets are in need of, and are looking for, a fourth outfielder. Even with Andrew McCutchen now off the board, there are plenty of options out there that are on-par with, or better than, Peralta. Adam Duvall and Tommy Pham are names that have been linked to the Mets who might be better fits for the team. Duvall and Pham are also known for their prowess against southpaw pitchers, a skill that the Mets are desperate for that they wouldn’t receive with Peralta, a lefty himself.

The Mets should focus on the names listed above before they consider signing Peralta. They could certainly do worse if they land him as a fourth outfielder, but there are better fits for the team and what it is looking for at the moment.

The post MMO Free Agent Profile: David Peralta, OF appeared first on Metsmerized.

Jurickson Profar

Position: OF

Bats/Throws: S/R

Age: 29 (2/20/1993)

2022 Traditional Stats: 152 G, 658 PA, .243/.331/.391/.723, 15 HR, 36 2B, 58 RBI, 140 H

2022 Advanced Stats: 111 OPS+, 110 wRC+, 3.1 bWAR, 2.5 fWAR, 11.1 BB%, 15.7 K%, .272 BABIP, .315 xwOBA, 2 DRS, -5 OAA

Rundown

Jurickson Profar had arguably the best season of his career in 2022. In his third season in San Diego, he was able to provide a spark as the leadoff hitter and everyday left fielder for the Padres. With his help, San Diego was able to make the postseason an advance all the way to the NLCS last season. 

Despite making his major league debut at 19 years old with the Rangers in 2012, Profar didn’t play his first full season until 2018 at age 25. This was partly due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2014 and 2015 seasons, as well as him simply being unable to maintain a starting role when healthy.

Profar seemed to come into his own from 2018-2020, as he finally received regular playing time. After playing 146 games with the Rangers  in 2018, Profar was dealt to the Oakland A’s where he played in 2019 before being traded again to the Padres where he played the past three seasons. From the three-year stretch between 2018-20, (including the shortened 2020 season) Profar tallied 47 home runs and 169 RBIs with a .757 OPS and a 102 OPS+. While these numbers don’t exactly stand out, Profar proved that he could be a serviceable bat when healthy.

Profar took a step back and struggled in 2021, hitting just .227 with four home runs. However, he had a huge bounce back season in 2022, posting the best OPS+ of his career over a full season. He also improved defensively from the year before, showing more comfort staying in left field than moving around in a utility role. Profar went from a  negative-4 DRS in 2021 to plus-2 DRS 2022 and negative-7 OAA to negative-5 OAA.

Profar’s advanced metrics from the 2022 season show that despite having good strikeout and walk percentages, his whiff rate and chase rate were well above league average. Additionally, Profar was well below league average in average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, and barrel percentage. He had one of his best seasons to date, but these metrics suggest that there are areas in which Profar needs to improve.

Contract

Spotrac.com estimates Profar to receive a contract of six-years, $89.4 million, which would be just under $15 million per year. Entering his age-30 season and not exactly a premier player, it’s hard to imagine Profar receiving this type of deal. Willson Contreras and Andrew Benintendi received similar deals and both players were unanimously regarded as being in a class above Profar this free agent cycle.

Players more on the level of Profar such as Cody Bellinger, Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto, and A.J. Pollock all signed shorter-term deals this offseason, and it would make sense if Profar received a deal like that. One-to-three years at $10-15 million per year seems reasonable.

Recommendation

The Mets’ everyday outfield seems to be set with Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte. At best, Profar would be a platoon option with Canha, and, at worst, would simply be a fourth outfielder. He doesn’t provide a ton of power, which is perhaps the Mets most pressing need, but he would be a bat that could be relied upon in a limited role.

If Profar is going to receive contract offers from teams similar to his Spotrac.com projection, the Mets should sit this one out. However, if he can be had for a more reasonable price, it would be worth the Mets’ time to at least look into how signing Profar could benefit the team.

The post MMO Free Agent Profile: Jurickson Profar, OF appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo from the Mets

For several players across the major leagues, the 2021 season should serve as one to forget, and with just three weeks remaining until the regular season draws to a close, no one will likely be happier to turn the page to 2022 than slugger Dominic Smith.

After being limited to a part-time role through his first three seasons with the New York Mets, Smith took full advantage of the universal designated hitter last season, allowing him to assume a much larger role during the 60-game schedule. With the 26-year-old spending the majority of his time at first base and the DH spot, he was able to focus heavily on the offensive aspect of his game, which took a massive step forward.

Despite the shortened schedule, the left-hander still surpassed his previous career-high in plate appearances, compiling 199 in that regard, and also proved to be one of the club’s top run producers. In turn, his offensive outburst allowed him to enjoy one of the most efficient statistical performances of his entire career.

Catching almost everyone by surprise, Smith improved his ability to hit for contact and power, as he produced 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, a .299 ISO, a .368 BABIP, a .412 wOBA, a 164 wRC+ score, a 1.8 fWAR rating (career-best) and a slashing line of .316/.377/.616/.993 over 50 games in 2020.

Following this remarkable showing, the Mets were counting on the former first-round pick to build off these stellar results and maintain his role as a reliable middle-of-the-order weapon. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case this season as he’s failed to play up to his fairly high expectations, causing him to endure an extremely disappointing offensive campaign.

Experiencing a major regression from last season’s breakout performance, the versatile slugger has struggled mightily in multiple different areas, resulting in just 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .116 ISO (career-worst), a .295 BABIP, a .324 wOBA, an 85 wRC+ score, a -0.6 fWAR rating and a slashing line of .243/.305/.359/.664 through 469 plate appearances.

Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Digging deeper into Smith’s offensive woes, he hasn’t generated nearly as much hard contact in 2021, as he’s recorded a 39.6% hard-hit rate, a 6.5% barrel rate and an 88.9 mph average exit velocity over 323 batted-ball events. In comparison, the California native created career-highs involving his hard-hit rate (46.7%), barrel rate (13.3%) and average exit velocity (89.8 mph) through 135 batted-ball events in 2020.

Paired with his disappointing performance at the plate, the former top prospect has also failed to perform effectively with his glove in the outfield, particularly during the second half of the season.

Since Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association couldn’t agree to a deal prior to Opening Day, the universal DH didn’t return for a second straight campaign, which has forced Smith to primarily be positioned in left field this season. While expectations were set fairly low out of the gate, his hard work throughout spring training ultimately helped him perform respectably early on.

Finding a way to thrive defensively through the first two months of the schedule, the Junipero Serra HS standout made a surprisingly positive impact in the outfield and reached his peak in May, where he finished tied for the highest OAA (+1) among all qualified Mets outfielders, according to BaseballSavant.com.

Though his defensive showing through April and May was very encouraging, sadly, Smith couldn’t sustain his early success and has since fallen down a miserable path, causing him to become a significant defensive liability. As a result, he’s produced a -7 OAA since the start of June – not something most experts were expecting following his promising start.

Based on this defensive regression, the Mets’ left fielder’s overall metrics have understandably taken a major hit and have fallen far below league average. In turn, the once-reliable offensive contributor has transformed into one of the worst defending outfielders in the majors, positioning him near the bottom of the leaderboard in several different categories.

Proving left field isn’t a viable option long-term, Smith has produced the sixth-worst UZR/150 (-6.7), is tied for the seventh-fewest DRS (-4), tied for the eighth-worst UZR (-3.7) and has created the 10th-worst RngR (-3.2) among all qualified outfielders, according to FanGraphs.com.

Additionally, he’s also currently tied for the worst OAA (-9) among those same qualifications.

What’s been the main cause for this lack of success? Well, Smith has never been one of the quickest runners on New York’s roster, and despite his best efforts, that’s exactly what’s gotten exposed throughout this season.

Unable to rely on speed, the offensive-first outfielder has endured plenty of issues when he’s needed to cover plenty of ground, especially while ranging back towards the outfield wall. Adding to his defensive woes, he’s also struggled at taking direct routes to fly balls, making his job as an outfielder even more challenging.

Putting these traits into perspective, Smith is currently tied for the eighth-worst burst (-0.4 feet), tied for the 10th-worst jump (-0.9 feet) and is tied for the 13th-worst route (-0.3 feet) among all qualified outfielders in the majors this season – all three of these components are calculated against the major league average.

With Smith performing as a negative offensive and defensive player, manager Luis Rojas and his staff had no other choice but to start limiting the left-hander’s playing time, which has primarily seen him serve as a pinch hitter in September. Considering teammate Jeff McNeil has been forced into the outfield with Javier Baez occupying duties at second base, playing time in left field could be hard to come by the rest of the way.

Barring some sort of last-minute revival, the “Sloth Bear” will likely remain in his bench role through the rest of the season, and assuming the universal DH returns in 2022, he probably won’t spend much time, if any at all, in the outfield moving forward. In addition, he’ll also likely split time at first base with Pete Alonso, who’ll likely remain the everyday first baseman next season.

Given the offensive and defensive success he enjoyed in 2020, reducing Smith’s opportunities in left field could provide him with a quality chance to recapture at least some of the momentum he created during the shortened season.

For the Mets’ sake, taking this route might be the only hope they have at regaining their power-slugging threat from the left side of the plate next season.

The post Dominic Smith Can Soon Put to Rest His Miserable 2021 Season appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After being considered one of the worst defending teams across the major leagues last season, the New York Mets were determined to put those woes behind them and were looking to take a positive step forward this season, particularly in the outfield.

Looking to make a big splash in free agency last offseason, the front office targeted outfielder George Springer and were hopeful he could help fill the massive void in center field, unfortunately, their pursuit came up short as the three-time All-Star signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. As a result, management was forced to shift gears and ultimately acquired a pair of depth outfielders in Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr.

Since the Mets failed to land an everyday center fielder this past winter, they weren’t able to move outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who posted a career-worst -4 OAA in center field last season, to left field this spring and have been forced to keep him in the middle of the field. While there was some optimism the universal designated hitter would return for a second straight campaign, putting that in place has been delayed until next season, causing veteran Dominic Smith to roam in left field once again.

Thanks to the universal DH spot, Smith was able to spend significantly more time in the infield during the 56-game shortened schedule, as he compiled 193.0 innings at first base. As for this season, the 25-year-old has only spent 31 2/3 innings on the right side of the infield and has primarily been positioned in left field, which is an area where his defense has been a major concern in the past.

Coming into the 2021 campaign, the former first-round pick had totaled 470 1/3 career innings in left field, generating a -9 OAA, -6 DRS, -3.4 RngR, -7.2 UZR and a -22.7 UZR/150.

Based on these concerning metrics, it would’ve made plenty of sense to have Smith split time between first base and the DH spot for a second consecutive season. But since that hasn’t been an option in 2021, the Mets’ coaching staff has since focused on helping him improve his defense and they’ve also been locating where in the outfield he’s best positioned.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

While the veteran outfielder is far from a finished product, he’s surprisingly made significant strides in the right direction and hasn’t become a liability in left field up to this point, which has certainly been a welcomed occurrence. After working tirelessly to improve his defense over the offseason and during this past spring, the left-hander is starting to see his hard work pay off through the first two months of the season, as he’s near the top of the leaderboard in multiple different defensive categories.

After playing just 23 games in left field last season, Smith has witnessed his workload climb to 42 games and has compiled 319 2/3 innings during that span, producing a 2 DRS, 0.8 RngR, 1.1 UZR and an 8.1 UZR/150 – all of which are career-highs.

Comparing these encouraging results to the rest of the majors, the former top prospect is currently tied for the fourth-most DRS, owns the fourth-highest UZR/150, is tied for the fifth-highest defensive WAR rating (-0.6) and has recorded the seventh-highest RngR and UZR among all left fielders who’ve earned at least 200.0 innings, according to FanGraphs.com.

Taking into account his previous defensive struggles, Smith and the Mets deserve a ton of credit for this remarkable year-to-year progression, especially since he’s gained so much ground in such a short period of time. In most cases, it usually requires an entire 162-game schedule, and sometimes even more time than that, before a player begins witnessing significant improvements regarding their defense.

So how has Smith found a way to perform more effectively in left field this season?

Well, a major component of his progression has been where the team has positioned him before the start of each play. Since the Junipero Serra HS standout has historically struggled with his range in the outfield, the coaching staff has decided to move him closer to the foul line, which has made it much easier for him to track down balls when ranging to his right.

Here are Smith’s starting points from this season:

Source: BaseballSavant.com

In comparison, here are Smith’s starting points from 2018-2020:

Source: BaseballSavant.com

Unlike previous seasons, Smith hasn’t been caught in “no man’s land” nearly as much in 2021 and also hasn’t needed to track down as many balls in the gap, allowing him to thrive in the left-field corner. In addition, this new positioning has also seemingly helped him perform more effectively on plays where he’s needed to range towards the infield, which is something he’s struggled with in the past.

But based on his -2 OAA, which is tied for fourth-worst among all qualified left fielders, it’s clear the California native still has some room to grow as the season progresses, particularly when ranging to his left. Having said that, there’s no question the Mets are extremely pleased with the work he’s already accomplished so far.

Since the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire this winter, all signs are pointing to the universal DH becoming a permanent part of the game moving forward, meaning this will likely be the final season Smith is required to serve as a full-time left fielder. Looking ahead to future seasons, the lefty slugger should be able to occupy first base regularly and could also occasionally rotate through the DH spot as well.

Even though Smith is far better suited to be positioned in the infield and is destined to make that transition in the future, positional flexibility has become an extremely valuable asset of this era, so his improved defense could entice the Mets to utilize him at multiple positions in 2022 and beyond.

The post Dominic Smith Making Progress With Defense in Left Field This Season appeared first on Metsmerized.

Coming off a disappointing 2020 campaign, the New York Mets must improve in several different areas to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which will include dramatically improving their overall defense.

While acquiring shortstop Francisco Lindor is certainly a step in the right direction, as the two-time Gold Glove award winner should serve as a significant upgrade on the left side of the infield, his defensive impact won’t extend into the outfield. Since the front office didn’t land a reliable defensive outfielder over the offseason, there’s a very strong chance this team will continue struggling to perform effectively beyond the infield in 2021.

Digging deeper into this complicated situation, the lack of a universal designated hitter put the Mets and every other National League team in a very tough spot this winter, essentially handcuffing each of those organizations from filling out their respective rosters as originally planned.

With this in mind, president Sandy Alderson couldn’t make a serious run at someone like Jackie Bradley Jr. because he needed to leave an open spot in the outfield for slugger Dominic Smith.

After enjoying the top statistical performance of his career in 2020, where Smith produced career-highs in extra-base hits (32) RBIs (42), ISO (.299), BABIP (.368), wOBA (.412), wRC+ (164) and fWAR (1.8), the 25-year-old has quickly become a major part of this team’s lineup. As a result of his offensive progression, coach Luis Rojas and his staff will need to find a way to provide the left-handed slugger regular playing time throughout this season, which could become extremely difficult without the DH position.

As currently constructed, the Mets’ outfield is expected to feature Michael Conforto in right field, Brandon Nimmo in center field and Smith in left field. Considering the Mets outfield finished with the second-worst OAA (-10) last season (and that’s with the use of the universal DH), it’ll be crucial for them to prevent those defensive struggles from occurring for a second-straight campaign.

Despite bringing immense value to the lineup offensively, there isn’t that same level of confidence regarding the 26-year-old’s defense and his struggles in the outfield could potentially outweigh his stellar production in the batter’s box.

Unlike his development at the plate, the former top prospect has struggled mightily with his glove since making his major league debut in 2017 and must make multiple adjustments to his craft to succeed as a defender during his fifth season in Queens.

Photo from the Mets

Since the 2017 campaign, Smith has compiled just 470 1/3 innings in left field, committing four errors and creating a -9 OAA, -7 DRS, -3.5 RngR, -7.3 UZR and a -25.0 UZR/150.

In comparison, Nimmo, who’ll be playing center field out of necessity, has played 837 1/3 career innings in left field and has produced a 5 OAA, 5 DRS, 2.9 RngR, 3.0 UZR and a 4.6 UZR/150. Additionally, the 27-year-old has only committed a single error in left field since making his major league debut in 2016.

Though Nimmo would be better suited to become the everyday left fielder this season, he likely only be positioned on the left side of the outfield when Smith isn’t in the lineup or is removed during high-leverage situations. As a result, the speedy outfielder will need to focus on translating his success over to center field and finding a way to improve off his career -1 OAA at that spot.

As for Smith, improving his range and quickness in the outfield will be two of the biggest aspects he’ll need to work on throughout this season. Having said that, each of those traits have been major causes for his troubling defensive metrics and it certainly won’t be easy to correct those woes, especially since he’s been considered one of the slowest outfielders in the majors over the last few seasons.

If the former Junipero Serra HS product had qualified in 2019, he would’ve finished with the worst burst (-3.8 feet) and also would’ve covered the lowest amount of ground against the league average (-4.8 feet) among all qualified outfielders, according to BaseballSavant.com.

Then in 2020, the left-handed outfielder failed to qualify for the leaderboard once again, although he would’ve finished with the fifth-worst burst (-2.3 feet) and also would’ve tied for the eighth-lowest amount of ground covered against the league average (-2.6 feet).

Barring a dramatic adjustment from Smith, it seems his range, or lack of it, will probably become a major issue for him once again this season. But if the Mets were to locate him in the proper position, then the California native might be able to limit his ineffectiveness in left field, which would definitely be an encouraging solution.

While the offensive-first outfielder hasn’t enjoyed much success beyond the infield throughout his career, he’s performed much more effectively when positioned closer to the warning track, providing him a few extra seconds to read the ball off the bat. In addition, he’s also proven to be more effective when his starting position has been closer to foul territory, reducing the amount of ground he’s needed to cover to make each play.

Here’s how Smith has performed when he’s been located closer to the foul line in his career:

Source: BaseballSavant.com

And here’s how Smith has performed when he’s been positioned straight up:

Source: BaseballSavant.com

Based on these charts, it’s clear starting Smith deep in the outfield and closer to the foul line will probably put him in the best position to succeed as a defender in 2021. While moving the youngster towards the left field corner will likely prevent him from running balls down in the gap, placing a larger responsibility on Nimmo to roam from gap-to-gap should help counteract those types of plays.

Though this wouldn’t be a perfect solution, it’s one that could allow the Mets’ outfield to tread water and potentially perform respectively without weakening their lineup. With backup outfielders Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr. slated to round out the club’s bench, either of them could serve as defensive replacements late in games, providing reliable defense during the biggest moments of each contest.

Since a universal DH is expected to be included in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement – the current one is set to expire after this season – moving Smith back to the outfield on a regular basis is something that’ll only have to happen in 2021. Once this season concludes, the emerging star can be moved back to the infield, allowing him to primarily focus on his defense at first base moving forward.

Until then, the Mets will be forced to become creative with how they manage all three outfield spots during the 2021 campaign, which is a task that’ll undoubtedly prove to be challenging at times for Rojas and his staff.

The post Dominic Smith Has Room to Improve in Left Field appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets needed a big win, and they got one Friday night. On the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Mets pounded out 19 hits as they shuffled out of Buffalo with style.

Facing the Toronto Blue Jays (24-20) in their temporary home of Buffalo, New York, the Mets (21-24) racked up 18 runs on the back of a 10-run fourth inning that saw 14 batters step up to the plate.

Wilson Ramos had a fantastic day at the plate, going 3-4, driving in four runs, and walking once. Michael Conforto also kept up his hot-streak, going 2-4 with a long three-run homer.

Jacob deGrom continued his campaign for the Cy Young award, going six innings, striking out nine, and lowering his ERA to 1.67. His only run allowed came in the first inning off of a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single.

OFFENSE:

Pitching for the Blue Jays was right-hander Chase Anderson, who hasn’t had a great season so far, pitching in six games for a 4.94 ERA coming into the game.

Contrary to his stat-line, however, Anderson started off strong, striking out Brandon Nimmo and Conforto after getting behind in both counts, followed by a sharp J.D. Davis groundout to end the frame.

The Mets got some chances in the second but were robbed by great Toronto defense. Dominic Smith worked a walk to start the inning and was sent packing to the dugout after Robinson Cano was robbed of a hit by third baseman Travis Shaw, who got the force at second. Pete Alonso followed with a deep fly ball that was caught roughly ten feet from the wall. Jeff McNeil walked, bringing Andres Gimenez to the plate. Gimenez blooped a fly ball into left field that was caught on a brilliant sliding play Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Anderson’s lucky stretch of defensive star-power came to an end in the third. Ramos doubled to start the frame, and Nimmo followed with a base hit of his own. With runners on the corners, Conforto went deep to center field, giving the Mets a 3-1 lead. After a Davis walk and a Smith strikeout, Cano slapped a base hit into center to put two runners on. After Alonso struck out, Anderson’s night came to an end, an unfortunate end to his seventh game of the season.

Replacing Anderson was ex-Met minor leaguer Anthony Kay, who was shipped up to Toronto in exchange for Marcus Stroman at the trade deadline in 2019. Kay could’ve had the easy last out of the inning after McNeil drove a ball high into shallow right field, but it got lost in the Buffalo lights and dropped in between three Blue Jays, scoring Davis from second. Gimenez struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done, 4-1 Mets.

After sending nine batters to the plate in the third, the Mets continued their dominance in the fourth, starting off with two walks from Ramos and Conforto and a chopped base hit from Nimmo to load the bases with no outs. Davis grounded a ball to shortstop, and the throw went home, but catcher Danny Jansen had a case of butterfingers and dropped the ball, allowing Ramos to score even though the throw beat him by roughly 50 feet.

Smith then came up and made the poor Toronto defense pay, blasting a grand slam over the right field wall to put the Mets up 9-1. Cano singled and Alonso struck out again, marking the end of Kay’s night. Jacob Waguespack came into the game, sporting a 4.85 ERA, which was immediately showcased after a McNeil single, a Gimenez HBP, and a Ramos double, clearing the bases and putting the Mets up 12-1.

Nimmo continued the inning by advancing Ramos to second, and Conforto flied a ball to left field that was dropped, scoring another run. Davis then lined a ball down the left field line, scoring Conforto all the way from first base and capping the inning with a tenth run.

Waguespack continued into the fifth, and was quite successful, getting Gimenez to fly out and Ramos and Nimmo to ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.

The poor Toronto defense continued in the sixth, as Conforto reached on a bad throw to first by shortstop Santiago Espinal. Davis and Smith both followed with singles, prompting a mound visit that took Waguespack from the game and brought in lefty Ryan Borucki. Borucki didn’t start off strong, walking Cano to force in the Mets’ fifteenth run of the game. Alonso struck out (again, he went 0-5 with a HBP) before McNeil grounded into a force out, scoring a run from third. Gimenez flew out to end the inning, but not before the Mets went up 16-1.

Ken Giles came in to pitch the eighth, and immediately gave up a home run to Ramos, who had quite a night, as mentioned earlier. Nimmo and newly substituted Jake Marisnick struck out, bringing up Amed Rosario, who singled into left field. He quickly returned to the dugout, however, as Smith grounded out to shortstop.

PITCHING:

DeGrom got the start on Friday evening, looking to keep his campaign strong for his third straight Cy Young award. And that he did.

Coming into the day with a 1.69 ERA, he struck out Cavan Biggio on three pitches to start the game. Randal Grichuk singled and stole second base, and after a Travis Shaw flyout, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smashed a deep single off the wall in right field, scoring Grichuk from second. Gurriel struck out to end the inning, and a frustrated deGrom went to sit on the bench.

After sizzling on the bench for a few minutes, deGrom returned to the mound, striking out Jonathan Villar and Joe Panik before getting Jansen to ground out to first base.

Espinal led off the third and was quickly retired via groundout back to the pitcher. DeGrom then kept the strikeout game going, getting Biggio and Grichuk swinging.

After sitting in the dugout for the 14-batter top of the fourth, deGrom re-entered the game with some rare run-support. Shaw worked a wonderful 12-pitch at-bat into a walk, but deGrom recovered quickly, striking out Guerrero and Villar before getting Gurriel to fly out.

Panik led off the fifth with a lineout and Jansen walked, deGrom’s second of the game. Espinal struck out swinging for deGrom’s ninth strikeout of the game. Biggio jumped on the first pitch from deGrom in his third at-bat, doubling into right field, but the rally was quickly extinguished via a Grichuk lineout.

DeGrom’s final inning went quickly, as Shaw, Guerrero, and Gurriel popped easy flyballs for Mets’ defenders to catch. His final line saw his ERA lower to 1.67, as he gave up three hits, one earned run, walked two, and struck out nine.

Erasmo Ramirez took charge of the mound in the seventh, and continued his success, working a 1-2-3 inning off of two groundouts and a line out. He continued into the eighth, and at first was met by some problems, as Espinal and Biggio led off the inning with singles. However, the fire was doused once again, as Jonathan Davis grounded into a double play and Shaw flew out to left field.

Guerrero led off the bottom of the ninth versus Ramirez, entering his third inning of work, and flew out to center field. Gurriel then gave the ball a ride, knocking it to the warning track before it was caught by Marisnick. After Derek Fisher walked, ex-Met Joe Panik struck out looking to end the game, slotting the Mets a commanding 18-1 victory.

ON DECK:

The Mets will continue their march to the second wildcard spot in tomorrow’s game, looking to take the series and inch closer to the .500 mark.

Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.05 ERA) will get the start in game two. After being switched into the starter roll, Lugo has found great success. His last game versus the Phillies was dominant, as he struck out eight over five innings of one-run work.

David Peterson (4-1, 4.26) will get the start in game three, as he looks to improve on his last start in which he only went two innings and gave up five earned runs.

After the series with Toronto, the Mets will move on to Philadelphia in what could be the most important series of the season.

The post Mets Power Display Supports deGrom in 18-1 Win Over Jays appeared first on Metsmerized.

Just six days ago, it wasn’t a tremendous reach to say that Jeff McNeil was having a disappointing year. After going 0-for-4 in a 5-3 loss to the Phillies on September 4, his batting line sat at .282/.344/.364; not terrible, but certainly not what Mets fans had hoped for coming into the season.

Over the last five games, McNeil has untied that narrative in a hurry, going on a 9-for-17 stretch that includes the last four consecutive games with a homer. Until Sunday, he was still yet to record a single long ball, but just like that, he has four in four days.

Of course, it’s important to note that he may still have been battling the knee injury he suffered on August 13, and while that may have had an effect on his play, it makes his recent surge even all the more impressive.

McNeil’s line is suddenly up to .315/.388/.496, which is not a far cry at all from his .318/.385/.531 performance from last year. His 139 wRC+ is also comparable to last year’s 143 mark. While his ISO is still .033 points lower, that’s to be expected given that he didn’t even have home run until Sunday, and it’s remarkable how fast he’s been able to play catchup.

There are even signs that point to McNeil actually being a better offensive player this year than last, such as his walk rate increasing by 3.3% and strikeout rate decreasing by a full percentage. He’s making hard contact 4.2% more often,  and hitting line drives 4.7% more often.

McNeil’s xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA are actually all higher than his marks from last year. He’s also swinging and missing less while making more contact.

Overall, despite the slight decrease in power, if you weren’t paying attention during McNeil’s relative struggles and simply compared the batting lines, he’s been roughly the same player that Mets fans have come to know and love. If you factor in that he may have still been fighting that knee injury, it practically eliminates any concerns over his performance and if anything, provides a reason to be optimistic about his bat going forward.

Patrick Mazeika/Photo by Ed Delany

McNeil’s sudden resurgence may be partly thanks to Patrick Mazeika, who was a teammate of McNeil’s for much of his minor league career. While McNeil was slumping after the Mets’ doubleheader against the Yankees on August 30, he turned to Mazeika, who suggested some mechanical changes, as was discussed by Mike Puma of the NY Post.

“We looked at some pitches that I hit for home runs last year and they are the same pitches I am rolling over this year and it all came down to body position,” McNeil explained. “So if I can get my body in the right spot during the swing, I am able to stay through the ball a lot more. I have been rolling over some. pitches, so I just need to stay through the ball a little but more and those power numbers will return.

Returned they have, and in a hurry for that matter, as McNeil will head into Friday’s game against the Blue Jays looking for his fifth consecutive game with a home run.

McNeil has provided all of this offensive thump while still being versatile in the field, seeing time at third base, second base, and left field and being a serviceable option in all three spots. He even made this great catch on Wednesday in left field in the Mets’ 7-6 win over the Orioles.

As McNeil as settled into these various positions, he has made note of how his overall comfort levels have improved at each position (remember when Mickey Callaway said he was “strictly a second baseman?”).

“I feel like a utility player,” McNeil said before Sunday’s game. “As time goes on, you feel more and more comfortable out there, and it’s been good so far.”

Of course, things never got so bad that McNeil’s presence in the everyday lineup was ever a question, but with his recent surge (particularly in the power department), the Mets can certainly breathe a little easier and feel confident that McNeil is going to keep producing for them in a big way.

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