Nuanced Poll: Adrian Gonzalez

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: now that i hear that that A-Gon is being granted the starting 1bman spot going into camp (or rather, its his to lose), and that they are PLANNING for Smith to be sent down, i'm downgrading my indifference on the deal to a negative "feh". Its one thing for A-Gon to come into camp as insurance, and as motivation for Smith, and to help groom the kid, but to give him the preference as the starting 1bman? Giving up on a 22-year old with real minor-league production? That's just... stupid.

citation needed.

[Vic Sage]

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/smith-should-get-chance-to-compete-with-gonzalez-for-first-base-job/264882428

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/smith-should-get-chance-to-compete-with-gonzalez-for-first-base-job/264882428

"There is somewhat of a defined role as far as starting a certain amount of games," Gonzalez said, adding that he'll serve as a mentor of sorts for Dominic Smith during Spring Training.

Yeah, let's see how that goes. Sandy told him what he needed to hear to be signed. The only way Gonzalez is starting the majority of the games by mid-April is if he's hitting and Smith is not, and in all honesty, if he's legitimately contributing, fine.

[Vic Sage]

Ceetar wrote: https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/smith-should-get-chance-to-compete-with-gonzalez-for-first-base-job/264882428 "There is somewhat of a defined role as far as starting a certain amount of games," Gonzalez said, adding that he'll serve as a mentor of sorts for Dominic Smith during Spring Training. Yeah, let's see how that goes. Sandy told him what he needed to hear to be signed. The only way Gonzalez is starting the majority of the games by mid-April is if he's hitting and Smith is not, and in all honesty, if he's legitimately contributing, fine.

my concern is if A-Gon is the presumptive starter. Then, if neither of them actually earns the job in ST, A-Gon gets the job by default. In that case, Smith will probably go down to AAA; I doubt they'll just let Smith sit on the bench just to be "mentored" by A-Gon, whose clubhouse persona doesn't need to be modeled for a young player learning how to be a major-leaguer. And so if they do leave Smith on the bench, that's even worse.

[Ceetar]

we're more than 2 months from that concern though, and I think Adrian actually has more to lose with a bad spring training. even if they gave him the job off that, if Smith is mashing 10 games in in Vegas and A-Gon isn't, he's, well, A-Goner. Or at least back to the bench.

Also just because Sandy promised him some measure of playing time doesn't mean Mickey has to put him in the lineup everyday.



Here's a scenario for you. might be a long shot, but..

let's say they sign a guy. Frazier. Walker, whatevers. So we've got Cabrera, Walker, Flores, Rosario, Smith, Gonzalez. Those are the 6 spots, 2 backups 4 starters, presumably.

what if David Wright is non-dead for a few weeks to start the season? The probability isn't zero. Do you hand it to Gonzalez, put Smith in the minors and bank on a Wright DL by say 4/15? or do you just cut Gonzalez and go with it?

[Vic Sage]

I cut AGon, platoon Wright and Smith at 1b. If Wright goes back on the DL, Smith can split time with Flores. If Smith is not cutting it and the Mets are otherwise playing competitive ball, you send him down and play Flores at 1b full time, and look for another LHed IF bat off the bench (A-Gon might still be sitting out there then!). If half our rotation goes back on the DL, i'd keep running Smith out there to see if he can develop during a lost season.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Adrian Gonzalez Is Officially a Met, With Plans to Tutor Dominic Smith - Kepner, NY Times

“One of my big, key points, especially in spring training, is to work with Dominic on defense and just kind of the mind-set, and tell him all my experiences and everything I’ve done,” Gonzalez said on a conference call with reporters. “I’m looking forward to that adventure, and Dominic as well, so I can help him become the best major leaguer he can be.”

[Benjamin Grimm]

That mentoring will be difficult if Dominic is in Las Vegas.

[Edgy MD]

Well, a lot of that can happen, as he notes, in Spring Training. He got a lot of points for working with Cody Bellinger last year, and not just retro-actively.

Always nice to have a guy who knows the league.