Let's call up Dom Smith

[Centerfield]

Sure. He's not doing well in Vegas, but at some point you have to see what the kid's got.

Adrian Gonzalez has a .690 OPS. Really no further point in keeping him.

[Edgy MD]

It might be a good way to cross the Yankees' scouting up too, plus calling him up for a marquee series = CAHN-fidence boost.

[Ceetar]

I think they should call up Smith too, and should've, but I disagree that Gonzalez has no point.

[Edgy MD]

It's not necessarily an either/or question, right? Gonzalez is classic pinch-hitter material.

[Centerfield]

Sure. If there is no roster crunch I'm fine keeping him.

Gotta start giving some AB's to someone else though. Pointless to keep starting Gonzalez.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Smith's slugging is sluggish. They've begun trying him in the outfield, perhaps the longterm solution is Alonso but as I've said for awhile I'd like to see either or both prove they are too good for the league they're in first.

[ashie62]

Mets are already in freefall. I would roll the dice on Dom

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think the near term plan is making Broooce and Flores the platoon 1Bmen when Cespy and Flores return

[bmfc1]

Gonzalez is done. The Mets took the trash that 2 other teams discarded because he was cheap and--surprise!--he's not any good. Now that the season is on the verge of being over, call up "future star" Dom and let's see what he can do.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

well I hope it's not so you can shit on him if he doesn't succeed

[bmfc1]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: well I hope it's not so you can shit on him if he doesn't succeed

Wow. Ouch. Didn't expect that from that source.
My point is what else do they have to lose?
Why would I shit on him (I ass-ume that you're referring to the way I do with Rosario)? Smith hasn't been hyped this season and was, in my opinion, the subject of some derision from the GM in the off-season.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

no I agree I guess. it's the quotes and the fact that hes not exactly forcing his way onto the roster that doesn't bode well

[bmfc1]

No, he's not.

[Centerfield]

No. Dom Smith’s numbers in LV don’t scream superstar but at some point you’re going to have to try him out or give up on him. What’s the point in giving these ABs away to Gonzalez.

And if he sucks get him out of the way and bring in Alonso.

I seem to remember Nimmo didn’t have great numbers either. Or has a year where he was down or something.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's just, first baseman are so hard to break in new.

[Centerfield]

Are they?

I’d rather break in new than break down old.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

we tried Davis and duda and then Smith and haven't
developed even one as good as Gonzalez. Baseball is full of these guys -- Yonder Alonso, Justin Smoak, Greg Bird, even, who take forever to establish themselves, struggle for consistency, never really get over.

Yet, its really hard to be good team without a stud 1B.

[smg58]

I'm a little concerned that Smith is still dealing with his injury. The power just doesn't seem to be there right now, and you don't expect a 22-year old playing in Las Vegas to lose the pop in his bat for no reason. I'd proceed with caution with him. But, I do agree that Gonzalez is showing us nothing, and I'm getting fed up with our defense giving runs to the other team.

[Vic Sage]

your wish is their command.
so be careful what you wish for...

[Ceetar]

smg58 wrote: I'm a little concerned that Smith is still dealing with his injury. The power just doesn't seem to be there right now, and you don't expect a 22-year old playing in Las Vegas to lose the pop in his bat for no reason. I'd proceed with caution with him. But, I do agree that Gonzalez is showing us nothing, and I'm getting fed up with our defense giving runs to the other team.

I said it in the Gonzalez thread but here as well, I think there's a reasonable chance that the Mets specifically told Smith to work on his plate discipline. So while the overall offensive numbers aren't great, the BB% is. (11.3% in the minors, would be 43rd of 161 or so in the majors) And with the juiced ball in the majors the SLG difference between the PCL and the MLB isn't that stark.

So come up, wait for your pitch, and mash it. I guess that's the next step in the development, but if he can pull of even a .350/.400 obp/slg it'll be a huge boost to the offense over Gonzalez, and will even compensate if we lose Cabrera.

[Centerfield]

I'm glad they made this move (obviously). I have no idea if Dom Smith is the answer. But I know for sure Gonzalez was not.

And if Dom crashes and burns, then we get to see what Alonso's all about.

I'm guessing there is a corresponding promotion of Alonso to AAA.

[Edgy MD]

Not yet, but probably soon. July 10 is the Eastern League All Star Game, and I imagine he'll be up after that at the latest.

He just pulled pulled into the Eastern League homerun league, sitting not only (just) ahead of Jeff McNeil, but ahead of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Cavan Biggio as well.

NcNeil's got the higher OPS and versatility and is 2 1/2 years older, so I'd expect him to get bumped up first. Maybe even directly to the bigs.

[smg58]

Ceetar wrote: I said it in the Gonzalez thread but here as well, I think there's a reasonable chance that the Mets specifically told Smith to work on his plate discipline. So while the overall offensive numbers aren't great, the BB% is. (11.3% in the minors, would be 43rd of 161 or so in the majors) And with the juiced ball in the majors the SLG difference between the PCL and the MLB isn't that stark. So come up, wait for your pitch, and mash it. I guess that's the next step in the development, but if he can pull of even a .350/.400 obp/slg it'll be a huge boost to the offense over Gonzalez, and will even compensate if we lose Cabrera.

It's not a bad thing to work on, for sure, but I still think he's not 100%. Like I said in the other thread, it would be ideal if he, Bruce, and Conforto could rotate in two spots (or perhaps only one against lefties) until one or more of them heal enough and start feeling it at the plate. But the Cespedes setback makes that hard.

[Ceetar]

or you could just bench Bruce period.

[Lefty Specialist]

Dom Smith I understand, but Ty Kelly? Anyone? Bueller?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

switch hitting utility player, decent wheels. Sounds a lot like someone we know.

I actually love Ty Kelly for his attitude, his ability to draw walks, and his great videos. He's a solid addition to the Mets!

[Vic Sage]

and with Cabrera hurt, who else on the roster can play 2b? Reyes? Do we really want to give Reyes more ABs? I'd rather have Kelly

Edited June 11, 2018 by Guest

[Vic Sage]

avi

[Ceetar]

Mesoraco was dealing with somethign so they brought in the third catcher, he's over it, so away he goes. Now Cabrera is dealing with something, so you bring up the extra IFer. smart roster management.

[batmagadanleadoff]

smg58 wrote: Ceetar wrote: I said it in the Gonzalez thread but here as well, I think there's a reasonable chance that the Mets specifically told Smith to work on his plate discipline. So while the overall offensive numbers aren't great, the BB% is. (11.3% in the minors, would be 43rd of 161 or so in the majors) And with the juiced ball in the majors the SLG difference between the PCL and the MLB isn't that stark. So come up, wait for your pitch, and mash it. I guess that's the next step in the development, but if he can pull of even a .350/.400 obp/slg it'll be a huge boost to the offense over Gonzalez, and will even compensate if we lose Cabrera. It's not a bad thing to work on, for sure, but I still think he's not 100%. Like I said in the other thread, it would be ideal if he, Bruce, and Conforto could rotate in two spots (or perhaps only one against lefties) until one or more of them heal enough and start feeling it at the plate. But the Cespedes setback makes that hard.

Smith's Vegas numbers are bad. Unadjusted. When you adjust for superior major league pitching and for going from a mile high hitting paradise to a pitcher's park, they're even worse than bad.

But his walks are up. To rationalize his bad numbers by speculating that Smith was sent down to work on his walks at the expense of everything else is about as contrived a stretch of the imagination as I've heard. The Mets would be asking Smith to develop more bad hitting habits than I can list to "get walks and to hell with everything else". No organization, not even the colossally stupid Mets could be that dumb. I hope.