First Basin'

[Edgy MD]

We at a thread at the old place titled "First Base First Place" or somesuch. I still don't know what to expect. Dom Smith is the incumbent, but only nominally. Todd Frazier has the big contract, but was bad enough as a thirdbaseman last year that moving him rightward on the defensive spectrum isn't alluring. Pete Alonso has the big time prospect brand, but only a half-season above AA. And the depth in the infield is pushing everybody looking for at-bats toward first. What's gonna happen?



Dominic Smith was trying to swing it as first-base/left field hybrid in the second half of 2018. Mickey says he's just going to play first this spring. That could be great news or terrible news, depending on your perspective. Dom says:

“The fans who have seen me play [in the minors] — unless you've seen that Dominic, then you haven't really seen the real Dominic Smith. I'm excited to showcase my talent this Spring Training.” “The sky's the limit. I can hit — I showed glimpses of that last year. When I was up there, I took some of their best pitchers deep. I played some pretty good defense. If I play to my full potential, then I can do that on an everyday basis.” “I don't worry. If you worry, then it's going to be a combination of doubts and fears, and you're not going to be able to play well like that. If I control what I can control, and that's playing hard every day and playing my game, then I'll be the best option there at first base.”

Todd Frazier is used to playing 150 games a year, but the Mets starting the offseason with an impressive rookie second-baseman and then going out and acquiring two more is really going to make it too crowded to see that sort of PT at third for Todd. Todd, whose former agent is rookie Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, says:

"We have a really good relationship, he's like family to me, what we've been through. I never had an inkling he would trade me." "He told me, 'We want you here, you're one of the pieces we need. It just might be bouncing around.' I was like, 'All right, let's do it." "We're in a great spot. I'm always a guy that believes in starting fresh. We got new guys coming in and that can only help us. Brodie did a good job getting guys in so we can all move around and let guys play less games than usual. That helps you stay healthy. You look at us on paper, we're a pretty darn good team.

Let's go, Mets-on-Paper!!



Pete Alonso stock has somehow gone up even after his monster season in 2018. That was followed by more bullish reports from prospect rankers, including at least one scoring him with an 80 out of 80 in the power department. Yowza!



He's working on the defense, which has so far received much lower marks. Recently when asked what he thinks about on-deck, he responded "Time to party." The Spicoli act could go from refreshing to biting him in the ass if he doesn't start strong, but I think there are worse approaches to take to the plate than a stoner/surfer zen. Pete says:

"It's definitely a different feel from last year because last year I was a non-roster invitee, same as this year but I only had couple weeks of experience in Double-A. Got up to Triple-A last year and I kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. So I'm just going to work hard and see what happens." "I feel like I've matured as a hitter and capitalized on more pitches I can drive and laid off bad ones. I mean, that's just [becoming] a more efficient hitter, that's probably the main thing I would say." "I just wanna force someone's hand. Ever since I was a young kid, I've dreamt to become a Major League baseball player. My first word was ball. This is something I've been looking forward to my entire life and I just really want it to happen."

Zen requires detachment, Pete.



In addition to these three main candidates, second-basemen Robinson Canó, Jeff McNeil, and Jed Lowrie could all grab some time at the cold corner, depending on who's hot and who's healthy. T.J. Rivera, too. Even Travis d'Arnaud is coming to camp with a firstbaseman's mitt.



Catch the action!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have to think that they're earnestly trying to find a new home for Todd Frazier.

[LWFS]

Same.



Absent anything unexpected happening during Best Shape of My Life season, I think Frazier and Smith (with Lowrie in an emergency) have a month, more or less, to show something... then, if they don't, it's Peter, principal.

[smg58]

Frazier was worth 1.5 WAR last year basically just for his glove, and was worth at least 2.5 WAR each of the previous six seasons. He has a one-year commitment, he just turned 33 which is hardly a red flag for one season, and he's had an offseason to get over the injuries that nagged him last year. If the Mets were trying to move him, he'd be moved. Plus I think Brodie is more interested in adding former clients than subtracting them.



The Mets chose not to sell low on Smith, which is probably a good idea, but he'll need an opportunity to raise his stock. And if he doesn't give the Mets a reason to think he's better than Frazier at least against righties going in, I'm not sure where the opportunity comes. My guess is that he'll start the season in Queens as the first lefty off the bench, spelling Lowrie, Frazier, and Rosario once a week. Then he goes up the Thruway when Alonso comes down, and the Mets will hope he can raise his stock with a solid performance there. It's entirely possible that injuries (or Smith himself) will alter that plan, but that would be my plan A for him.

Edited February 20, 2019 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't see how there's room on the roster for Dom Smith, unless there's an injury or trade. If they're going to carry five infielders, it would be Lowry, Cano, Rosario, and Frazier. Would Smith get the fourth slot? Or would it go to Alonso? Or Davis? Or Hechavarria? Or T.J. Rivera? Or one of the thousand other guys I'm not thinking of offhand.

[smg58]

=smg58 post_id=3192 time=1550691136 user_id=62]
Frazier was worth 1.5 WAR last year basically just for his glove, and was worth at least 2.5 WAR each of the previous six seasons. He has a one-year commitment, he just turned 33 which is hardly a red flag for one season, and he's had an offseason to get over the injuries that nagged him last year. If the Mets were trying to move him, he'd be moved. Plus I think Brodie is more interested in adding former clients than subtracting them.



The Mets chose not to sell low on Smith, which is probably a good idea, but he'll need an opportunity to raise his stock. And if he doesn't give the Mets a reason to think he's better than Frazier at least against righties going in, I'm not sure where the opportunity comes. My guess is that he'll start the season in Queens as the first lefty off the bench, spelling Lowrie, Frazier, and Rosario once a week. Then he goes up the Thruway when Alonso comes down, and the Mets will hope he can raise his stock with a solid performance there. It's entirely possible that injuries (or Smith himself) will alter that plan, but that would be my plan A for him.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe they'll carry six infielders. They certainly should.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I was counting McNeil as an outfielder. They can carry six infielders if they have 12 pitchers, but I was thinking they'd have 13. Maybe that's an incorrect assumption. (My guess, not my preference, is 13 pitchers, 5 infielders, 5 outfielders, and 2 catchers.)

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Seems to me it's really unusual for a big-league team, especially one with aspirations to compete, to have uncertainty at first base but that's becoming a kind of weird Met tradition.



I have no idea how things will work out. It does seem like the the club may have soured a bit of Smith but as noted above they haven't sold low on him. Alonso looks promising but so too did Smith, who's even younger. They almost have complimentary skills (contact issues vs. OBP; doubles hitter/power hitter, LH/RH, good glove/shitty one). And with Lowrie already complaining of a knee injury maybe Frazier doesn't mix as 1B

[Edgy MD]

For what it's worth, Schmidt has been a juggernaut this spring, including today

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: For what it's worth, Schmidt has been a juggernaut this spring, including today

Is Schmidt Dom's German cousin?

[Edgy MD]

Exactly.

[Frayed Knot]

8 for 16 so far this spring for Dom; 7 singles and a homer

[Edgy MD]

Yup, through 19 plate appearances (Lagares leads the team with 20), DS is at .500 / .579 / .688 // 1.266.

[nymr83]

Edgy MD wrote: Yup, through 19 plate appearances (Lagares leads the team with 20), DS is at .500 / .579 / .688 // 1.266.

and there we have it, the "excuse" the Mets are going to use to mess with Alonso's service time.

[Edgy MD]

Who are you quoting?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Fans want the new shiny thing so bad. a few years ago they couldn't wait to replace Doodoo with Smith; today they're convinced the first couple hundred MLB appearances from Smith indicates he'll suck for the rest of his career and will be used so as to keep Alonso down.



I'm already looking forward to developing whoever it is who'll be championed as Alonso's replacement when he turns out to suck

[Guest 41Forever]

Edgy MD wrote: Yup, through 19 plate appearances (Lagares leads the team with 20), DS is at .500 / .579 / .688 // 1.266. and there we have it, the "excuse" the Mets are going to use to mess with Alonso's service time.

I think teams only do that with the players they think are going to be big stars, the Kris Bryant, Vlad Guerrero Jr. types. I think Alonso has the potential to be a solid everyday player, but I don't think anyone is projecting him for stardom and make that extra year of control a real issue.



If Dom Smith finally has it all together and has an off-the-charts spring, he's earned the right to go north.

[seawolf17]

=41Forever post_id=3751 time=1551711401 user_id=69]If Dom Smith finally has it all together and has an off-the-charts spring, he's earned the right to go north.

[nymr83]

If Smith is looking good thats great - you could platoon then as a lefty and righty.



i'm not saying you keep a talent at Alonso's level down until June to prevent a yer of arbitration, but a week or so for service time? i think you do that to pretty much anyone

[Centerfield]

=nymr83 post_id=3756 time=1551716191 user_id=54]
If Smith is looking good thats great - you could platoon then as a lefty and righty.



i'm not saying you keep a talent at Alonso's level down until June to prevent a yer of arbitration, but a week or so for service time? i think you do that to pretty much anyone

[nymr83]

and the players would do well to make service time manipulation a CBA issue. toll the clock from the day a guy is drafted OR the day he sets foot in US for international signings.

[Frayed Knot]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Fans want the new shiny thing so bad. a few years ago they couldn't wait to replace Doodoo with Smith; today they're convinced the first couple hundred MLB appearances from Smith indicates he'll suck for the rest of his career and will be used so as to keep Alonso down. I'm already looking forward to developing whoever it is who'll be championed as Alonso's replacement when he turns out to suck

This is what I was warning everyone about last summer, including the part where I felt it necessary to point out that Smith was (and always will be for that matter) the younger of the two.

That doesn't mean I KNOW Smith is going to be better -- shyeeet, I don't claim to know anything in this game -- only that some were too quick to declare Alonso the next great thing

while mentally already tossing Dom out with last night's fish scraps and hoping to get no more than the proverbial bag-o-balls in return.



All that said, their differing 2018 campaigns certainly turned things into an open competition. It knocked Smith out of the obvious leader spot and the prospect reports on Alonso were more

glowing than I expected and better than you'd usually see for a bat-only RH 1st baseman. Plus, the way the rules are set up now there's no point in NOT taking a few weeks out of his season

so as to futz with his future FA sked. You wouldn't delay his call-up six months for that reason (as I argued last summer) nor do you do the approximate 1/3 of a season it would take for one

extra arb year. But it's logical that one or both will spend some time in AAA and/or on the [CROSSOUT]DL[/CROSSOUT] IL so it doesn't need to be an either/or situation. In fact, I think 1B would be a great place for a platoon.

[nymr83]

Frayed Knot wrote: But it's logical that one or both will spend some time in AAA and/or on the [CROSSOUT]DL[/CROSSOUT] IL so it doesn't need to be an either/or situation. In fact, I think 1B would be a great place for a platoon.

IL? you mean the International League? (yeah, i know, dumb name change)



if they both play well i strongly favor a platoon - the problem is going to be keeping them both on the roister with a glut of infielders and the modern 15-pitcher roster leaving 2 bench spots

[RealityChuck]

I don't think Dom was given a fair shot -- a weak September his first month up means little. Then the injury last year and the idea of making a him an outfielder (which definitely cost them defensively).



At this point there are intriguing options. With a good spring, Smith will go north and they'll have to deal with Alonso later. It probably wouldn't hurt for him to spend a month or two in Syracuse to work on his fielding (and it would boost attendance in Syracuse).

[Vic Sage]

Dom should platoon with Frazier. If Frazier shows he's healthy and can hit, trade him to anybody who'll take him. Then play JD, until Alonzo comes up.

[Centerfield]

Did you guys hear that new Dom is a result of him addressing his sleep apnea? He's been wearing his CPAP mask and it's helped him see the ball better and lose weight.



I've been bad about wearing my mask. Maybe that's why I can't hit major league pitching.

[HahnSolo]

I'm no pro athlete, but my CPAP machine has been life-altering.