What's Your Alignment?

[Edgy MD]

If you're are filling a corner outfield spot with Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis, which one do you put in the infield, and which in the outfield.



McNeil has the better speed, better instincts, and better hands, I think, while Davis has the better arm. They may be equal in foot coordination, but maybe McNeil has an edge in that too.



Mickey, when having to put one in the outfield and one in the infield, frequently chose McNeil at third and Davis in a corner spot down the stretch, but I think he was leaning the other way mid-season.

[LWFS]

McNeil is just a better fielder, regardless.



You'd rather have the liability in left, right?

[Edgy MD]

I think so. I don't think he's distinctly a liability, but perhaps is one relative to McNelt.



It's weird. I don't necessarily see superior tools in McNeil — Davis definitely has the stronger wing — but primarily it's those better instincts that make him the preferable choice anywhere.



An expansive-minded manager can do a lot with this roster if it's mostly healthy.

[seawolf17]

I don't know - I could go either way on this. Davis is a third baseman by trade, though, so I guess I'd lean toward him there.

[Edgy MD]

I think it's fun that Davis took over the "Just hit man, and if you keep doing that, we'll figure out some place to play you" chair just as Wilmer vacated it.



Previous occupants include Victor [CROSSOUT]Davis[/CROSSOUT] Diaz, Gregg Jefferies, Jordany Valdespin, Kevin Mitchell, and Butch Huskey. Most of them are also known as "utility corner guys," but more than a few got some time up the middle. Utility guys who led with the bat. Clint Hurdle was one too, I guess.

[Centerfield]

Murph too, to some extent. Wasn't he the guy when asked what position he plays, he answered "I bat third."

[seawolf17]

I stared at "Victor Davis" for a good thirty seconds trying to figure out who you were referring to, and then - aha! - I remembered Victor Diaz.

[Edgy MD]

My deteriorating mind tries to challenge people that way.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, we're just ignoring Cespedes, aren't we? I have to assume he'll at least make the attempt to come back and there's no place to put him but LF.

[Edgy MD]

I am ignoring him, but not out of oversight. This is an if/then question. While I don't know what will be the Mets' primary 2020 lineup from day to day, I assume that, like 2019, there will be days that both those guys will be in the lineup, one at third and one in the outfield. Maybe these days will come regularly, maybe not.