I see a lot of concern about the Mets new acquisitions playing a “new” position and I wonder how many baseball fans have ever actually played the game beyond maybe little league or slow pitch softball. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able play the game for decades now in competitive amateur leagues. No, I’m not a pro, but baseball is baseball and I’ve learned a few things along the way.
In my opinion and experience, most anyone that can play shortstop well is very capable of playing any of the other infield positions. Maybe not an an All-Star level initially, but I don’t think that’s entirely the point. Think of the Arod and Cal Ripken moves to 3B from SS for example.
Polanco (501 games) and Bichette (716 games) have been starting shortstops at the MLB level, so I have very little concern that they can play 1B and 3B respectively. This also gives the Mets tremendous positional flexibility in the infield for when someone needs a blow or inevitably goes down with an injury. Additionally the Mets still have more moves to make in the next few weeks. As we’ve seen, things can happen very quickly now that most of the biggest free agent names have come of the board. Bellinger is next and maybe he ends up with the Mets, who knows. Once he’s signed by either the Yanks or Mets, I believe that the trade market is about to open up and the Mets will make some moves there. We’ll see.
No question Polanco will be an upgrade over Alonso. At 3B Bichette will certainly be a huge upgrade over Vientos and at least replacement level or even with Baty. It appears to me that with the exception of Soto and Vientos the Mets are a more athletic team now than they were last season.
I like Mauricios upside but he has a serious weakness for the low /inside curve/slider and he ALWAYS swings and misses. Spring training will tell me more...
Somehow I feel confident at least one of those three is going to turn out to be a keeper, not sure which one. Was Vientos' 2024 post season a hallucination?
Funny, swear to God that walking the dog 30 minutes ago I was thinking about Baty subbing in at 3rd for defense when they're ahead and wondering if Bichette will be insulted and sulk.
Things we think about while walking our dogs! As for Bichette sulking, probably since he's trying to prove himself as a 3b when opts out after year one.
You say it's arguable as to whether Bichette is a better fit than Tucker would have been. The only point you've got is that Bichette's right handed. That factor is dwarfed by the others: there's a yawning crater in left field and now about a third of the team is learning a brand-new position, which is pretty wild. Imo, not an argument at all. Let's crank the optimist knob to max and suppose Bichette plays a serviceable 3rd and Polanco plays a serviceable first and Baty plays a serviceable left. That doesn't leave a lot of optimism left for other areas: Vientos recovers his stroke, Alvarez doesn't injure his hands again, Soto improves defensively...finally, I'd be flabbergasted if the Mets procure Bellinger given his ask.
I know Stearns and Co are high on Baty (although not high enough to publicly pencil him in at 3B then push him out a month later) but he’s the most obvious trade bait. The Marlins wanted him for Cabrera so we know he has value to other clubs.
Why not package Baty with other prospects for Duran & Bello, or Laureano & Pivetta, or Buxton and Ryan?
There are only so many IF spots to go around, even if Bichette opts out after 1 year the Mets still have Clifford and Jett waiting in the wings behind Baty, Vientos, Mauricio and Acuña. That doesn’t include the pitching depth that will be a logjam soon as well. Send a few of them away in a trade for players with multiple years of control that fill holes and make the overall roster better. I’d stay away from Peralta or Alcantara as they only have 1 year of control remaining.
I see a lot of concern about the Mets new acquisitions playing a “new” position and I wonder how many baseball fans have ever actually played the game beyond maybe little league or slow pitch softball. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able play the game for decades now in competitive amateur leagues. No, I’m not a pro, but baseball is baseball and I’ve learned a few things along the way.
In my opinion and experience, most anyone that can play shortstop well is very capable of playing any of the other infield positions. Maybe not an an All-Star level initially, but I don’t think that’s entirely the point. Think of the Arod and Cal Ripken moves to 3B from SS for example.
Polanco (501 games) and Bichette (716 games) have been starting shortstops at the MLB level, so I have very little concern that they can play 1B and 3B respectively. This also gives the Mets tremendous positional flexibility in the infield for when someone needs a blow or inevitably goes down with an injury. Additionally the Mets still have more moves to make in the next few weeks. As we’ve seen, things can happen very quickly now that most of the biggest free agent names have come of the board. Bellinger is next and maybe he ends up with the Mets, who knows. Once he’s signed by either the Yanks or Mets, I believe that the trade market is about to open up and the Mets will make some moves there. We’ll see.
No question Polanco will be an upgrade over Alonso. At 3B Bichette will certainly be a huge upgrade over Vientos and at least replacement level or even with Baty. It appears to me that with the exception of Soto and Vientos the Mets are a more athletic team now than they were last season.
I'd answer: sure, they can play those positions but will they play them well?
Are Vientos, Acuna and Mauricio afterthoughts? Or trade bait no team wants to bite on? Or depth, even with the next wave almost here?
I like Mauricios upside but he has a serious weakness for the low /inside curve/slider and he ALWAYS swings and misses. Spring training will tell me more...
Yes, he might turn out to be one of those toolsy failures. There've been many before him.
Somehow I feel confident at least one of those three is going to turn out to be a keeper, not sure which one. Was Vientos' 2024 post season a hallucination?
They have to sign or trade for a LF.
If Bichette wants to opt out, put Polanco at third base next year and Clifford at first base.
Lots of defensive replacements on the team. Baty for Bichette and unknown player for 1b.
Funny, swear to God that walking the dog 30 minutes ago I was thinking about Baty subbing in at 3rd for defense when they're ahead and wondering if Bichette will be insulted and sulk.
Things we think about while walking our dogs! As for Bichette sulking, probably since he's trying to prove himself as a 3b when opts out after year one.
You say it's arguable as to whether Bichette is a better fit than Tucker would have been. The only point you've got is that Bichette's right handed. That factor is dwarfed by the others: there's a yawning crater in left field and now about a third of the team is learning a brand-new position, which is pretty wild. Imo, not an argument at all. Let's crank the optimist knob to max and suppose Bichette plays a serviceable 3rd and Polanco plays a serviceable first and Baty plays a serviceable left. That doesn't leave a lot of optimism left for other areas: Vientos recovers his stroke, Alvarez doesn't injure his hands again, Soto improves defensively...finally, I'd be flabbergasted if the Mets procure Bellinger given his ask.
I know Stearns and Co are high on Baty (although not high enough to publicly pencil him in at 3B then push him out a month later) but he’s the most obvious trade bait. The Marlins wanted him for Cabrera so we know he has value to other clubs.
Why not package Baty with other prospects for Duran & Bello, or Laureano & Pivetta, or Buxton and Ryan?
There are only so many IF spots to go around, even if Bichette opts out after 1 year the Mets still have Clifford and Jett waiting in the wings behind Baty, Vientos, Mauricio and Acuña. That doesn’t include the pitching depth that will be a logjam soon as well. Send a few of them away in a trade for players with multiple years of control that fill holes and make the overall roster better. I’d stay away from Peralta or Alcantara as they only have 1 year of control remaining.