For Mets first baseman Dominic Smith this is his chance.
After a disappointing
Major League debut where hit only .198 in 49 games, and was badly out of shape,
the Mets sent Smith a direct message this winter when they signed veteran
slugger Adrian Gonzalez. Show us something.
The Mets could have easily given up on Smith and just went
out and handed free agent Eric Hosmer the deal he covets in free agency, but
because of the slow market, or the Mets unwillingness to overpay for outside
talent, the Mets are not going to give up on the 22-year old just yet.
The Mets battle at first base is going to be the story of
camp.
One side is Smith, the young man who was the thunder for
both Binghamton and Las Vegas the past two years down in the Mets farm system.
Smith slugged 30 home runs, 63 doubles and drove in 167, while batting .315 in
2016 and 2017 respectfully. The power,
combined with the fact that he has 120 or more hits in each of the past four
seasons, gave the Mets the vision that one day Smith could become that good in
Flushing.
On the other side is Gonzalez, a 36-year old journeyman at
this point in his career. The days when Gonzalez was one of baseballs most
feared hitters is long past. Instead his days as a Red Sox and Padre are
distant memories; a dying flame that the Mets are banking can be rekindled to
give them something this season. In short Gonzalez had the career that Smith
hopes to have one day.
While neither player will admit it, this is a competition
after all; both will make the other better. Gonzalez is here for two reasons,
to give the Mets a legitimate power bat in the middle of the order, and push
Smith to fulfill his potential.
Since January, Smith has been down in Florida working out
extensively at the Fischer Institute of Physical Therapy and Performance, where
he reportedly dropped 30 pounds and weighs around 224. Now the key for him will
be winning the job from Gonzalez.
Last year Smith was a middle-in type of hitter, where most
of his hits and his best exit velocity came from. To become a complete hitter,
Smith will need to expand that zone and start going the other way. There is
nothing wrong with singles, doubles and walks. Carlos Delgado, and even
Gonzalez did it for years.
Rest assured Gonzalez will be ready. He too is looking for
redemption since last year’s disappointing effort with the LA Dodgers where he
played in only 71 games and didn’t make the postseason roster. 2017 was the
worst year of Gonzalez’s career, and as a prideful veteran, he is going to want
to prove he can still be the guy that hit 28 home runs and drove in 90 back in
2015.
The question with Gonzalez, though, has Father Time finally
come for him? He has not had a 100 RBI season since 2014, and has not hit close
to 20 home runs since that aforementioned 2015 season. If things don’t work out for Gonzalez, the
Mets could let him go, or they could make him into a lefty- power bat off the
bench, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Verdict: Barring an incredible spring training performance by
Smith where he just blows Mickey Callaway out of his seat, chances are the Mets
will send Smith back to the Minor’s to start the year and will go with Gonzalez
at first. Expect Smith to be back in the Major’s certainly by June.
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