Defensive Replacements
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 4:23 pm
On multiple occasions this year, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has sought to strengthen his late-game defense by either (a) putting José Iglesias in for Mark Vientos at third, (b) putting Jeff McNeil in at second and sliding Iglelsias to third; or (c) putting a quality outfielder in the outfield, bringing McNeil in to play second, and sliding Iglesias over to third.
They made a similar move yesterday, only putting Eddy Alvarez at second, after he entered the game as a pinch-runner at third.
I don't yet know Eddy Alvarez from Adam Ottavino, but I have much respect for McNeil's defense, and admire how he has kept his head in the game on defense during some extended slumps on offense, but isn't it a stronger alignment to just put McNeil (or Alvarez)at third and keep Iglesias at second?
I know McNeil hasn't played there in a while, but refamiliarization shouldn't take all that much. (Alvarez has played 10 games there this season and 88 in his career.) Iglesias to my eyes is the best defensive second baseman the Mets have had in a long time, and probably as good a combination of hand skills and foot skills as they've ever had. He's pretty much what we were hoping to see from Roberto Alomar when he came over.
While Alfonzo and Flynn remain the Mets best secondbasemen (to my mind) by virtue of making a science out of the position, the only Mets comps to Iglesias I can think of — as far as combining speed, coordination, and manual dexterity at the position goes — are maybe Felix Millan and Sandy Alomar, Sr. (the latter of whom nonetheless hit his way off the roster).
So why not leave him right where he is late in games?
They made a similar move yesterday, only putting Eddy Alvarez at second, after he entered the game as a pinch-runner at third.
I don't yet know Eddy Alvarez from Adam Ottavino, but I have much respect for McNeil's defense, and admire how he has kept his head in the game on defense during some extended slumps on offense, but isn't it a stronger alignment to just put McNeil (or Alvarez)at third and keep Iglesias at second?
I know McNeil hasn't played there in a while, but refamiliarization shouldn't take all that much. (Alvarez has played 10 games there this season and 88 in his career.) Iglesias to my eyes is the best defensive second baseman the Mets have had in a long time, and probably as good a combination of hand skills and foot skills as they've ever had. He's pretty much what we were hoping to see from Roberto Alomar when he came over.
While Alfonzo and Flynn remain the Mets best secondbasemen (to my mind) by virtue of making a science out of the position, the only Mets comps to Iglesias I can think of — as far as combining speed, coordination, and manual dexterity at the position goes — are maybe Felix Millan and Sandy Alomar, Sr. (the latter of whom nonetheless hit his way off the roster).
So why not leave him right where he is late in games?