Port ST. LUCKY – JD Davis came to spring training comfortably knowing that he was considered a third baseman compared to a left fielder. That said, will he be the Mets’ primary third baseman heading into the season?
This is a question that cannot be resolved until the camp’s conclusion, following an offseason in which the Mets passed on receiving a proven item, such as Nolan Arenado, Chris Bryant or Justin Turner.
With Jeff McNeill, Jonathan Villar and Luis Guillorme among the infield options that could shuffle between second and third base, it is not a mistaken conclusion that the situation is Davis’s, whose defense has been questionable during his major league career.
“He has a lot of time to play [at third]Of course, in the regular season, ”manager Luis Rojas said Wednesday after the team workout. He said, ‘He could be the guy who gets the most time to play there. We still want to see the camp going and the competition going. “
Davis, emerging as an offensive force in 2019, came back to the plate last season when he had a slash line of .247 / .371 / .389 with 56 homers and 19 RBIs in 56 matches. Near the season finale, he cited the absence of hitting coach Chili Davis – who had worked away from home in Arizona due to COVID-19 concerns – as a factor of his inconsistency.
Chili Davis is back on site with the Mets, bringing a safety blanket of sorts for JD Davis. The colliding coach said that his disciples had fallen into bad habits, in which he was losing with a fastball. To compensate, JD Davis was quickly rotating his hips and his hands were not involved in the swing.
JD Davis said, “I had the goal to know what I had to work on and I think that’s huge for any player.”
The brevity of the weather did not help.
“He kind of got into a rut and was trying to work his way out, but everything was so narrow for him last year,” Chilli Davis said. “I think he’s got time now, he’s got a long spring training and he’s got 162 ballgomes to deal with the ups and downs.”
Concerns about J.D. Davis’ defense are big, according to Baseball Devent, after a season he was three points below average as a third baseman. Davis started the season mostly from the left field, where he was minus two points above average.
But with plenty of other outfield options, including newly acquired Kevin Pilar and Albert Almora Jr., with Dominic Smith – who figures to see significant action in left field if a universal DH is not implemented – Davis’ chances will mostly come on third base. .
“It’s huge where you go to a spring training, where you know what position you’re going to play or where you’re going to play,” Davis said. He said, “During this plan the plan was to be obtained [more] In a way, side-by-side or side-by-side. Do this forward and backward. “
The Mets have enough questions about Davis’ defense that they considered splashier options before deciding whether it was not worth the cost in prospects or, in the case of free-agent Turner, a financial commitment.
“I think it’s really great [mentioned] Davis said that in a package deal with Nolan Arenado and Matt Chapman and Chris Bryant. “I think it’s really great and it says a lot about where I come from as a player and that’s why I have full confidence in my ability. I’m a major cheat, I’m a big cheat And I know that and I stand behind him.
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