After just one game, these spring training overreactions might actually happen.
Big, fat, deal. 2024 saw the New York Mets drop their opening game. Fortunately, by tomorrow, we won’t even be able to recall the score. In case you have a photographic recall and would like to monitor the run difference, it was 10-5.
Even though the game’s outcome didn’t matter, it was wonderful to see baseball return. And guess what? The Mets get to repeat the entire process on Sunday and numerous other times leading up to the start of the season.
Is it worthwhile to overreact to the opening spring training game? These are the three points, then. And the more we consider them, the more likely it seems that they will.
1) One of the Mets’ greatest relievers is Nate Lavender
Nate Lavender’s name is more than just memorable. He’s one of the relievers the Mets will probably start the season in Syracuse. Being a lefty, he will be taken into account if Brooks Raley or Jake Diekman were to go out of the lineup for an extended period of time. He had an outstanding spring training debut, striking out three St. Louis Cardinals batters.
It’s not a big deal that he struck out three of his peers who were competing for a major league roster spot because none of the hitters he faced were well-established major leaguers. Furthermore, Lavender has consistently demonstrated his professionalism.
After making his minor league debut in 2021, this left-handed pitcher has since improved to a 10-6 record with a 2.32 ERA and a 13.7 strikeouts per 9 innings through 108.2 innings pitched. It appears like he will make an impact sooner rather than later. His control was clearly the one problem when he concluded his 44-frame season with Syracuse in the previous season. With walks being issued at a rate of 4.7 per 9, Lavender clearly has to improve.
This spring, keep a watchful eye on Lavender. The Mets will need to make a number of roster cutbacks. He’s a strong contender to be included on the 40-man roster. He made a great first impression by striking out the side, so we’re excited to see if he can really develop into one of their finest relievers.
2) The Mets ought to DFA Reed Garrett and Josh Walker.
Not every Mets pitcher had an easy time with things. Reed Garrett and Josh Walker, who are presently on the 40-man roster, had a rough day.
After Hunter Parsons had already allowed things to get out of control, Walker entered in the fourth. Walker’s inning was disorganized. Four unearned runs were scored in one inning due to walks, balks, errors, and a shaky defense.
Garrett did not fare any better. He became a little crazy too. Two runs that were not earned would be scored against him. The game seemed a lot like spring training by this time. For most fans, it was just background noise now.
Here, getting rid of the duo is an overreaction. What makes Walker and Garrett even members of this team? Last year, neither was all that impressive.
Since these two relievers have minor league options, the Mets have probably chosen to keep them on in the winter. This may occasionally help protect a pitch from a DFA. But if they keep having such awful springs, players who do get out, like Lavender, ought to be considered for those roster places.
A poor February debut won’t cause someone to lose their job. However, given his lackluster resume and the small number of available innings in games, this overreaction could come to pass.
3) With Hayden Senger, who needs Tomas Nido?
Tomas Nido was among the defensive rust on Saturday, raising the issue of why he remains in this position. Nido is expected to manage himself behind the plate, at the very least. Extra credit for everything the Mets manage to get out of him offensively.
It is to be expected in the spring that Nido did not capture the entire game. Hayden Senger, who was substituted after two at-bats, may have overreacted, leading some to believe that the depth chart needs to be adjusted.
Senger’s first home run of the spring helped the Mets win someone’s foolish sports wager. His second hit of the contest was a dinger in the eighth inning. The Mets spring training bingo cards didn’t even mention this. Senger barely hit .188 at Double-A during his most recent season.
Senger is essentially Nido’s younger brother. After the 2024 season, there’s a potential he ends up becoming their primary defensive catcher. By then, the Mets will have the option to take Nido to arbitration. Although Senger’s falling bat should have them wondering if he might really have a bit more upside at this point in his career, keeping him around isn’t too ridiculous.
Senger will benefit in the near future because he is familiar with all of these pitchers moving up through the farm system, having spent time in Double-A since 2021. As a third catcher on the depth chart, he has not yet demonstrated that he deserves to go ahead of Nido. This spring training overreaction should be mitigated if the offense shows any life this year.