1ST THINGS 1ST
Rookie Smith makes it through long season, now looks forward to 2018
Dominic Smith took a breath Tuesday. It has been a whirlwind month-and-a-half for the Mets first baseman. Being called up to the major leagues and playing almost every day since making his debut Aug. 11, Smith has been on top of the world and then hit a wall. He’s exhausted and excited all the time.
Smith admitted he has not had a minute to think about what has happened.
But Tuesday, Smith was one of the Sterling Award winners, named the top overall player in the Mets’ farm system and he used the day as a chance to size up his year.
“It feels like it was quite a little bit ago,” Smith said of being in the minor leagues. “but still it helps me really feel happy and proud of my year. You can forget that when you are up here and focusing on playing every day and maybe not playing as great as you would like, you kind of forget the stuff you were able to accomplish on the way here.
“For me to be able to accept the award, it’s definitely a great feeling and it gives me a chance to think about what I have accomplished.”
And then Smith, who went 0-for-3 with a walk in the Mets’ 4-3 win over the Braves, started thinking about the future, which is a crucial for the Mets, too.
If this disappointing season is going to be just a blip and the Mets plan to return to bidding for a playoff spot, they need Smith to be a solid contributor in 2018. He knows that will take a lot of work this winter.
Smith talked about working on his flaws, rebuilding his body and working with hitting coach Kevin Long in Arizona to keep his swing on track.
“I need to come back in better shape and be more consistent,” Smith said. “This is the first time I’ve played 150 games. The first time I am playing in September. This is the most I’ve played in my life. You definitely hit a wall, you get fatigued, you get tired mentally and physically.
“It’s my first time going through all of it. I didn’t know how to prepare for it,” Smith said. “A couple weeks ago, I was out of gas. I hit a wall, just trying to grind out these last couple days. Definitely going into next year, I know what to expect. I know how to pace myself, I know prepare for a long season.”
The Mets are in a similar situation on the eve of their final game at Citi Field for 2017. Like Smith, they need to take an honest look at this year from the top of the organization through the minor leagues and start correcting their flaws.
One major weakness exists in the minor leagues, where there is just not enough talent.
Double-A righthander Corey Oswalt, who was honored as the Organizational Pitcher of the Year, and Double-A infielder Luis Guillorme, who was honored as one of the top players, are seen as the organization’s next best prospects.
Scouts who have evaluated the Mets’ farm teams said that there “might be” a few more players in the lower levels, Class-A, that have potential, but that the organization is clearly in a rebuilding stage. That is something Terry Collins admitted. “You don’t get to where we got in 2015 by not making deals,” the Mets manager said of the moves to get to the 2015 World Series. “You trade 14 prospects, your system is going to take a hit. When you call up some other prospects, your system is going to take a big hit.”
The Mets, however, were adamant about holding on to shortstop Amed Rosario and Smith during that time. So far, that has proven to be a wise by the Mets’ braintrust.
“I want to be more vocal and I do want to be a leader on this team but I know that I have to put more work, put in more time in,” Smith said. “I just got to improve everything and improve my numbers. “I have a lot of work to do going into next year.” Smith knows that he has accomplished a lot this year, but he needs to do more for 2018. Hopefully the Mets are as committed to making changes and improving this winter as their young first baseman.