Amazin’ prospects need time to grow
SEATTLE — Sometimes expectations are the biggest dangers a young player faces, and that could be the situation for the Mets’ two crown jewels, shortstop Amed Rosario and first baseman Dom Smith. That is especially true when you take into consideration what the other team in New York is doing and the super contributions made by the Yankees’ two rookie stars, Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier. The Mets have not yet called up Rosario and Smith. Instead, it was veteran Neil Walker and young Brandon Nimmo rejoining the team Friday as the Mets began a three-game series against the Mariners. Of course, the Mets could get a jump on 2018 by getting Rosario and Smith up here together soon, so we will see what happens. The Yankees went with Judge at the end of spring training and waited before calling up Frazier in July. They didn’t know it at the time, but the timing for both was perfect. As the schedule makers would have it, the Yankees were just here last weekend. You might remember the skyscraper home run crushed by Judge that nearly went out of Safeco Field.
Certainly, expectations have to be tempered for Rosario and Smith. They are not to be confused with Judge and Frazier. Already it seems, by taking so long to call up the talented youngsters, the Mets have increased the expectation level for when they finally arrive.
The Mets have a history of doing that with their young players, à la Paul Wilson, Fernando Martinez and Alex Escobar through the years. Walker, a veteran who has seen all sorts of rookies come through, just finished a five-game stint with Triple-A Las Vegas and came away impressed with both players.
“The ball comes off Dom’s bat different than most minor leaguers,” Walker told The Post. “To me, he looks like a man hitting. In the field, he has great hands, able to pick the ball really well and moves well enough.”
Sometimes Rosario attempts to move to quickly and that gets him in a bit of trouble.
Rosario must learn not to be overly aggressive at the plate when he gets here because major league pitchers will make him chase, but those are the lessons that probably can be learned only in the majors.
Mets fans are ready to turn the page. This season has been such a huge disappointment that everyone is pretty fed up.
Essentially, general manager Sandy Alderson has said from the beginning that when Rosario comes up, he wants him to stay in the majors. The same goes for Smith.
That alone raises expectations because now there is no room to stumble. Those players will be in the lineup, and they will be expected to contribute.
When they arrive, it will be best to let them play and hope for the best. Don’t try to force the action. Manager Terry Collins made it clear Thursday that when these two players arrive, they will play. The Mets traded Lucas Duda to the Rays on Thursday, and now the floodgates should open for more deals to get rid of some of the dams that have been built at first base and shortstop.
More than anything, the Mets should want to get a glimpse of the future, and this road trip would be a good time. You have to figure the next time the Mets take a long road trip this season — at the end of August they have a nine-game trip and then in September they have another nine-game journey — Rosario and Smith will be in the majors.
Cut back the expectations a bit and just enjoy the show — and the learning process.