Dom will face battle for at-bats
Yoenis Cespedes’ longawaited return does have a downside. It may take away at-bats from Dominic Smith.
With the advent of the designated hitter in the National League, along with Cespedes’ return and J.D. Davis’ emergence as the likely starting left fielder, Smith’s role is uncertain. He can’t even count on set spots as a pinch hitter — his bread and butter — with pitchers no longer hitting.
“That’s why you [use] the word challenge for him to find that playing time,” manager Luis Rojas said.
Rojas plans to utilize him in different spots — as a backup to Pete Alonso at first base, in left field on occasion and at DH. The Mets would be wise to not let him languish.
After struggling to find his niche in limited action his first two seasons with the Mets, the 25-year-old Smith busted out last year — notching an .881 OPS and slashing .282/.355/.525 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs in 177 at-bats. He excelled as a pinch hitter, with a 1.031 OPS, and if not for a stress fracture in his left foot that cost him almost all of August and September, he likely would have produced even more.
He has reminded the Mets of that in spring training 2.0, producing at the plate. In Tuesday’s intrasquad game, he homered to dead center field, and earlier in camp he took Marcus Stroman deep. Power, one critique in his game in years past, seems to be coming along nicely.
“He’s had a tremendous camp at the plate,” Rojas said. “His bat right now is hot. We like it, we want to maintain it, so we’ll think ahead which days we definitely get him in there.”
Despite the uncertainty, Smith isn’t concerned about his role. He’s going to prepare just as he did last year, focusing on himself and not worrying about the lineup card.
“All I know is the only thing I can do is have fun, bring energy and prepare for whatever situation I’m in,” he said. “That’s what I’m going to do. If I’m starting that day, I’m going to be ready. If I’m coming off the bench in a tough situation, I’ll be ready. … A lot of times that’s why guys don’t have success at this level. They’re too worried about stuff they can’t control.”
Smith is more fixated on the new challenges the abbreviated season will present for him, such as getting ready to pinch hit or enter the game amid the COVID-19 social distancing protocols. For one, Smith might be sitting in the stands behind the dugout. Players can’t just enter the clubhouse freely like before. Only a specific amount of players are allowed in certain areas at the same time. He did get a feel for how much time he needs when he pinch hit against the Yankees on Saturday.
“My regular routine of what I do to get prepared is obviously going to be a little different,” Smith said. “That’s something I’m going to have to adjust to and figure out.”