Off the ‘D’eep end
Mets’ fielding flaws, led by Flores’, must be fixed
ATLANTA — Four games into the season, the Mets already are at a defensive crossroads. Shortstop Wilmer Flores has made three errors the last two games. The Mets have tried to turn him into a major league shortstop, and Flores has worked hard at the task, but he needs to come out of his funk. Manager Terry Collins said as much on Saturday, before the Mets played the shockingly undefeated Braves at Turner Field.
The Mets’ upthemiddle infield defense has been shaky at best. This is a critical time for the team, with the home opener at Citi Field on Monday night against the Phillies.
The Mets entered Saturday night’s game already having made four errors the first four games of the season. Only the Phillies (five) had made more errors in the National League.
Four teams — the Braves, Reds, Marlins and Rockies — had not made any errors so far this season.
General manager Sandy Alderson is gambling Flores can handle the shortstop position, but the Mets could use a defensive upgrade at the position. Troy Tulowitzki isn’t about to show up at the Mets’ doorstep just yet.
Flores also looks so bad right now, especially with his counterpart on the Braves, Andrelton Simmons, being so spectacular.
The Mets made a host of physical and mental errors in their 53 loss Friday.
Collins said after the game Flores must play better. He would not put a timetable on Flores, noting on Saturday: “I don’t know if there is a time frame. He’s going to play. I’m going to play Ruben [Tejada] Sunday. I don’t think there is any set date. I talked to [Flores] some more and told him to just relax, ‘Go play the game like you did in Florida.’
“‘The one thing I want you to understand is that you are going to have good nights and bad, so get over it and get ready to play the next day.’ ’’
The Mets are trying to take the frugal way out at shortstop and believe Flores’ offense will offset his defensive liabilities.
Flores has started slow, like many Mets, batting .143 before Saturday, but the Nationals pitching staff was strong the first three games.
Collins said he is not concerned about Flores’ slow offensive start.
Beyond Collins’ comments, the Mets also wrote on the team hitting groups card, which sit alongside the lineup card, a positive message for teammates to stay together and help each other out. The support system is there. “We’ve only played four games,’’ Collins said. “If we had played 30 there might be a little bit of a concern. He had a bad night.’’
Collins then pointed to Ian Des mond’s slow start at shortstop with the Nationals, saying, “Don’t get caught up in it.’’
The problem for the Mets is between Daniel Murphy and Flores, the Mets aren’t carrying any Gold Gloves. In this age of lower offensive production, every run is so vital.
“We’ve seen it in the first four games,’’ Collins said. “We’ve lost one and won two with defensive mistakes. As we talk about all the time — 27 outs. If you limit the other team to 27 outs, you give yourself the chance to win. You start throwing up 2930 outs a game in the big leagues, you’re going to have a tough time.’’
Collins also pointed to the impact of “big horses’’ coming out of the bullpen stopping offenses as well so defense is even more vital.
“You just have to play the game right and limit the number of outs you give up. It was one of those nights,’’ Collins said.
David Wright also made a critical mistake in the eighth, going for a tag play at third instead of throwing across the diamond for the out on Simmons’ jamshot grounder to third.
Collins had much praise for Simmons, who made an incredible play to throw out Travis d’Arnaud. He doesn’t expect that kind of play from Flores, but he does expect the routine plays to be made.
The Mets have too many flaws to overcome defensive mistakes.