Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |
The Mets' weekend sweep at the hands of the Braves was not the fault of any one player. It was a series filled with missed opportunities, very poor situational execution and awareness, and some questionable moves coming from the dugout.
But the Mets emerged from their weekend nightmare in basically the same spot they were in playoff-wise before Friday night's game started. That is a huge break for a team that opens an enormous three-game series against the Cubs on Tuesday night at Citi Field.
And with luck still on the Mets' side, they need to do everything they can to put themselves in the best position to win. That's where Todd Frazier comes in.
Frazier went 1-for-11 during the three-game sweep by the Braves and is now hitting .165/.202/.282 in 23 games (89 plate appearances) in August. His OPS for the season is down to .704.
While the results haven't been there for Frazier offensively, his approach has also been questionable. One example is the at-bat Frazier had against Dallas Keuchel in the second inning on Sunday.
With runners on first and second and none out and Keuchel struggling to throw strikes, Frazier waved through a first-pitch slider before reaching for a ball on the outside corner and hitting into a double play on the next pitch. That at-bat short-circuited a great scoring chance in a game the Mets eventually lost, 2-1.
And along with Frazier's offensive struggles this month have been defensive issues.
Frazier's error on Friday night opened the door for the Braves to tie the game after the Mets stormed back from a 4-0 deficit to take the lead. And it was the continuation of a recent trend.
From Opening Day to July 20, Frazier had just six errors. He has added another five to that total in the last month-plus -- including two in the last week.
When you pair Frazier's recent offensive nosedive with his inability to provide steady defense at third base, you get a situation that seems ripe for change.
With the Mets recently getting Jeff McNeil back and with Brandon Nimmo's activation likely on the horizon, they would likely be better off if Frazier became a bench player -- at least for the time being.
In a scenario where Frazier is on the bench, here's how the Mets' starting-8 could shake out now and after Nimmo's return...
Before Nimmo returns
The Mets featured a lineup on Friday night that had Joe Panik at second base, Luis Guillorme at third base, and Frazier on the bench.
The above alignment -- with Jeff McNeil at third base instead of Frazier -- could work between now and the time Nimmo comes back.
While Panik hasn't had a very good season, he has been strong since joining the Mets. He also rarely strikes out and gives New York another left-handed bat to help balance out the lineup while Nimmo remains out.
Here's how the lineup could shake out:
Amed Rosario, SS
Jeff McNeil, 3B
Pete Alonso, 1B
Michael Conforto, RF
Wilson Ramos, C
J.D. Davis, LF
Joe Panik, 2B
Juan Lagares, CF
Pitcher
After Nimmo returns
Nimmo had a big game Sunday while rehabbing for Triple-A Syracuse as he continued to work his way back.
While Nimmo might not be ready for activation as soon as Tuesday night, it's fair to believe he will be activated by this weekend if things keep progressing.
If/when Nimmo returns, the Mets' best bet is to have him play center field against right-handed pitchers, while using Juan Lagares against left-handers. It would also make sense to drop Panik to the No. 8 spot.
Here's how that lineup could look:
Amed Rosario, SS
Jeff McNeil, 3B
Pete Alonso, 1B
Michael Conforto, RF
Wilson Ramos, C
J.D. Davis, LF
Brandon Nimmo/Juan Lagares, CF
Joe Panik, 2B
Pitcher
If Frazier is on the bench, it would also give the Mets a power bat to use in the late-innings. They simply don't have that right now, with Rajai Davis, Luis Guillorme, Rene Rivera (his power outburst in the minors notwithstanding), and Panik.
If the Mets move Frazier to the bench and he starts to hit well in a reduced role, they'll have a great problem on their hands. But for right now, their best bet is to roll with a starting infield that doesn't include him.