Wednesday catch-all thread (7/1/26)
Please use this thread all week to discuss any Mets-specific topic you wish.
In Tuesday’s game, Gary Cohen said that A.J. Ewing has been taking balls at second base ever since he got to the majors. Ewing has made some highlight-reel catches in center field, where his speed serves him well. He’s also made multiple errors judging whether to come in or go back on balls. Sometimes his speed makes up for those bad reads and sometimes balls drop in front of him that, in my opinion, he should have caught.
In 377.2 innings in CF, Ewing has a +1 in both FRV and DRS, which if he kept that up over a full season would make him slightly above-average defensively.
Meanwhile, we don’t have great numbers for defense in the minor leagues. What we do have is fielding percentage and in 53 lifetime games and 437.1 innings at 2B in the minors, Ewing has a .941 fielding percentage. There are 18 players to qualify for the leaderboards this year who play 2B and the worst fielding percentage is a .971 mark.
Ewing would likely be among the worst fielders in the majors at second base. Would the new manager, one who’s likely a temporary man in the position, thumb his nose at “run prevention” and play the guy who has - by far - the greatest offensive upside of anyone on the roster to play 2B?
I sure hope he does.
The other half of the equation is who replaces Ewing in center field. And that answer isn’t going to make many of you happy. It’s Luis Robert Jr., who’s currently rehabbing in Syracuse. He beat out an infield hit yesterday, a nice sign for a guy who is on the IL with a back issue. Barring any setbacks, Robert’s return could be on the very-near horizon.
The average 2B has a .710 OPS this season. Here’s how the 2B for the Mets have performed here in 2026:
Marcus Semien - 318 PA, .613 OPS
Brett Baty - 20 PA, .500 OPS
Ronny Mauricio - 4 PA, .000 OPS
Bo Bichette - 1 PA, .000 OPS
Combined, the group has a .598 mark, the second-worst in the majors.
Ewing has a .772 OPS. In his last 26 games and 99 PA, he has an .894 OPS, with 11 BB and 10 XBH. If he’s able to successfully separate his offense from his defense at 2B, Ewing would be a massive upgrade offensively. And it’s not like the Mets have received stellar defensive play at the position.
The Mets are tied for last with a (-4) FRV and tied with two other teams for 24th with a (-5) DRS with the defensive performance from their second basemen this year.
It made me happy to hear that Ewing has been working out at 2B. It will make me even happier if the Mets use him there once Robert returns. You’ve got to try different things when you’re 14 games below .500 - even with the understanding that not everything you try will work.
From Tim Britton:
"Dedniel Núñez, who is nearly 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery, has started a rehab assignment in Double A. While the usual rehab clock is 30 days, pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery get up to 60 days, so Núñez probably won’t be activated from the injured list until August if all goes well."
What a great surprise Ewing has been. .268 BA and an OPS of .753 not to mention four dingers from a guy who is not really a HR hitter. I’d rather let him DH on a day they want to put Robert in the field, if that ever really happens. Can’t see taking Ewing’s bat out. Second base seems shortsighted and not really run prevention. Where is the outfield coach to work with Ewing to iron out his positioning and approach? As far as Ronnie Mauricio, what exactly are we waiting for? He hits at AAA and simply does not hit at the major league level. I’m not sure that he has a strong defensive position so what we have is another prospect not quite ready for prime time. Love the Jed Lowrie mention. Played nine games on a two year $20 million contract. His agent was a genius. Not a great showing today on Canada Day but it would have seemed rude to win on their national holiday.