Reese Kaplan -- Some Under-the-Radar Good Stuff From Florida

As the preseason draws to a close it's time to examine some of the encouraging signs that were somewhat unexpected during the accelerated timetable to get ready for when the games start counting in the standings.  Opening Day for the NY Mets is April 7th and when Max Scherzer, Tylor Megill or some combination of relievers take the mound against the Washington Nationals, the Mets fans will get to see whether or not the strange 2021/2022 off-season really amounted to anything.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to many fans was the performance of some of the pitchers.  We've spoken before about how Tylor Megill seemed to have kicked it up a notch.  With injuries already befalling the team, it's critical for the team's success that the fill-in players are capable of contributing on a professional level so that the drop-off from the envisioned regulars is not quite as significant.  

While Francisco Lindor's hot spring was a nice thing to watch, he was similarly impressive last spring before the 2021 season, injuries and pressure resulted in less-than-stellar results.  What was perhaps not as expected was substitute Luis Guillorme who everyone knows for his glove but lately has responded with his plate appearances as well.  He started off a .209 hitter as a rookie and upped his level to .265 overall.  This spring he was pushing close to .300.  Whether he's a good learner or a late bloomer, the fact is that you no longer have to feel a sense of panic when he comes into the game when runs are needed.

Perhaps the most surprising one of all, however, is little used backup catcher Tomas Nido.  He's a guy like Guillorme who was more known for his defensive acumen than his hitting ability.  During his parts of five years in the majors he still hasn't accumulated 500 ABs, but has hit 10 HRs and driven in 45.  The glaring weakness has been his batting average which sits at an anemic .209.  

This spring, however, he's actually looked in control of his ABs.  He is closing out a preseason hitting .417 with a home run and 4 RBIs which matches the output of a guy you've heard of named Pete Alonso.  With James McCann's weak 2021 campaign it may be that Nido gets more time behind the dish than was originally planned.

Then, of course, comes the man without a job, Dominic Smith.  Leading the club with a .440 batting average, he's once again front and center for the team in terms of a trade offering now that Jacob deGrom is out for perhaps half the season.  With three years of inexpensive control to accompany his offensive and defensive skills, it's pretty certain that many clubs in need of help at first base would find the lure appealing.  With an OBP of .533 and a slugging percentage of .880, he's clearly an easy sell if indeed the club wants to move in that direction.  

Of course, with Brandon Nimmo already expressing neck pain, it may be that the team wants to keep Smith around to play LF with Starling Marte shifting to CF.  However, the pitching question still looms.  Swapping out Miguel Castro for Joely Rodriguez didn't exactly make people break out champagne.  

Finally, although his spring season started off rather poorly, let's hear some overdue applause for pitcher Carlos Carrasco.  In Monday's 4.1 innings pitched he did give up 2 runs on 4 hits, but he also fanned 5.  It was a flash of what he once was with Cleveland and hopefully demonstrates that he's going to work his way back to an acceptable middle-of-the-rotation arm that he was hoped to be when acquired before the 2021 season was ruined by injuries.