NY Mets: Mid-term grades for the 5 starting infielders

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso – B+

The Polar Bear falls just short of getting an A average. I wouldn’t be upset with anyone who thinks he deserves it. Pete Alonso has been one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup. His approach at the plate appears to have changed. It has helped make him a more complete player.

Alonso’s improvement as a defender is great to see. Striking out less and still driving in runs, he’s the one member of the team’s offense I honestly can’t complain about. He gets a B+ because why not leave some room for improvement?

One thing missing from Alonso’s game this year has been a massive number of home runs. He hasn’t been swatting the ball as much as he did previously. Not yet cause for concern, it is something to pay attention to.

To maintain a B+, Alonso needs to continue to hit in the .250-.260 range and lead the team in RBI. Driving in runs is the most important thing he can do. On the 2021 Mets, a team that has been unable to cross the plate very often, his bat is incredibly valuable.

For a better grade, Alonso needs to go on a tear. As productive as he has been, Alonso has yet to carry the team to victory on a consistent basis. Maybe a little more homework can help in this department.

Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil – D

Jeff McNeil’s D grade comes in large part to an excessive number of absences. He was also learning in an advanced class. Like me in 8th grade when I got a D in the “smart kid’s” math class, McNeil’s expectations may need to be lowered. His career has suggested an ability to easily hit over .300. Unfortunately, this year hasn’t been very good at all for the once always reliable second baseman.

What surprises me most about McNeil’s disappointing season is how perfectly set up he was to have another awesome year. He’s no longer bouncing around the field on defense. Second base is his.

We do have two excuses to possibly use for McNeil’s struggles. In the early part of the season, sticky substances might have had something to do with it. Later on, post-injury, perhaps it’s a lack of rhythm or maybe even a non-fully healthy McNeil that has caused him to hit well below what we know he can do.

I haven’t given up on McNeil finishing this year with a B grade. So far though, we haven’t seen much at all.

Offense has been putrid around Major League Baseball this year. McNeil is one guy I thought would be immune to it. His ability to put the bat on the ball hasn’t had the same favorable results as it has in the past. I’m keeping faith in him but not ready to believe he’ll do much more than have an average year.

Mets third baseman J.D. Davis – Incomplete

We have an incomplete grade! J.D. Davis has missed way too much time in order to get a real grade.

When he was healthy, Davis was awesome. He looked like he was about to go on to have a career year for the Mets. Unfortunately, two separate IL stints have limited him to only a handful of games.

Because Davis has barely played this year, I thought it might be worth at least looking into what grades we can award to the guys who filled in for him. Jonathan Villar and Luis Guillorme have seen a lot of action at third base. Their grades are dependent in part because of their expected roles.

I give Villar a strong B for his efforts. He may not have been a brilliant offensive player for the Mets, but when we consider what he did do for the team while filling in for Davis, Villar brought a lot to the table. His speed and decent power helped the team from having a lineup that looked even more like a Triple-A squad than it already had.

For Guillorme, I award him with a B+. He hasn’t done enough to actually earn a starting role over anyone yet he has done exactly what we wanted. His third base defense doesn’t compare to what he does at other positions. A strong OBP guy who can make any play in the field possible, he’s a guy who can easily earn himself an A.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor – D-

There isn’t enough extra credit in the world for Francisco Lindor to end this year with an A+. The expectations were just too high for him. Lindor, the superstar brought in this offseason to win the first MVP Award in Mets history, has been the biggest disappointment of all.

Lindor hasn’t been a complete bust. In recent weeks, he has put together a more favorable batting average. His near-perfect attendance also helps him from getting an F but it doesn’t raise his grade much at all.

One good aspect of Lindor’s game has been his glove. His Gold Glove-caliber defense has lived up to expectations. But if this is what the Mets wanted at shortstop, they could have just started Luis Guillorme there.

A D- grade might be a little harsh for Lindor. I don’t want to come off as a guy who would ever boo him. That’s not in my DNA—neither is athleticism of any kind apparently.

What’s missing most from Lindor’s 2021 season is a hot streak. Correct me if I’m wrong (you love that internet!), but has he even had two great games in a row?

Lindor isn’t just in the advanced class. He goes to a fancy private school. This year’s mid-term grade for Lindor has his parents reconsidering the tuition payment. Fortunately, it’s only the first year. A bad grade in season number one, in particular only midway through the year, shouldn’t take away from what he can accomplish moving forward.

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There’s a lot of red ink to go around for the infielders at the mid-terms. Who raises their grade in the second half?