It took one NY Mets spring training game for a Bo Bichette at 3B overreaction

One New York Mets spring training game down, who cares how many left to go? Preseason baseball breathes fresh air into our lungs until we see the Sunday-Monday snow forecast in the Northeast.

Before we get to shoveling, Bo Bichette had a chance to make his first throw across the diamond as a third baseman for the Mets in the 4th inning on Saturday. Minor mayhem ensued.

Talkin’ Baseball’s spin certainly makes it seem as if Bichette went Scott Norwood and missed wide right (or left in this instance). Upon immediate further review, this was a fine yet imperfect throw to first baseman Jose Rojas, a mostly positionless player who won’t sniff an inning at first base for the Mets in the majors outside of an emergency or season-ending situation.

Worst of all, Bo Bichette wasn’t the player given the error on this one

Rojas was appropriately charged with the error for failing to catch what would have been an out at first base. Bichette’s throw wasn’t a bullseye hit yet good enough for the average first baseman to grab.

Rojas, listed at 5’10, didn’t have the wingspan or legs to pull this one in. Just be grateful this one wasn’t a failed scoop. Otherwise we’d have a brand new reason why some fans would be screaming about Pete Alonso.

Every defensive miscue Bichette makes will be examined under a microscope. Already known as a bad defensive shortstop, the switch to third base didn’t sit easy with some who believed Brett Baty should have just stayed there. Because the Mets missed on Kyle Tucker, the next best thing was to shift everything around. Some fans believe it was for Feng Shui. Otherwise can make the connection to the adage about rearranging the deck chairs on The Titanic.

Spring training games are the time to make flubs like this. In this instance, Bichette is only responsible for a minor part of the problem. No one should feel elated by it. Nobody should fear the worst with him.

Throws are indeed the bigger concern with Bichette moving positions. It was already where the majority of his errors have come from, 44 from throws versus 39 on fielding. The new angle and at times longer distance can prove to be a challenge for him. This example isn’t the one to jump to any conclusions.