The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are one a terrific run, and they are getting contributions from everyone on the roster. The team is on the verge of clinching a spot in the Eastern League postseason. This includes another great run for third baseman David Thompson.
Over the Month of August, Thompson is hitting .305/.360/.585 with three doubles, a triple, six homers, and 14 RBI in 23 games.
Currently, Thompson is on a four game hitting streak, recorded a hit in 19 of the 23 games, and has reached base in 21 of the 23 games. With this streak, Thompson has set a new career-high in homers with 15.
This is the second big month Thompson has had this season. In June, Thompson hit .307/.386/.545 with nine doubles, four homers, and 14 RBI. Overall, Thompson is hitting .260/.324/.426 with 26 doubles, one triple, 15 homers, and 68 RBI.
Thompson was the Mets 2015 fourth round draft pick out of the University of Miami. He was ranked by MMN as the 29th best prospect in the Mets farm system.
But can he play 3rd base effectively?
He recently changed his hand placement before his swing, now resting his bat on his shoulder and giving him a much cleaner follow-thru
Mets Daddy –
28 Doubles, Not 26.
August – 318/.376/.612/.988
– Not .305/.360/.585
5 Doubles, Not 3.
Overall: .262/.327/.432/.759 – not.260/.324/.426
That change has propelled him.
He’s improved.
The Mets would be moving him off there if they thought he couldn’t develop enough to play it solidly in the majors. At his worst, I do not believe he’ll be bigger liability than Wilmer or TJ.
TJ’s hands and arm are suspect – mistake prone glove, not enough arm.
Thompson’s proven good hands – will field what he gets to – only 12 errors in 120 games – and releases the ball much quicker than the slow-release Flores.
If his overall defense is better than either, he’ll have legit chance to start for the Mets as power hitting run producer should he prove worthy with the bat in the majors. His surge may have the Mets rethinking their third base plans. Maybe not for next season, but certainly thereafter if Thompson continues his ascent.
Great info! 12 errors in 120 games is very encouraging! If Dom Smith pans out Thompson’ll have to field his position at least above avg. The same holds true for Peter Alonso. I think the Mets need to start playing him in LF ASAP!
I could live with Wilmer at 3B + TJ at 2B as long as they both commit to a rigid offseason program to fix their throwing. Wilmer needs to change his mechanics and TJ need to strengthen his arm period!
First, let’s see Thompson continue his ascent. Most players level off and take a few years to move from AA to starting in the majors.
And the Mets have nothing to re-think because A) they don’t have any third base plans. No one has established himself as a viable and definitive long-term 3B. B) I believe Thompson already is in their long term plans – 3 of the 4 principals involved will reach free agency in the next 1 to 3 years. That leaves plenty of time and opportunity for Thompson to make that position his own if his play warrants it.
That’s only if Mets don’t go outside the organization, hence there’s some urgency this offseason to know which way they’re headed. MikeMoustakas* free agent after this season, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson next.
There’s also power hitting Peter Alonso who may need to move to third currently blocked by Smith. Alonso’s on fast track, drafted just last season and just recently promoted to AA. His biggest weakness is defense which must be stabilized before reaching the majors. There might be some urgency to consider Alonso call up at some point next season if Conforto is out most or all of 2018.
Also in the mix is third baseman Jhoan Urena recently promoted from St. Lucie to Las Vegas more out of need than AAA ready. He too needs to improve defensively.
Chances are the Mets will pass on Moustakas for a number of reasons including low on base, may not age particularly well, and to buy another year of time.
David Wright may also factor for either corner part time should he return.
And neither Wilmer Flores or TJ Rivera (if healthy) are everyday players at third – too weak defensively.
Thanks.
You make good points across the board.
I agree Alonso will likely need to move to another position. I don’t know about left field – that’s Cespedes’s spot through 2020, and Alonso is rather slow of foot.
Totally agree Wilmer needs to change his throwing mechanics and TJ needs to strengthen that arm better than it was even before UCL tear.
What we don’t yet know for next season – will Mets pick up Cabrera’s option and what can we expect from David Wright, if anything.
I’m assuming Reyes returns on short term extension and will be utilized for infield and outfield utility, a role he’s about to fill as soon as he returns which I read could be today.
Wilmer really should only play 2B or 1B as he simply does not have the arm or the range to play 3B. TJ has a better arm but not by much. I’d rather see Urena or Thompson or even Evans or McNeil at 3B. The Mets should have started to refocus Taijeron on 3B and 1B. There is also Matt Oberste who always hits above 280 in the minors and can play and adequate 1B, and is working on adding more 3B skills too. The outfield in 2018 will more than likely belong to Cruzado, Lagares, Nimmo, possibly Taijeron and Taylor?
I would not mind trying to trade and sign machado like we did with johan. I know this rotation is thin but that goes for position players too. Injuries were crazy this year. The only starters i see as long term right now are Degrom and Thor. After that the Mets have enough depth that I would trade a wheeler or gselman and others for machado. Montero flexen have shown enough to handle the back end. Harvey is gone one way or another I think Matz gets a pass if ucl nerve was the issue. Could have been the reason for shoulder problems past two years. Altering mechanics. I also think there are even more arms like Dunn Kay and oswalt on the way. But it is finally time to part with some pitching and make a move for machado. Baltimore ain’t resigning him. That would be a great infeild machado rosario and smith. 2nd could be any in house option after that wilmer cecchini rivera. Plus we need a long term middle of the option. Smith should eventually get there but Cespedes is breaking down and conforto’s could be career threaning. Shoulder injuries are death for hitters. Took years for Kemp and Zimmerman to recover. Gotta make a move.
Can’t say Oberste is ‘working on adding 3B skills’ when he has not played a single game there this year. It is surprising given all of the injuries and instability at the position. But it makes it quite apparent that the Mets a) see Thompson as a much more relevant option, b) don’t see Oberste at that position at all, or c) simply don’t see him as a major leaguer.
Evans is eligible for minor league free agency this year if he’s not added to the 40-man roster. Seems like his tenure with the Mets is just about done. Same for Cruzado, Taijeron, and Snider. Long-shot possibility is that the Mets put all the walking wounded on the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man for all of these potential MiLFA’s just to give them a real look at the big league level before letting them walk.
Yes. We know what the other potential options are and where they stand in the process. But there’s no basis for moving Alonso to another position when he doesn’t move quickly enough to play 1st base well. So that idea is basically a non-starter.
Moustakas is also not a realistic option for this team. Sandy won’t give him the years and dollars that his big season will command on the open market. . And he’d probably rather go somewhere where he doesn’t have the specter of a possible Wright return lurking in the background. Everything else you’ve said simply supports my statement that the Mets don’t actually have a long-term plan for 3B, and that Thompson is probably the closest thing to one that exists right now. That said, he’s not a realistic option for 2018. I’d expect them to try and cobble together something from the myriad of flawed-but-still-useful candidates they have.
I’m not saying he’s a perfect fit I’m saying LF might be the only option. I’ve heard his glove at 1B isn’t anything to write home about and we can only assume it’s worse at 3B (he played a little in HS). I was projecting him to be ready for the majors during Cespedes last yr but 2 things…
1) I didn’t know he was signed through 2020
2) I had a feeling Alonso would get called up to AA this year but had no idea he’d be so hot out the gate! If he keeps this up the Mets might have to seriously consider starting him in Vegas next year. If that’s the case he’ll have to learn how to play the OF.
The David Wright issue is still a big question mark and handcuffs the team going forward at 3B. The only good thing about TJ’s injury is it will force him to work on his throwing muscles. We can only hope it improves his arm strength. I think Reyes’s tenure with the team will end after this year.