Asked this week about coaching success stories, David Stearns didn't mention Luis Severino's second career or the work done to coax a breakout season out of Mark Vientos.
The first thought that came to Stearns' mind was Antoan Richardson unleashing Brandon Nimmo on the basepaths.
Nimmo has stolen 12 bases this season, matching his total from the previous four seasons combined.
The outfielder has always had speed, but was cautious on the bases due to several injuries early in his career and limited success in his stolen base attempts (he was thwarted six of his 15 attempts in 2018).
When the Mets hired Richardson as first base coach and nominal baserunning coach in November, he called Nimmo to introduce himself and ask how he could help.
“We've talked about wanting to be smart, and he's talked about wanting to be prepared,” Richardson, who is in his first season with the Mets after four seasons with the Giants, said this week, “so I've tried to give him as much information as I can, because I know that's what he gravitates towards.”
Nimmo wants information about opposing pitchers — what counts they're likely to throw with run-scoring curveballs, how fast they're throwing the ball, signs from the pitcher that he might be “doing something weird” on the mound, Richardson says — that might give him the best time to steal bases.
“i think so [information]”He's started pitching with confidence,” Richardson said. “I don't know if that's the secret to his success, but we try to have a plan every day of how we're going to attack every pitcher.”
This season, Nimmo praised Richardson's preparation and knowledge and encouraged him to run more, while Richardson praised Nimmo for being “hardworking” and asking about small details.
Also, his improved leg has helped, and Nimmo has been playing more in left field recently, after primarily playing center field in recent years.
Nimmo may be the best example of success, but the Mets are not a particularly fast team, and they entered Thursday's MLB game ranked seventh in the major league in stolen base success rate (83 percent).
“I think it's important to run a high pace and I wish I could have run a faster pace,” Richardson said. “I'm happy to have a result that I would call a success.”
“I think what's more exciting to me is the guys are excited about the opportunity to run when they get over there. I feel like they're ready to go and they trust the system we have in place to be successful.”
J.D. Martinez is back after missing three games while on the paternity list, and D.J. Stewart was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to free up roster space.
The Mets also acquired outfielder Jose Azocal, who had been designated a draft pick by the Padres, and optioned the 28-year-old to Syracuse.
To make room for the 40-man roster, Sean Reid-Foley was placed on the 60-day injured list.
