The Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns, doesn’t view himself as the team’s weak link, especially given that they started the season with the highest record in MLB. Yet, he acknowledges there’s room for growth, particularly in defense.
“I think we can improve our defense,” Stearns remarked as the Mets were gearing up to finish a three-game series against the Pirates at Citi Field. “The talent we have is capable of playing better defensively.”
While he didn’t single out anyone specifically, it’s clear that Francisco Lindor’s performance hasn’t met expectations. Statcast stats indicate that he, a regular Gold Glove contender at shortstop, entered the day with zero outs above average and has already committed six errors this season, compared to twelve in the last.
Juan Soto, last season’s finalist for the American League Gold Gloves, currently finds himself with minus four outs above average. “We have some players who are capable defenders,” Stearns noted. “Some errors have occurred this year, which can happen, especially in the early part of the season. I genuinely hope we’ll see better defensive play as the season goes on.”
Stearns mentioned he evaluates performance using visual assessments, internal metrics, and discussions with coaches. He pointed out that Brandon Nimmo’s contributions in left field have been a strong defensive asset.
One aspect where the Mets shine is in managing opposing teams’ running games. Their catchers have successfully thrown out 14 of 33 would-be base stealers, which is the best rate in the league, significantly above the average of 22%.
Francisco Alvarez, Louis Torrens, and Hayden Senger are pivotal behind the plate, aided by pitchers who deliver efficiently. “Controlling the running game has been a highlight of our defense this year,” Stearns said. “This reflects not just on our catchers, but on our pitchers’ performance as well.”
Stearns noted that managing the running game was a weakness last season, which prompted changes that have since become a priority for the coaching staff, leading to improved performance.
When asked if any particular aspect of the team—be it offense, pitching, or the bullpen—had exceeded his expectations, he replied, “Not really. Overall, I feel we have a well-rounded team. While we’ve played decently, I wouldn’t say we’ve reached a perfect level by any means.”
“Nothing has particularly surprised me regarding performance. Our players are committed and work hard, and they’ve managed to secure several wins.”
