Explaining Just How Terrible J.D. Davis Is At Third Base

MLB reporter Anthony DiComo and SNY reporter Steve Gelbs voiced at how perplexed they were about the push to have anyone but J.D. Davis at third base. Because of that, we need to illustrate exactly why Davis “must be replaced immediately at any cost.”

Wilmer Flores while a Mets folk hero was a terrible defensive player with the Mets, and he was grossly miscast as a shortstop. In 1313.2 career innings at short, he has a -10 DRS. Flores was also terrible at third with a -16 DRS in 1116.2 career innings at the position.

There has been a debate amongst Mets fans about just how good or bad of a player Lucas Duda was. However, Mets fans were unanimous Duda was a terrible outfielder. In 893.2 innings in left, Duda had a -15 DRS.

Mike Piazza was one of the greatest players to ever don a Mets uniform. In fact, he was only the second player to wear a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque. As great as he was with the Mets, he was that horrible at first with a -10 DRS in 517.2 innings there.

Travis d’Arnaud, the catcher Mets fans seemed to be all over in terms of his defense due to his inability to throw out base runners, had a -13 DRS in 3162.9 innings behind the plate for the Mets.

This is a sampling of some of the worst and most criticized defensive players in Mets history. This is also a sampling of Mets players who were well out of position, and they struggled as a result. All of them were better than Davis is at third.

In 770.0 innings at third, Davis is a -19 DRS.

Keep in mind, that’s purportedly his natural position. Despite it being his natural position, he is worse at third than Flores was at third or short. Davis is worse at third than Piazza was at first or d’Arnaud was behind the plate. He is worse at third than Duda was in left field. That is exactly why there is this sudden push to say the Mets cannot enter the 2021 season with Davis at third.

The Mets have done a lot of good this offseason, but their job is not done. You can’t make all of these moves and knowingly put a player at third who makes Flores look like a good defender out there. It just can’t happen.

 

6 Replies to “Explaining Just How Terrible J.D. Davis Is At Third Base”

  1. Rich says:

    He’s not going anywhere, as long as he hits. They like him, he’s cheap and he’s still developing. You want to sign Conforto and Lindor long term? Then you cant spend another $18 million at 3b.

    They have listened to the defense argument and done a great job fixing the D up the middle. Thats the key. Put Davis at 3rd leave him there and he will get better. He is a big part of the team and keeping the payroll flexible. Lastly, if you do trade him get what we really need, pitching.

    1. metsdaddy says:

      Honestly, I think the current front office hates him.

      If it was me, I’d put Guillorme at second with McNeil at third. Really, I’ve been pushing the Mets to focus on second and not third in free agency.

  2. TheGhostofKelenic says:

    They have been shopping him, but the return was described as “underwhelming.” What does that tell you? He’s not a big part of the team either. Just because Brodie stuffed him into the 3 hole every game last year doesn’t make him important. He’s a good bench bat. I liked his .370 on base last year… But… Guillorme will beat him out for the starting job in spring training. Easily.

    1. metsdaddy says:

      In a fair competition, he would. The problem is you’re doing McNeil a bit of a disservice to switch him back to third after an offseason of preparing to play 2B

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