The New York Mets have been grappling with defensive issues that seem to get more obvious as the 2025 MLB season drags on. During a recent SNY Mets broadcast, commentators Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez dug into the mess of defensive metrics, showing how a team might look good by one stat but actually struggle by another.
This conversation really brought the Mets’ struggles into focus, especially after some costly defensive errors in a recent game against the Yankees. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has admitted these problems and says the team needs to get better.
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Defensive Metrics: A Double-Edged Sword
On the SNY broadcast, the crew talked about how different defensive stats can give wildly different impressions of a team’s defense. Gary Cohen mentioned a chat with Stearns, where Stearns basically said the Mets have to improve on defense, even if it’s tempting to lean on the stats that make them look better.
Pete Alonso’s Costly Throw
One of the worst defensive mistakes happened during a Sunday night loss to the Yankees. Pete Alonso, who’s had trouble with throws to the bases before, made a wild throw to Francisco Alvarez at home plate. That mistake let the go-ahead runner score.
It was a huge moment in the game and just another example of how much the Mets need to clean things up defensively.
Mark Vientos: A Defensive Liability
Mark Vientos has become the poster child for the Mets’ defensive headaches. Even though he hit well in the 2024 postseason, Vientos has consistently struggled in the field.
His 2025 metrics are especially rough:
- Fielding Run Value: Third percentile (negative four)
- Range: First percentile (negative six)
- Arm Strength: 55th percentile (85.4 mph, right around league average)
These numbers show Vientos is well below league standards on defense. To make matters worse, his hitting has dropped off too, with a slash line of .241/.303/.386 and a Batting Run Value in the 38th percentile (negative one run value). That’s a big drop from the 87th percentile (20 run value) last year.
Brett Baty: A Bright Spot
Brett Baty, on the other hand, has looked pretty sharp at third base. His numbers include:
- Outs Above Average (OAA): 71st percentile league-wide at one
- Tied with Francisco Lindor and Luisangel Acuña on the team in OAA
- Tyrone Taylor leads the team with three OAA
Baty’s defense has come up big, especially when Vientos has struggled. Still, Baty can’t seem to figure out left-handed pitching. His career slash line against lefties is .167/.212/.246, and he hasn’t managed a single hit off them this year.
Potential Solutions and Lineup Adjustments
The Mets have kicked around a few lineup changes to try to fix their defensive woes. With Jessie Winker on the injured list, Baty could slot in against right-handed pitchers, handle third base, and move Vientos to DH.
But honestly, the team doesn’t have a clear answer for left-handed pitchers right now.
Other Third Base Options
At the moment, the only other third base option on the roster is Luisangel Acuña, but his bat has cooled off a lot. Jeff McNeil could be an option too, though he hasn’t played third since 2022, even if he does have 251 innings there in his career.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Improvement
The Mets still have 115 games left in the 2025 season. There’s plenty of time for them to tweak their approach and shore up their defense.
Some spots definitely need extra attention:
- Vientos has to step up on both sides of the ball.
- Baty needs to prove he can actually hit lefties.
- Acuña has to show he can handle major league pitching.
- Starling Marte should hit well enough to lock down the DH spot.
Last year, David Stearns and the Mets’ front office didn’t waste time fixing problems. Will they keep that same energy in 2025? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
For a deeper dive into the Mets’ defensive issues and some possible fixes, check out the original article on MetsMerizedOnline.
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