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Drew VonScio is a Newsweek contributor based in Pittsburgh, PA. His focus is on MLB content. Drew has been with Newsweek since December 2024 and also works full-time at WTOV, a TV station in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a 2023 graduate of Bethany College (WV) and a 2024 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. You can get in touch with Drew by emailing d.*******@******ek.com.
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It’s not very often you hear an analyst from one team call out an opposing player for a defensive miscue, but New York Mets fans heard that Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In the seventh inning, the Mets scored two runs to help complete the comeback. The second of two runs was a bang-bang play at the plate between Luisangel Acuña and Henry Davis with Acuña just beating the tag.
Mets analyst Ron Darling didn’t waste any time calling out Davis for his miscue.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
“Davis wanted to be behind the plate to make that play,” said Darling. “That was a bad choice.”
The Mets, who would go on to win the game 4-3, walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to superstar Pete Alonso. However, the Pirates tied it up in the top of the ninth, which would’ve been the go-ahead run had Davis done what Darling believes he should’ve done.
“The other thing about it is that if he takes the throw in front of the plate, he’s taking the throw three-to-four feet in front of that. In a bang-bang play, that’s everything.”
Davis certainly isn’t a stranger to working behind the plate since the Buster Posey rule was put into effect in 2014, so he could certainly set up in front of home plate on this play.
At 25 years old, it’s something you would expect Davis to just do instinctively. However, it’s clear he 2021 No. 1 overall pick still has lots to learn defensively.
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