How Mets believe theyve unlocked Francisco Alvarezs defensive potential: Changed the game for him

In a season in which the Mets’ playoff hopes were dashed by June, nearly all of their mid- and late-season victories were going to be of the quieter variety.When the games hardly mattered, steps from the likes of Zac Thornton and Jared Young and Nate Lavender were going to grow in importance. Here is another to add to the smaller but meaningful developments of the club’s garbage time: The club believes it has unlocked Francisco Alvarez defensively to pair with Luis Torrens, who already was among the sharpest in the game.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

“This could be the best tandem in Major League Baseball,” catching coach J.P.Arencibia said before Tuesday’s game at Citi Field against the Orioles.

“You could argue it already is.That’s what I think is the best: You want to win and you want to dominate your position.” Metrically, the Mets have dominated the catching position since Alvarez returned from his meniscus tear on June 9.

Before that date, Mets catchers ranked 12th in Catcher Framing Runs, a publicly available advanced metric that estimates how many runs a catcher’s pitch framing saves or costs. After that date — when Alvarez returned with good health and with subtle adjustments designed to improve his framing — the Mets entered play Tuesday ranked third, behind just the Blue Jays and Yankees. By Fielding Run Value, a more encompassing measure, Mets catchers have gone from sixth pre-Alvarez return to fourth post-return.Overall this season, their 28 percent caught-stealing rate ranked third in the majors. A pretty picture to the general public is even rosier in the Mets’ eyes. “Our internal numbers,” Arencibia said, “we’re second in throwing in Major League Baseball.

We’re third in framing.We’re third in run value — overall defense. “And then the second half, which is what I’m most proud of these guy...