3 UP
1. Lagares Is Golden
During the 2017 season, one of the biggest problems for the Mets has been their defense. They have not had one plus defender at any position this year. That changes when Juan Lagares is in the field.
Already in this series, we have seen Lagares make plays with ease that other Mets outfielders couldn’t even make a play. This is the case because the other Mets outfielders are miscast as centerfielders. It is also the case because Lagares is one of the very best in all of baseball – if not THE best.
In just 242.1 innings, he has posted a 7 DRS and a 4.9 UZR. Among players with at least 240 innings in center, he has posted the ninth highest DRS in baseball. If he played more innings, he would be much higher on the list. Lagares’ 34.0 UZR/150 is the best in all of baseball.
Once again, Lagares is a game changer out there with his defense. Given the state of flux the Mets are in, their opening for a new centerfielder, and Lagares’ incredible ability with the glove, the Mets need to give him every opportunity this season to show them that he can once again be counted upon to be the team’s everyday centerfielder.
2. Reynolds Getting a Chance
Before the injuries, Sandy Alderson noted the team intended to give Matt Reynolds an opportunity to play in September because the team never truly have him a chance to prove himself.
With the injuries, Reynolds opportunity came earlier than anticipated. Reynolds awarded his General Manager’s faith by going 2-4 with a run and an RBI while playing a good third base.
With the Mets going nowhere, this is exactly what the Mets should be doing. They should be giving players an opportunity they otherwise would not have had to prove themselves.
Now, why this opportunity wasn’t given to the younger Gavin Cecchini, who was a former first round pick and is hitting .316/.389/.470 with seven doubles, a triple, and three home runs over the past month is a whole other matter altogether.
3. Mets Aces Progressing in Rehab
This past week, Matt Harvey made his second rehab start for Brooklyn, and he reported he was experiencing no ill-effects, and he believes he is progressing well.
Noah Syndergaard threw off the mound for the first time since he went on the disabled list. Like Harvey, he reported no ill effects, and he believes he is progressing well. More importantly, Syndergaard has spoken about taking a smarter approach to training in the offseason.
The news both pitchers are progressing is vitally important to a Mets team who believes they can compete in 2018. In order for that to happen, these pitchers will have to not only be healthy, but they must also return to form.
3 DOWN
1. Mets Can’t Compete Financially
This past offseason, the Mets did not sign a major league free agent from another team, and they entered the season with a $155 million payroll, which was just 12th in the majors.
When you consider David Wright‘s 2017 salary was insured for about $15 million, the Mets payroll to start the year was really about 15th in the majors.
The payroll wouldn’t be an issue if the team was well constructed, which the Mets weren’t. They needed a 3B, CF, and a bullpen.
With the season taking a turn for the worst, the Mets did the logical thing and sold. There was some confusion after the Jay Bruce trade over the Mets willingness to eat salary in deals to get a better return.
When asked about that very topic, Sandy Alderson asserted he was not given a mandate to cut payroll. He then backtracked a bit saying the Mets went over their budget and viewed the trade deadline as a “fail safe” to purge payroll in the event this was not a postseason team.
Say what you will, but a mid-tier payroll is unacceptable from a New York team whose championship window is open. Instead of spending to address the existing holes, the Mets got alligator arms. The end result was a disaster of a season.
2. Cespedes’ Lack of Hustle
One thing that has been a refrain lately from Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez is how Yoenis Cespedes seemingly only runs when he wants. This was highlighted on Tuesday, when he lackadaisically went after an Ronald Torreyes base hit. Even with Torreyes slipping on first, he still made it to second safely because of Cespedes’ lack of hustle.
Of course in the same game, he busted it out of the box when it meant him getting two infield hits.
Tuesday was not exception. This is who Cespedes has been since the first day he was with the Mets. For all those bombs he hit in 2015, there was his complete lack of effort on the very first play in the World Series leading to an Alcides Escobar inside-the-park home run.
It is funny now that Cespedes has dealt with injuries, and is not quite the player he was in 2015, people feel more comfortable pointing out something Cespedes has always done.
3. Matz Beyond Struggling
Since July 9th, Steven Matz is 0-6 with a 10.47 ERA and a 2.051 WHIP. He’s averaging just four innings per start during that stretch. Something’s wrong, and we don’t know what it is.
If you’re looking for a bright side, Aaron Judge didn’t hurt him at all. He was 0-2 with two strikeouts and a HBP. Then again, seemingly everyone else has hit Matz.
