Wilmer Flores can cry as much as he wants to. In a 16-7 drubbing of the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park last night, the living legend that is Wilmer Flores continued his hot hitting with a huge offensive night.
The Mets set a franchise record by hitting a total of eight homeruns, with Flores crushing two of them – and I do mean crushed. He finished 3-for-6 with 2 HR’s, one double, and five RBI’s on the night. He also flourished in the field by making a leaping grab and also robbing Ryan Howard of a base hit.
Since the night that will forever live in Mets history, the night where every single fan including Flores himself thought he was headed to Milwaukee, he has gone on to hit .343 with 4 homers, 7 doubles, 14 RBI’s, and 16 runs. In that span he has posted a .992 OPS, 177 wRC+ and a .423 wOBA.
The Mets are 16-6 during Flores’ hot streak and they’ve gained 8½ games on the Nationals.
“If you’re saying that night had something to do with it, I can’t tell you. But since that day, it’s been real fun,” Flores said last night.
What’s even more astounding is that fact that Flores has had just one error since that night and at least a half dozen sparkling gems in the field. This is a guy whose reputation for being a defensive liability has stuck with him since the day he signed with the Mets back when he was 16 years old.
Flores is now more than just a feel good story, he is an icon among the fans and a vital cog to this Mets team. His exploits have him getting cheered throughout the game and at opposing ballparks as his popularity soars.
His numbers back up just how important he has been to this Mets team this year. Flores has been Captain Clutch on several occasions, and it seems like in any come-from-behind win or walk-off, Flores is right in the middle of it. With two outs, Flores has a total of 20 RBI’s on the season.
Amongst other shortstops in the NL, he ranks 5th in batting average, 3rd in RBI’s, and tied for 3rd in doubles. Only three other shortstops have hit more homeruns than Flores; Brandon Crawford (19), Jhonny Peralta (16), and Ian Desmond (15). Remember, the that Flores just turned 24-years old, and has plenty of prime baseball years ahead of him. After last nights 5 RBI game, Flores moved past Troy Tulowitzki in RBI’s with 54.
The trade that never was, has proved to be more of a blessing than anything else. Carlos Gomez, the player the Mets would have acquired in the deal from the Brewers, is hitting just .181 with a .459 OPS in 83 at-bats with the Houston Astros. Along with that, the Mets were able to keep another talented youthful arm in Zack Wheeler.
Oh and let us not forget, instead of having Gomez roam centerfield, the Mets now have some guy by the name of Yoenis Cespedes, who has gone on to hit .312 with 6 HR’s and 18 RBI’s since joining the team. I think it’s safe to say the Mets fared pretty well with the trade that fell through nearly a month ago.
Now, 26 days later, the Mets and Wilmer Flores are 68-56 and in complete control of their own future. They hold a 5 1/2 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the NL, and it is in fact THEIR division to lose.
Wilmer’s tears triggered more than just a “feel good” story. It flipped a switch for himself, and this entire Mets team. It seemed to have been the impetus for the cohesion of a clubhouse, and a turning point for a team that has been so locked-in ever since that day in late July.
Mets fans can only hope that the next time they see Wilmer Flores cry, that it’s tears of joy. Perhaps a division title, or an NL Championship, or a World Series, who knows?
