Brett Batty’s Mets Streak Shows The Risk Of Relying On Rookies
At the beginning of this season, there was full expectation that “baby mates” would become a thing.
At the time, Brett Batty was building at a respectable level after being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse—joining Francisco Alvarez as a threat—and Mark Vientos had put up some big hits for the Mets.
Things didn’t work out as expected.
Yes, Alvarez ended the bargain as the top MLB rookie with 19 homers, but Vientos got limited chances and was demoted. And Batty struggled for a significant portion of the first half, leading to questions about whether he was major-league ready.
But over the past few games the discussion about Batty has returned to the idea that he is now poised to help the Mets win. The rookie third baseman pitched in consecutive games against the White Sox this week and looked sharp defensively, sparking a brief three-game winning streak that ended with a 6-2 loss to the White Sox on Thursday.
It’s important to remember that Batty is still only 23 and ideally will have spent at least the first half of this season at Syracuse getting at-bats and reps defensively.
But Eduardo Escobar’s early struggles as well as Baty’s promising start at Triple-A made the decision easy for the Mets just a few weeks into the season. Escobar has since been traded to the Angels.
Even with his recent surge, Batty is producing a disappointing .235/.300/.361 clip offensively with seven homers and 24 RBI in 71 games, while making the occasional defensive lapse. The hunt is on, especially the pop-up he misplayed on Saturday. Dodger jumped and hit him in the face.
Batty’s last few games have at least cooled any immediate thoughts that he might need a stint in the minors.
As dramatic as this choice may seem, it is not without recent precedent.
In 2016, the Mets sent another former first-round pick, Michael Conforto, back to Triple-A because he struggled at the plate. Conforto had appeared in the World Series for the Mets the previous year and had a great start the following season for the club. Then he stopped killing.
“all of a sudden, [Conforto] Former Mets manager Terry Collins said, “Just got happy with the power and the gift he had, tried to use that power in left-center field instead of pulling everything out.” Started giving regular diet of He went through a tough phase and we sent him back. It was really difficult for him. And he went down and played very well, and came back and struggled a little bit again. But it is all part of the process and you have to go through it.”
Batty’s lease may also be a bit longer, as the Mets are hesitant to play Vientos at third base and would prefer to keep Luis Guillorme in a utility role.
Now the team will see if Batty is again able to help generate some of the “Baby Mates” buzz that briefly buzzed in the early seasons.
Want to catch a game? The Mets’ schedule can be found here, along with links to purchase tickets.
you can’t fight fashion
The Mets completed their recent homestand wearing their blue jerseys for the third consecutive game. The team wears black jerseys for Friday home matches, so where does the traditional pindhari uniform go?
Francisco Lindor previously stated that he was a supporter of the blue jersey, but would like it to remain as an alternate uniform and not the mainstay.
however, it is the starting pitcher for each game who has the right to choose the jersey.
“Now every starter likes blue,” Lindor said.
Justin Verlander ranked the Mets’ pinstriped uniform third on his list after the Blues and Friday Night Blacks.
Verlander said, “I don’t mind pinstripes, but I think some people get a little ‘eh’ on pinstripes.” “I’ve pitched pretty well in blue, so it’s definitely blue for me.”
Verlander, like many players, is superstitious, and has said that as long as the Mets are on a winning streak with the blue jersey, they should not change attire.
The Mets also have alternate caps, and Verlander noticed he was wearing the wrong cap Tuesday as he sat in the dugout the night before his start. But once the Mets scored five runs in the first inning, he decided to stick with it.
Verlander said, “I’m not good at all these options.” “I like the same things over and over again.”
join us On Monday, July 24, Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman will preview next week’s Subway Series for a live episode of the New York Post baseball podcast The Show. This special event is free to all attendees. The doors to The Ainsworth (45 East 33rd St.) will open at 5 p.m. for the event. 6.
time is relative
The “quick” pitch timers at Citi Field during this week’s series against the White Sox were of such concern to the Mets that after the team reviewed the video, the umpiring crew was asked to discuss the matter with the clock operators. Said. (Clock operators are employed by MLB, and communicate exclusively with the umpires.)
In one instance, Brandon Nimmo was called for a violation despite the fact that the clock had started during replay review. That infraction was overturned after a protest from Buck Showalter.
Managers know that not all pitch timing is equal.
Showalter said, “We have a scouting report on a city that is known for speed.”
Showalter declined to name the city.
alumni news
Let’s review how some recent Mets alumni have fared this season.
Javier Baez: His last real stir could be his two-month stint with the Mets after they reach the trade deadline in 2021. The veteran infielder languished last season with the Tigers after signing a six-year, $140 million contract, and has been completely lost this year, hitting .224/.261 with seven homers and 46 RBI. .333 with slash line.
JD Davis: As the first anniversary of his trade with the Giants in August approaches. 1, the former Mets DH (and third baseman and left fielder) continues to grow. He put up a .268/.348/.431 slash line with 12 homers and 35 RBI for a team contending for the NL West title.
Daniel Murphy: The former Mets postseason hero, after coming out of retirement this season and playing with the Long Island Ducks, owns a respectable .798 OPS through 20 games for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City. Could the return of a major league be imminent?
Dominic Smith: The first baseman, who was non-tendered by the Mets after last season, is getting regular playing time with the Nationals. But this did not help Smith recapture the form he had displayed earlier in his Mets career. Smith has a disappointing .267/.335/.353 slash line with five homers and 23 RBI.
Noah Syndergaard: The right-hander is on a minor-league rehab assignment with the Dodgers as he returns from a blister on his right index finger. He last pitched for the Dodgers on June 7, and has a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts for the club this season.
