Nimmo still 'super late' at the plate

MIAMI — Brandon Nimmo spent an hour in the video room before Sunday’s game. The Mets leadoff hitter is searching for an answer. Since he left a game after getting hit on the right pinkie a week ago, Nimmo has had one hit in 17 at-bats.

“I obviously have not found it yet. I am late; I am super late,” Nimmo said after watching tape. “My bat speed is not there. I am having to make decisions a lot sooner than I was beforehand. But my hand feels fine, so I don’t know what the problem is right now. I thought two games off, maybe a little bit of timing at first, but I’ve had plenty of time now.”

Nimmo, who is batting .264, has been a highlight of this dismal start to the season, until he took the pitch off his finger. He is adamant that he feels fine.

“Honestly, it feels fine,” Nimmo said. “I am not even getting any treatment. I am not even taking Advil. I am back on the knob, everything feels fine. Not doing it right now.”

Mets hitting coach Pat Roessler said that there is no change in Nimmo’s stance or approach.

“It more like just part of the season,” Roessler said. “There are ebbs and flows. He’ll be fine.”

STEPPING FORWARD TO PSL

Jason Vargas took a step forward Saturday. The lefthander, on the DL with strained right calf, was able to do agility drills.

“I was able to do that and (the calf) felt really good,” Vargas said. “So we can go from there.”

He will pitch in a simulated game Tuesday against Noah Syndergaard. The big righthander has not pitched since May 25 because of a strained ligament in his right index finger. After throwing to batters in two simulated innings Friday, Syndergaard played catch Saturday. Having missed more than a month, Syndergaard will likely need at least one minor-league rehab game.