Buck: Luis Guillorme deserves All-Star nod
ANAHEIM — When it comes to the unrecognized and overlooked players, you better believe Buck Showalter will give them some love. The Mets manager casted his vote for Luis Guillorme, the Mets’ longtime utility player, for this year’s All-Star Game. The problem is, Showalter said, there is no such category for utility players in All-Star Game voting.
“There should be a category in the AllStar Game, for lack of a better expression, for a utility player,” Showalter said on Saturday. “You can’t win without one. There should be a column there for those guys. They should get recognized. Kind of like Guillorme. They’re very valuable. I’ve always wondered that — why they haven’t had one.”
Guillorme, who plays at second, third and shortstop, is hitting .321 with an .816 OPS in 106 at-bats and 40 games for the Mets this season. It is by far his most productive season at the plate across his five years in the major leagues. It’s also a product, in some ways, of Showalter giving Guillorme regular playing time.
In previous years, Guillorme would come off the bench only when a starter was injured. This season, Showalter has made an effort to get the defensive wizard into games regularly. The skipper said in that way, when the Mets need him to perform in a high-leverage or high-pressure spot, Guillorme and other bench players will be ready.
Jeff McNeil, too, is in many ways the Amazin’s utility player who has a better shot at getting selected to his second-career All-Star Game than Guillorme, who has never earned the nod. McNeil has played at second base (34 games), left field (23 games) and right field (two games) for the Mets this season. In previous seasons, McNeil has also played at third. He is batting .318 with an .815 OPS across 198 at-bats and 56 games entering Saturday.
This year’s All-Star Game takes place on July 19 at Dodger Stadium. Phase one of fan voting began on June 8 and will last through June 30. Phase two will begin on July 5 and will last through July 8.
MARTE SITS, BUT IS CLOSE
Starling Marte (left quad tightness) was out of the Mets lineup for the third straight game on Saturday. Though Marte is feeling better and is ready to play, the Mets are being cautious with one of their most important assets. It’s likely Marte will be back in right field on Sunday for the series finale against the Angels.
Marte first felt his quad tighten up on Tuesday at Petco Park after he was caught stealing second base to end the first inning of the Mets’ 7-0 loss to the Padres. He underwent an MRI, which revealed no cause for serious concern, but the club has kept him out of the lineup out of an abundance of caution.
Showalter admitted on Friday, “Starling’s not too happy with me,” for keeping the right fielder out of the lineup. But Marte took batting practice on Saturday for a second straight day and appears close to returning.
NL EAST HEATING UP
The Braves (33-27) have won 10 games in a row. The Phillies (30-29), finally over .500, have won nine in a row. Even the Marlins (27-30) have won four in a row. The Mets and their successful start to the season has given them a six-game lead in their division, but they can’t afford to take their foot off the gas now.
Showalter, in any case, isn’t worried. Actually, the Mets manager said he isn’t even paying attention to the standings.
“I haven’t looked at the standings since we left New York,” the skipper said before the team’s ninth game of its 10-game road trip to Southern California. “All that stuff, there’s nothing we can do about it. When you look at how good those teams are, it’s kind of obvious that they’re going to keep going.
“Just take care of your business. … To me, it’s a given that all the clubs in our division are going to do well, on paper, for sure.”