Cespedes conjuring historic memories
Yoenis Cespedes was named National League Player of the Week Monday for a sevengame performance that forced manager Terry Collins to conjure up memories of Barry Bonds.
“I’ve seen some guys firsthand and the only guy I can even compare him to closely would be when Barry Bonds would get on a run,” said Collins, who referenced a 1994 stretch by Jeff Bagwell as his only other comparable streak. “What this guy was doing on the road, every time you needed him to step up, he stepped up.
“The other day he hit one off Edwin Jackson, he hit it off the end of the bat. It just kept going. You just shook your head. … After [that], Matt Harvey walked over to me, he goes, ‘It’s time to move him to the next league.’ He’s a special talent.”
And that talent for the week of Sept. 713 led the majors with 12 RBIs and led the NL with four homers. He also hit four doubles, batted .345 (10of29) and compiled an .897 slugging percentage and led the planet in back page headlines. Cespedes is the fifth Met to win the award this year, joining Jacob deGrom (week ending June 7), Bartolo Colon (week ending Sept. 6) and cowinners Lucas Duda and Noah Syndergaard (week ending Aug. 2). Colon and Cespedes became the first Mets to win the award backtoback since 2011.
How much fun is it hitting in front of Cespedes?
“I gotta slip Terry a few dollars to keep putting Ces behind me,”
David Wright said. Cespedes unloaded off Miami rookie starter Justin Nicolino for a solo shot in the third inning for his 17th homer as a Met. In MLB history, only Mark McG
wire hit more homers for a team after July 31 following an inseason trade. McGwire hit 24 in 1997 for the Cardinals after being traded from Oakland.
Collins said Addison Reed is now his seventhinning man out of the bullpen. “He’s the guy, no doubt,” Collins said.
With their magic number at 10 over the Nationals after the start of a ninegame homestand, the Mets conceivably can clinch the NL East during the upcoming homestretch. Collins said “home” was nice but “clinch” was better.
“To clinch here would be very, very special but to clinch would be more special. I don’t care where it’s at,” Collins said.
“To be able to clinch any place, any time,” Collins said. “it would be a huge boost not only to our organization but to your fan base to say, ‘Look, thanks for all the support and continued support.’ ”