Flores not dwelling on last year’s tears
It is an image that is indelibly etched in the minds of any Mets fan.
On July 29 last year, Wilmer Flores openly wept on the field and in the dugout at Citi Field. Flores heard what the social media world was abuzz about: he had been traded by the Mets to Milwaukee.
Winters in Milwaukee are enough to make any grown man cry, but Flores was upset because he thought he was leaving the only professional baseball world he knew. But the proposed trade — Flores and Zack Wheeler to Milwaukee for Carlos Gomez — collapsed amid concerns about the health of Gomez’s hip.
So Friday, on the one-year anniversary of that stunning night, Flores claimed he doesn’t flash back to those hard moments, but has total recall of two nights later, July 31, when he beat Washington with a walk-off homer.
“I don’t go back to that moment. I always remember the moment that I hit that homer, the 31st,” Flores said. “I try to forget that moment. One-year anniversary, yeah, but the day I like to talk about is the 31st.
“One thing about baseball is you need to have a short memory to have any success. I just forgot about what hap- pened and moved on.”
And he moved on to a hit that helped propel the Mets to their storybook close and World Series appearance. But it was tough getting there.
“It was definitely a lot of emotions out there. That was my first trade, basically,” said Flores, who has been the Mets’ all-purpose guy this season, filling in at every infield spot — he started at third Friday. “If it ever hap- pens again, I’m more prepared for it, but I was upset, there was a lot of confusion out there. But I got through it, and big things came to us.”
The biggest thing, of course, was Yoenis Cespedes, acquired at the deadline. His bat was a difference maker in the Mets winning the NL pennant.
Flores had been on a tear in July but was 0-for-4 in the Mets’ 6-1 loss to Colorado Friday. He entered hitting .328 (19-of-58) with seven homers and 13 RBIs in July. And that’s with uncertain playing time or position.
“Coming to the year, this is what they give me, being a guy that was going to play all around,” Flores said.
Juan Lagares is expected to miss six weeks now that he’s finally getting surgery on the injured left thumb that has hampered him since June and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.
The center fielder suffered a partially torn ligament attempting to make a diving catch on June 4 and manager Terry Collins still hopes to have him back before the end of the year.
“He came in [Thursday] night when the game was over and just said, ‘I can’t. I can’t keep playing like this. I can’t play with the condition of my thumb,’ ” Collins said of Lagares, who missed more than two weeks with the injury in June.
“I tip my cap to him because he gave it a legitimate effort,’’ Collins said of Lagares, who was unproductive offensively following the injury. In 59 plate appearances after returning from the DL, Lagares had an OPS of .563. “[He] went out there and played like he always plays with great desire and great heart,’’ Collins said. “We’ll just have to fill in.’’
Brandon Nimmo was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take Lagares’ spot. It’s Nimmo’s second stint with the Mets this year.
In nine games with Las Vegas after being optioned on July 18, Nimmo batted .389 (14-for-36) with two homers and eight RBIs.
Unless the Mets make an addition to the outfield by Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, they will try to make do with their current roster.
Michael Conforto was in center on Friday against Colorado right-hander Tyler Chatwood, but the Mets could still go with Alejandro De Aza against lefties.
Collins wouldn’t rule out a DL stint for Jose Reyes, who wasn’t in the lineup again Friday with a left rib cage injury.
“They put him through some tests today and he’s better,’’ Collins said. “Significantly better than the other day, but I just think because of that particular injury, we’ve got to be careful not to overdo it.’’
Yoenis Cespedes, though, was back in left despite his sore right quad after being limited to pinch-hitting duties Thursday.
After being talked into using Jeurys Familia — by Familia— on Thursday, Collins told the closer he wouldn’t pitch Friday following his first two blown saves of the season.
Familia gave up leads in losses both Tuesday and Wednesday, which lead to Collins’ decision.
“He is available, but he’s not going to pitch in tonight’s game,’’ Collins said before Friday’s 6-1 loss to the Rockies. “He’s going to be off completely. I already talked to him and just said, ‘Look, we need to give you a blow anyway. Period.