Ces’ right to alter workout regiment
SAN DIEGO — There will be a New Yo’ next year when the Mets hit spring training.
That was the word from Yoenis Cespedes Wednesday night. If things go according to his new common-sense plan, the Incredible Bulk will turn back into the Incredible Athlete that Cespedes once was when he first came to the majors from Cuba.
“My plan is to change my workout program,’’ Cespedes told the Post through a translator at Petco Park before Steven Matz and the Mets were hammered by the Padres, 6-3. “I want to become more flexible, more athletic, have less bulk [in my legs]. I want to do less weight lifting. I’m going to do some different things, I want to do yoga, more stretching. I want to be lighter. I want to come back around 210, lose about 15 pounds.’’
After this 2017 disaster, give Cespedes credit for making changes.
A baseball season is long and Cespedes, who went 1for-4 with a strikeout Wednesday night, has made it longer because of his constant battles with hamstring and quad injuries. Cespedes opted to bulk up this past offseason working with the Mets senior advisor for strength and conditioning Mike Barwis with the blessing of upper management. Bad decision.
Barwis and Cespedes both believed this would make Cespedes a more effective and stronger ballplayer, but it has had the opposite effect. Players must take ownership of their off-season workout routines and center them around activities that make them better ballplayers.
This is not a Mission Beach strongman contest.
This is about Cespedes learning from his mistakes. Now he will have a different plan.
Cespedes showed what kind of force he can be on Tuesday night when he single-handedly devoured the Padres, hitting a home run into the left field seats and also a Little League home run down the right field line, officially scored a triple, in the 6-5 victory.
Hitting coach Kevin Long said earlier this week he would like to see Cespedes build a more athletic body, have less bulk, especially in the legs and possess more “elasticity’’ throughout his body.
Cespedes, 31, is all in on becoming the New Yo’.
The hope is that he can stay on the field more, get more at-bats where he can punish the baseball. He is a strong man no matter what weight he plays at. He doesn’t need that extra bulk.
From a mental standpoint, manager Terry Collins would like to see Cespedes have a more free and fun approach to the game and around the clubhouse.
Certainly Collins and Long are looking out for Cespedes. They want what’s right for him to put him at his best every day.
After his Little League home run Tuesday night Cespedes had to be removed from the game because that burst of energy around the bases caused his legs to tighten up and he was out of yet another game. He was back in the lineup Wednesday, but once again the Mets had to play it cautious with Cespedes.
“He said he feels fine, and I think it was more the long run for him,’’ Collins said of getting Cespedes back in the lineup. “His legs just got a little tight more than anything.’’
Collins said Cespedes must be careful the rest of this season with his legs.
“Unless you completely rest your legs and you’ve had leg issues, they’re going to be there,’’ Collins said. “If he stays aggressive with his foot speed, he can create some havoc on the bases.’’
For the season Cespedes is batting .283 and has just 198 at-bats. Cespedes finally got to double-figure home runs Tuesday night and has 101 total bases. He was given $110 million by the Mets so he could drive in runs.He owns only 26 RBIs.
To produce he needs to stay on the field. New Yo’ hopes to do just that.