Yo’ take what Yo’ can from expensive Ces
THE Mets knew the risks when they signed Yoenis Cespedes to that long-term contract. Injuries could keep Cespedes off the field for much too long a time.
They are living with that reality now. It’s not pretty. Friday night’s 7-4 loss to the Cubs at Citi Field was another example of the Mets being caught short on talent as they dropped under .500 for the first time this season.
The bottom line is that until Cespedes gets healthy and stays healthy, the Mets have no chance because of what his absence does to an already weak lineup that was hindered even more Friday night, when the struggling Jay Bruce had to leave the game with back spasms.
Without Cespedes, the Mets are getting owned by left-handed pitchers. Without Cespedes, the offense has zero fear factor. Without Cespedes, they lose so many close games because there is not enough firepower.
The Mets are hitting .214 versus left-handed pitchers with a .604 OPS. Mickey Callaway had to double-switch Jose Reyes into the game while Joe Maddon got to doubleswitch power-hitting Kyle Schwarber into the game, and he crushed a three-run home run, his 11th, in the eighth that proved to be the difference as the Cubs blasted reliever Paul Sewald’s 91 mph fastballs. Callaway, who held a team meeting after the loss because the Mets are playing the game the wrong way — i.e., Michael Conforto missed the cutoff man in the Cubs’ three-run seventh — knows No Ces is painful.
“It’s been big,’’ Callaway said. “We count on his offense. We’ve paid him a lot of money to come out there and produce, and we don’t have him right, so it’s been tough, especially when we’re facing left-handers.
“Even when the righties are pitching we need offense. We’ve had probably more close games than I’ve ever seen and it makes it tough on the pitchers. We are throwing high-leverage innings every night, whether we are down two or up two, those are high-leverage innings, so it makes it tough, so we’re definitely missing Cespedes.’’ When will Cespedes return?
“He’s getting closer,’’ Callaway said. “He feels great. I think when he starts get- ting out there, when we can get him some reps at his actual position in practice, then things will go really fast.’’
Cespedes did not make himself available to the media.
Cespedes took batting practice in Milwaukee and was bombing baseballs, but still has not proclaimed himself fit to play. He last played on May 13. The Mets have gone 8-10 in his absence, winning five of six when he first went out with a hip injury, but they were playing two dreadful teams, the Diamondbacks and Marlins. The Mets have lost nine of the past 12.
Because Cespedes has played just 37 games with a .255/.316/ .474 slash line, eight home runs and 28 RBIs and has been hampered by leg injuries the past two years, the Mets have some position soul-searching to do. Cespedes will protect himself, so you will not see the all-out play you get from a young outfielder like Brandon Nimmo, which weakens the Mets defensively.
Callaway said catcher Kevin Plawecki is next up at first base. It would be in the Mets’ best interest to see if Cespedes can relocate to first. He often works with the infielders. The Mets need to see if they can move Cespedes to first, where he does not have to run as much. The Mets would have to sell Cespedes on such an idea, but they are paying him after all. Bruce said playing first hurts his back.
Creative adjustments must be made because the poorly designed Mets have so many holes. Cespedes will be paid $29 million this season, $29 million next season and $29.5 million in 2020, when he will be 34.
The Mets own a minus-23 run differential. A healthy Cespedes would make a difference.
Cespedes played in 81 games in 2017, and on Thursday, Sandy Alderson said his Mets could push the players more, noting: “Sometimes I think we’re a little too cautious with how we approach injuries.’’
No Ces means no chance for the Mets.