Rosario shows some signs of improvement
Amed Rosario’s starting job was proclaimed safe last week. Now the Mets have to transform him from an automatic out to a productive hitter.
Maybe the first step was taken Monday night, when Rosario went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the Mets’ 11-4 victory over the Marlins.
Granted, Rosario’s biggest hit of the game was a gift — Jon Berti spun in the wrong direction on a drive to right field in the second inning that went for an RBI double — but Rosario gave himself a chance by hitting the ball with authority, something he had been lacking.
The underachieving shortstop raised his slash line to a still dreadful .211/ .211./.310, with slick-fielding Andres Gimenez behind him on the depth chart.
In 71 plate appearances this season, Rosario is still without a walk. His amount of weak contact has been a concern.
“[Rosario] has got to be more disciplined with the zone,” manager Luis Rojas said before the game. “We have seen how much he is expanding. This kid has the ability to put the bat on the ball and when you start expanding, you are going to end up chasing early and putting the ball in play. When you do that the ball is not going to be hit very hard and that is what’s happening to him.”
➤ Michael Conforto
expressed confidence the Mets can resurrect their season in the same manner as last year. The Mets used a surge after the All-Star break in 2019 to remain in playoff contention until the final week of the season.
“I think we can all pull things from last year when we were playing at our best,” said Conforto, who went 1-for-3 Monday. “That part of the year was when everything kind of melted away. There was the trade deadline. A lot of people were saying our season was over and we got back to enjoying ourselves and having fun and not worrying so much about what was surrounding the team.”
➤ Jeff McNeil returned to the starting lineup as the DH after coming off the bench as a pinch hitter a day earlier. McNeil, who missed two games over the weekend, finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.