Javy deserves a big thumbs up for recent hot streak
The thumbs-down debacle behind him, Javy Baez has found the magic recipe of making an impact on the field and providing entertainment for a Mets fan base that has changed its tune about the savvy player.
It was only two weeks ago when Baez was standing in front of the Mets dugout apologizing for booing fans that he had hardly gotten to know. The thumbs down controversy arrived at the beginning of his terrific run, including a stretch that has quietly helped the Mets spark their offense.
Baez went 0-for-3 Monday, snapping a five-game hitting streak, but has reached base safely in each of his last 11 starts. He’s batting .475 with 14 runs, four doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, two walks, a .533 on-base percentage and slugging .875 in that span. Since returning from the injured list on Aug. 22, Baez leads the National League with 20 runs scored, largely because he hustles on the basepaths unlike any other Mets player in the lineup.
Fans have seen Baez go from first to third on routine singles into the outfield. He trusts his own judgement and baseball IQ on the basepaths, often ignoring third-base coach Gary DiSarcina’s stop or go signs before scoring runs. His aggressive play and extremely competitive attitude are catching on with the Flushing Faithful.
Baez becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and an increasing number of fans have warmed up to the possibility of the Mets signing the infielder to a contract. Tweets of “Extend Javy!” circulate after Baez turns in a game like last week, when he homered, doubled, walked, stole a base and scored a run in the Mets’ loss to the Marlins in the Miami series finale.
Thumbs aside, he’s shown he can handle New York and its big market. In 31 games with the Mets, he’s slashing .306/.364/.586 with 25 runs, seven doubles, eight home runs, 16 RBI, five walks and a 158 OPS+. If he continues being a difference-maker for the club for the remainder of the season, and potentially helps lead the Mets to their first playoff appearance in half a decade, the buzz around his future in Queens will justifiably intensify.
COOKIE CRUMBLES
Carlos Carrasco raised his first-inning ERA to 15.00 on Sunday in his ninth start for the Mets. He has one scoreless first inning in those nine outings, and in all subsequent innings, he has a 2.73 ERA.
Carrasco was baffled about the trend on Sunday after he gave up two earned runs to the Yankees in the first inning, then shut down the Bombers’ lineup from there.
“I’m trying to do everything,” he said. “I always got one or two runs in the first inning, but after that I’m able to put some zeros on the board. Trust me, I’m trying to figure out what’s going on over there because it’s unbelievable. The first inning I got two runs and after that, I retired maybe nine, 10, 13 guys in a row. At the end of the day, it’s important to keep the game really close the way that I did today.”
Carrasco said, in general, he has felt terrific since coming off the injured list. He dealt with a pesky hamstring strain in the first half of the regular season that is now completely in his rearview mirror.
“I feel really good,” he said. “I’ve had some ups and downs but I’m trying to work myself to get better every day, to get better each game. I think the way the guys here support me, it’s been really good.”
The Mets have loved Carrasco’s attitude since he joined the team, and they don’t want to make the first-inning problems a big deal in case the trend begins to get in his head and alter the way he pitches for the rest of the game.
“I don’t wanna make this a big thing,” said Mets manager Luis Rojas. “There’s been really good pitchers in this game that gotta go through some adversity in the first inning, or even early. And then guys like that need feedback from their stuff and seeing how batters are adjusting to the contrast of his pitches.”
JAKE AND NOAH
Jacob deGrom (partially torn right UCL) and Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John rehab) are still expected to have big weeks in their respective comebacks from the injured list. DeGrom, who has been playing catch on flat ground for about three weeks, is finally scheduled to throw off the mound sometime this week. Syndergaard, who was forced to pause his ramp-up after testing positive for COVID-19 in late August, is expected to face batters in a live batting practice in a couple of days.