Conforto forcing Mets to make room for him
PHILADELPHIA — Young Michael Conforto is trying his best to guide the Mets to the correct decision.
With every small window of opportunity, Conforto knocks down a door. Such was the case again Wednesday night when Conforto was given his second start of the season and crushed his second home run of the season.
This time it was at leadoff as Terry Collins smartly put the sweet-swinging lefty at the top of his lineup. This was the first major league game Conforto has started as a leadoff hitter.
Conforto scored each of his first three times up as the Mets snuck past the Phillies, 5-4 at Citizens Bank Park for the sweep.
If the Cubs’ Joe Maddon can use Kyle Schwarber at leadoff, Collins can use his mini-Schwarber at the top of his lineup, especially with the struggles of Jose Reyes (.054).
“It’s great for him,’’ Collins said of Conforto, who is batting .400. “Each and every game he plays he’s driven to have a good game so he continues to get opportunities. I salute that.’’
Collins is determined to find time for Conforto and the young outfielder is determined to make the most of that time.
“I’d be selling myself short if I didn’t do everything I could,’’ Conforto said. “I’m just going to keep doing it. The rest is out of my hands.
“I like leadoff, it’s fun. I just want to get my pitch and hit it hard somewhere and I think that works anywhere in the lineup. I’m always excited to get to the plate.’’
Conforto got things started with a single in the top of the first and scored on Yoenis Cespedes’ laser double to left. Cespedes was coming off his three home-run game Tuesday night.
Conforto presents a good problem for the Mets. With Juan Lagares returning in Miami the Mets will have another outfielder. Look for them to dump a relief pitcher and keep Conforto with the team and not make the terrible mistake of sending him back to Triple-A where he has nothing to prove.
Earlier this week I wrote the Mets needed to get Conforto more playing time, embrace his ability, and one of the options was to play Conforto in center field to give Curtis Granderson more rest. That is exactly what Collins did Wednesday. Conforto must get more playing time. He has too sweet a swing to be on the bench or in the minors at the age of 24. That makes no sense.
“Conforto needs to play,’’ one talent evaluator from an NL East team said before the game. “Every team wants a young hitter like Conforto in their lineup.’’
Granderson needs rest and Jay Bruce could use a day off soon, so Collins will fit Conforto in where he can. Granderson is more suited to be the fourth outfielder at this point than Conforto, but we’ll see how the Mets and general manager Sandy Alderson play that hand.
Conforto’s home run came in the second atbat against Phillies starter Vince Velasquez. In his third at-bat Conforto walked and came around to score on Cespedes’ sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.
One pitch by Hansel Robles to Maikel Franco and it was 5-4 as Franco lifted a grand slam to center field in sixth but the Mets hung on and Zack Wheeler got his comeback win. For Cespedes that fifthinning RBI marked his seventh RBI over his last seven official at-bats, which included three home runs and two doubles. Cespedes is the key to that offense in every way.
“Anybody who has ever played with Yo or watched him for a period of time,’’ praised second second baseman Neil Walker, “knows nights like [Tuesday] night can happen a lot.’’
Not only is Cespedes a remarkable slugger, he smells good too. On this trip Cespedes is sporting Victoria’s Secret Pink Fresh & Clean.
“He smells delicious,’’ Walker said with a smile. “I’m sure there is some perfume mixed in there somewhere but you can smell him before you see him.’’
The sweet smell of slugging success.
“There are some interesting dynamics in this clubhouse,’’ Walker added with a laugh.
Some interesting lineups now, too.