☀️ Good Morning:
Brett Baty is running out of chances.
Given nearly a month to prove he belongs on a major-league roster, while playing out of position, he didn’t necessarily hurt his team — they are the best team in baseball, after all — but he didn’t make an overwhelming case for why he should be part of the group that enters the summer.
Over 19 games, he batted .204, with a little bit of slug, especially over the past 10 days, but not enough to justify sending someone else down or designating someone else for assignment.
Baty is playing through his final minor-league option year. The Mets can play the Triple-A shuttle game with him throughout the season. And then that’s it. He will be out of options.
That’s why this season is so important for Baty, and why he could eventually find himself part of a trade.
As we have discussed at length, Baty makes sense on the active roster when he is getting regular at-bats. He doesn’t offer the speed, versatility and defense of a Luisangel Acuña. He’s not a utility player.
Meanwhile, for a team that will be without Jose Siri for the next 2-3 months, and with Drew Gilbert still maturing in the minors, it’s too early to risk losing José Azocar to waivers.
That’s why optioning Baty in favor of Jeff McNeil was the only logical choice.
The move also tells us what the Mets think of Acuña as a second baseman. If McNeil is going to see some time in center field against right-handed pitching, it’s clear they feel most comfortable shoring their defense up the middle with Acuña at second.
🔷 Friday will also mark the return of Francisco Álvarez, the player who helped sparked last year’s team on an incredible run. This year, he joins a squad that has been playing quite well without him.
Luis Torrens has been a key part of the club’s 18–7 start, throwing out 45% of would-be basestealers, while receiving a pitching staff that is the best in baseball and offering just enough offense at the plate.
🍎 It feels odd to change 22% of the roster in the middle of a winning streak and as they have reached a plateau in the standings, but that’s where the Mets find themselves. They are dominating their competition, and getting healthier at the same time.
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🗓️ UP NEXT: A four-game weekend wrap-around series in the nation’s capital.
The Mets will send Kodai Senga (3–1, 0.79) to the mound against right-hander Jake Irvin (2–0, 3.68) in the series opener.
It’s a great time to be a New York sports fan. And we got you covered with newsletters.
🏈 The Jets used the seventh overall pick to select offensive tackle Armaud Membou. You can learn about him and the rest of the draft by reading the excellent Jets Way newsletter.
🏀 The Knicks responded with a big playoff win in Detroit. They now lead the first-round series two games to one. As always, Jonathan Macri has you covered at Knicks Film School.
🏒 And if hockey is your thing, you can learn about the front office changes coming to Long Island (and how to find them on the radio next season) over at Isles Fix.
🔗 How do Mets work Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil into mix? by Tim Healey, Newsday ($): “With Alvarez back, temporary starter Luis Torrens reverts to being the backup. Alvarez will ‘get an opportunity’ with the bulk of the starts and ‘out of the gate’ it will not be a 50-50 split, Mendoza told Newsday this week. It left the semantical door open: If Alvarez doesn’t perform, Torrens could win a larger share.”
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Appreciate the shout-out JB 👍🏻
I really like Baty, but he needed to hit the cover off the ball considering how well Acuna has played and all the different attributes he brings to the table. Baty much better recently and it's almost a shame that his first HR came in his last game before getting sent down, that could have done wonders for the confidence.
1. Thanks for a clearheaded assessment of the circumstances. Baty should not be surprised to have been sent down.
2. It would be very easy to take the foot of the gas going on the road and playing a "seemingly" weaker team. I hope that will not be the case.
3. It's too soon to start worrying about the next "embrassment of health riches", but at some point will we have to have the Baty discussion about a pitcher? When the time feels right, JB, I'd love to get your inisghts on the timetable and decision-making factors that Stearns and friends will have to do when Dedniel Núñez and Paul Blackburn are ready, which if progression continues should be mid-to-late May for both (Núñez perhaps sooner if he can shake off the cobwebs and get his control back).