Mets' Brett Baty has been ice cold out of the gate, but Carlos Mendoza remains confident
The Houston Astros' Jose Altuve is tagged out by Mets second baseman Brett Baty while trying to steal second during the first inning of a game on March 29 in Houston. Credit: AP/David J. Phillip
Jeff McNeil isn’t quite ready to nip at Brett Baty’s heels when it comes to a roster spot.
But that day is coming if Baty doesn’t get more batty soon.
Baty went into Saturday night’s game against the Blue Jays with one hit in 14 at-bats. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the 3-2 win.
When McNeil is ready to return from the oblique strain that has delayed his season, the natural move would be to send Baty back to Triple-A.
To date, Baty hasn’t done anything to stop that from happening. But he has a little time – and he can thank the rain.
Before the Mets send McNeil on a minor-league rehab assignment, they want to see him take batting practice on the field, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
McNeil was supposed to take batting practice on the field on Saturday, as was catcher Francisco Alvarez (broken bone in hand). Both sessions were scratched because of the wet weather.
“We’ve got to see few days of [McNeil] taking BP on the field and maybe facing some velo machines on the field before we can decide when he can start playing some games,” Mendoza said before the Mets hosted Toronto. “But so far, [he’s] feeling good.”
Even with all the indoor facilities available to teams today, Mendoza said the Mets need to see McNeil in the great outdoors to gauge his progress.
“You can replicate it [indoors],” Mendoza said. “But it's different when you're hitting off the velo machine and you don't see how far the ball goes. The TV can tell you it’s 370 [feet], but until you actually go out there . . . there's a level of intensity there that, only by being outside you get a better feel for it.”
As for Baty, who has been splitting time at second base with Luisangel Acuna, Mendoza says what he’s seeing isn’t as bad as an .111 batting average.
“He’s not getting results early,” Mendoza said, “but I feel like he hit a couple of balls hard in Houston. One right at the first baseman. But in general, the conviction when he's getting pitches to hit, like putting his ‘A’ swing on it, not chasing as much -- which I feel like at times he's going out of the strike zone -- but it’s early. He’s just got to get going here. But he will.”
If only it were that simple. Baty, who had a hot spring, has proven in the past to be a terrific hitter against spring training and minor-league pitching. It’s doing it in the majors that has eluded the lefthanded batter.
“I think what we're looking at here is the approach,” Mendoza said. “The process. The quality of the at-bat. Continue to have quality at-bats. You always want results because this is a results-oriented game. But if he keeps having good at-bats -- meaning getting a good pitch, putting a good swing, hitting the ball hard, getting a guy over, getting a guy in, walk by controlling the strike zone – it’s basically the quality of their bat here that we're looking for, and he'll get there.”
Late lineup change
The Mets scratched catcher Luis Torrens just before game time with a right forearm contusion. He was replaced by Hayden Senger.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
