Struggling Wilmer Flores to get a mental break
New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores looks on from the field after he lines out against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Citi Field on Thursday, April 30, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Defensively challenged Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores got Saturday night off and could be rested again Sunday, manager Terry Collins said.
But don't call it a benching. The Mets still are in Flores' corner as he works through defensive struggles, which include seven errors.
"You could tell this guy just needs to take a deep breath and forget about it for a day," Collins said. "With Monday off, we've talked about whether or not we even give him [Sunday] off just to let him . . . 'Hey, look, get some energy back, forget about what's happened and let's move forward.' "
Flores made an error in each of the previous two games. He also was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Friday and is batting .240 with three home runs, eight RBIs and a .665 OPS.
Flores seems to be handling the situation well but Collins said he is mindful of the 23-year-old's mental state.
"When you're talking about Wilmer Flores and maybe is he starting to struggle, that becomes a huge issue for the manager," he said. "Not only when to give him a day off, but even during those days off to make sure he's still a relevant piece to the puzzle . . . You've got to be very careful because the mental psyche of a young player can affect him for a long time."
Ruben Tejada started at shortstop.
Duda left in
Lucas Duda, who entered the game 10-for-22 (.455) with a 1.111 OPS against lefthanders, started against southpaw Gio Gonzalez. Collins also sat Curtis Granderson and put John Mayberry Jr. in rightfield and the leadoff spot.
"He said he's the tallest leadoff hitter in the history of the game, and that may be true," Collins said of the 6-6 Mayberry, who never hit first in the order before this season.
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.
