NY Mets rumors: Finally call up Mark Vientos
The Mets made a long-awaited promotion on Wednesday, calling up infielder Mark Vientos to the big leagues. Given New York's disappointing start to the season, perhaps Vientos can give them the jolt they need.
The Mets are a team full of veterans, that much is no secret. They're among the oldest teams in the league. Vientos, while not ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top-100 rankings, is solid at the plate and can play multiple positions.
"The slugger is capable of exhibiting at least plus raw power with exit velocities going above 110 mph, and his 45.8 percent hard-hit rate was about equal to Pete Alonso's in the Majors, albeit over a much smaller sample…Like Brett Baty, the Mets have tried moving Vientos around from third base to left field, hoping his plus arm could give some defensive value at either spot."
With Baty settled at third base, Vientos can slide all over the infield. A worry from New York's perspective is that Vientos has put the ball on the ground far more since 2022, and relies heavily on his raw power, which may not translate to the MLB level. Vientos will face much better pitching here, which could lead to a high strikeout or ground-ball rate.
Next up for the Mets should be Ronny Mauricio, who remains in the minor leagues despite being one of the hottest hitters, perhaps next to Vientos, in the system.
NY Mets rumors: Francisco Lindor's former Guardians teammate calls him out
Are the New York Mets struggles rooted in clubhouse issues?
Former Cleveland Guardians star Jason Kipnis was on the Foul Territory podcast Tuesday, and discussed the Mets tough start to the 2023 season. Kipnis is convinced that much of New York's issues fall on a lack of leadership in the clubhouse.
While New York may be one of the more veteran-laden teams in the major leagues, it doesn't mean they have a locker room full of leaders. There's a difference, per Kipnis.
The most glaring part of this interview is that Kipnis acknowledges Francisco Lindor's so-called lack of leadership, as the two played together with the Cleveland Guardians. It should be noted that Lindor was in his early-20's at that point, and has likely grown since then, perhaps as a leader himself.
In the end, clubhouse leadership is a little overrated. Sure, it's nice to be able to lean on each other in the midst of a tough stretch, but that can largely be done in groups, rather than with one "rah-rah" speech by the manager or a player in his mid-to-late 30's.
Much of this is bizarre, the Kipnis using the platform to take a shot at Lindor wasn't a good look.
NY Mets: Justin Verlander understands where fans are coming from
Playing in New York was never going to be an easy transition for Justin Verlander. This isn't Houston or Detroit.
Verlander missed much of the first month of the season with a teres major strain, which delayed his start to the campaign. In just his third start back and his first in New York, JV struggled, giving up six runs on eight hits to the Tampa Bay Rays. As Verlander left the field, he was met with boos by Mets faithful.
"I understand the fans are frustrated; we're frustrated, too," Verlander said. "We expect to be better. I expect to be better. I think this entire organization expects to be better, and there's only one thing left to do, and that's put your head down, work hard and find your way out of this slump."
Verlander has been around long enough not to take those boos personally. He was also smart enough not to preach patience, which some managers and front office executives around baseball have done, but to not avail.
"People come out here and want to see the Mets win, want to see us do well, and they get frustrated just like we do," Buck Showalter said. "I understand that, but we control it every night. They want us to do well. We control that. Play better and that won't happen. That's part of playing here when you're doing something that's very important to people."
Steve Cohen spent far too much on this team for such a disappointing group. There's still plenty of time to turn things around, but this start has to be concerning for any fanbase.
