The longstanding policy of the Sandy Alderson administration is simple: offense first.
It’s why until noon on Monday, the Mets believed they had a chance to land both Jay Bruce and Jonathon Lucroy before the nonwaiver trade deadline. It’s why the Mets gladly acquired Bruce, even if his presence further complicated a muddled situation in the outfield.
And it’s why Yoenis Cespedes remains on the active roster, his potent bat too valuable to place on the disabled list, despite a strained right quad that has left him in a diminished state.
Despite all these concessions, however, the Mets find themselves fighting the same demons, squandering plenty of opportunities in Wednesday’s 9-5 loss to the Yankees.
Said Alderson: “We have to move some things around and try to get a little more offense.”
Curtis Granderson led off the game with a homer. But after the Mets followed by loading the bases with nobody out, they scored just once more in the inning. They repeated the feat in the seventh, the first three baserunners reaching with only one scoring on a groundout.
Bruce took the first shot. He had been traded from the Reds with a .360 average with runners in scoring position. But he struck out looking on three pitches and finished 0-for-4 with a walk. In his first two games as a member of the Mets, the three-time all-star is 0-for-8.
Cespedes started for the first time since Saturday and went 1-for-5. His quad limited him to duties as the designated hitter, a role he will fill with the Mets set to play in American League parks through Sunday. It will be during this five-game stretch that the Mets will determine weather their ailing slugger lands on the disabled list.
“I think what we’re going to try to do is see how he does these next five games as a designated hitter and we’ll make a decision based on how he feels,” Alderson said of Cespedes, who has the most homers and RBIs this season for the Mets.
The Mets entered the day scoring an average of only 3.71 runs per game, 13th in the National League. They can ill afford an absence by Cespedes, who still is feeling pain when he runs full speed, despite the rest that Collins has tried to provide.
On Wednesday, Cespedes felt well enough to golf before the game with former Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, who shared a photo of the duo on social media. Collins brushed off the optics of the star player golfing despite being on the brink of a stint on the disabled list.
“Was he running on the course or was he walking?” the manager said. “Did he ride on the cart or was he jogging? No, I don’t have any problem with it, no.”
Said Alderson: “I’ll let you know after the game tonight.”
When it comes to health, Collins estimated that Cespedes was at about 85 percent, meaning he isn’t even an option to play in the field. The injury has left the Mets with a collection of corner outfielders, including Bruce, without a clear-cut centerfielder.
Granderson played center on Wednesday, though the Mets are mindful of wearing down his legs by forcing him to cover more ground. Alejandro De Aza has experience in center as well, though he’s hitting only .211, even with his recent surge.
Leftfielder Michael Conforto has been forced into action in center despite his lack of speed. And Alderson suggested the early results have been promising, though scouts question if Conforto can stick in leftfield, much less in center.
Said Alderson: “I actually think Michael has a chance to be solid at that position based on some initial data that we have and knowing his work ethic and athleticism.”
Bruce’s arrival eventually may bolster the lineup but it does little for the outfield alignment. A rightfielder, he has little experience in center, though he, too may be forced into action there as well. Alderson is willing to let the defense “suffer slightly” in exchange for more runs.
“The problem is scoring runs,” Alderson said. “So if we have to sacrifice and the defense causes our ERA to go up a tenth of a point or what have you, hey, you’ve got to go for it. We want to try to get better.”
For one more night, however, it was more of the same.
..... - Newsday