Gary Cohen used to have an awesome tag line for Mets games when Juan Lagares was playing center field, "where extra base hits go to die". It was very true - Lagares was an extremely talented defensive center fielder. Great speed, great jump, great balance - he chased down balls that most players could not get to.
The problem with Lagares that led to the Mets' decision to let him walk away as a free agent was that Lagares couldn't hit for average or power. In eight seasons with the Mets, he had a batting average of .254 and a total of 22 home runs.
The same can be said for a long list of center fielders that have roamed the grass at Shea Stadium and Citi Field since the last world championship in 1986. Once Mookie and Lenny moved on, the Mets have sent the following players through the turnstile as their primary center fielder:
Daryl Boston
Howard Johnson (didn't remember that HoJo played center in 1992)
Ryan Thompson
Brett Butler
Lance Johnson
Carl Everett
Bryan McRae
Jay Payton
Timo Perez
Jeff Duncan
Mark Cameron
Carlos Beltran
Angel Pagan
Carlos Torres
Juan Lagares
Brandon Nimmo
Harrison Bader
Tyrone Taylor
Jose Siri
Cedric Mullins
Other than Carlos Beltran, who was a bona-fide all-star at the position this has been a long string of defense-first outfielders that come in with promise and then leave when the team sours on their lack of offensive production.
Does this story ring true to you? Starting with Pagan, the list of players reads like a broken record - all guys with a defense-first mindset that struggle at the plate. I'll grant that Brandon Nimmo has provided more offense than his peers on the list via a high OBP, but his career average of .260 still leaves me longing for the return of Tommy Agee.
So why, at this year's trade deadline, does David Stearns trade for Cedric Mullins? Cedric is a very capable center fielder, but with the exception of 2021 when he hit .291, Cedric is a mediocre .249 career hitter with unexceptional power. With the Mets this year, Cedric has put up a .194/.297/.323 slash line which is actually worse than Tyrone Taylor.
We didn't give up much to get Mullins, but he is just another in a long list of low offensive output guys that play center for the Mets and then head to the Elephant's Graveyard.
My personal opinion is that we were better off with Jeff McNeil in center because you could at least count on him to hit even though he does not have the range or speed of a Siri/Taylor/Mullins. The Mets could have held serve with McNeil until one of Jett Williams, Nick Morabito, or Carson Benge comes of age and gives us a legitimate shot at a dual threat in center for the first time since Carlos Beltran.
I look forward to that day.
19 comments:
All this will change around next June when the Carson Benge show comes to town.
But, a sidebar please...
It was late. I was an hour past the normal time I took my sleeping pill, the Mets were winning 78-0, and their best starter was cruzing. Well, maybe not cruzing but he was tossing a shutout with a decent pitch count to boot.
I turned to Mrs. Mack and said she could put on anything she wanted to but she passed saying saying it was a sweet offer but she was tired and was going to turn in.
So I turned down the sound and laid back watching what would develop into another pitching disaster.
This is what you get in humid August when your rotation spent the morning filing for social security.
True, your starter was the youngin in the rotation and he was the best of the lot, but it’s like sitting three hours in a pressurized cabin with a flight full of passengers with Legionaire's Disease. It will become part of you.
Don't blame this on the next guy that hit the mound and give no credit to Michael Frigging Taylor. Neither should have entered the picture.
Walks?
As someone said on X last night, even Jeff Francour would have walked in this game.
As outfield youth begins next June, starter youth begins Saturday, but 2026 will be determined by the current 26 and their erratic manager.
So, lay back and unenjoy it.
And that leaves out secondary gems such as Keon Broxton, Almora Jr, and Matt “DD” den Dekker. This team, as my brother often says, has a historical record of generating very little home-grown offensive talent. Center Field is one such area.
Beltran was an import, while importLance Johnson put up one of the greatest offensive seasons in Mets history, but went the next year in a mid season trade. 232 games, .326, 66 steals, 27 triples, 160 runs, just 60 Ks. Man, could the Mets use THAT!
Lagares didn’t just have hitting woes. He was banged up more than Evel Knievel. I used to get mad at his multi-month absences that were caused by trying to make the dangerously spectacular play when the Mets trailed by 8 runs.
Jett or Benge in CF, Morabito as a legit 4th OF? I am ready for that.
The unwatchables.
I am hoping that Benge will take over center sometime next year and put up the numbers you are looking for. Also hoping either Morabito or Ewing will be the fourth outfielder that will provide batting average with speed in the field and the base paths. (Have Williams as my 2nd baseman).
More on this on Friday
I saw the whole game, except for Soto’s HR. All I could say is Mendoza’s having a bad year. He needs to figure out if he will keep his job or satisfy his babies.
Alonso got thrown out at home, running on a 3-2 pitch!!! The lack of focus up and down the roster is criminal. I want to start seeing more Mauricio and Vientos, starting today. It’s time to realize these guys have no fight in them.
The “no fight” part is truly sad.
I did not even look at the box score. That sad.
My prediction
Benge will become the starting Mets centerfielder around July 1
He will eventually be the best homegrown centerfielder since Daryl Strawberry
Morabito will become the OF4 around OD 2027
Ewing will be a major piece in a trade package this off-season for a real third baseman
It hurts worse when it is the Braves
I can't believe what I saw in that replay of Alonso
awkward and lumbered turning of third that looked like it was at the speed of one mile per hour.
What was he thinking 🤔
Did he think the Brave that threw that ball home was instead sitting on the grass and applauding his previous night's accomplishment?
Please do not trade Ewing. He's the type of player winning teams crave . We have a third baseman. Benge or Williams our OD center fielder.
But where do you play him?
Benge in center
Nimmo and Soto long contracts
Trade Nimmo and Soto goes to DH.
Soto go to DH?
HOW LONG?
10 YEARS????
If they can trade Nimmo, then he can stay in RF for a few more years. Until Morobito or Ewing can replace him in the OF.
That’s exactly what he thought. He didn’t even start running hard until halfway home. By then the ball was on its way. This team just isn’t hungry.
Time to trade Nimmo to make room for upcoming prospects.
I understand but he is going nowhere
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