NEW YORK – Brett Baty is day to day as far as playing time is concerned. But Mets manager Carlos Mendoza appears to be warming up to the infielder.
Before Saturday’s game against the Cubs, Mendoza talked about Baty’s athleticism. The skipper is comfortable starting the left-handed-hitting Baty at second base, but that position belongs to Luisangel Acuña.
Mendoza even raved about Baty’s skills at shortstop. Baty’s range during batting practice is impressive, the skipper said. Everyone knows, however, that no one is replacing Francisco Lindor at the position.
“That goes to show you that [Baty] not only has the footwork, but he has good hands,” Mendoza said. “He has the ability to throw from different angles. But he has the ability to adjust, too. Defensively, he is pretty good.”
For now, anyway, Baty is fighting for playing time at third base. On Saturday, he was in the starting lineup at the hot corner for the second consecutive day, and he took advantage of the situation in the Mets’ 6-5 loss to Chicago at Citi Field.
Baty did it all for New York, going 2-for-4 with two homers and driving in all five Mets runs, a career high.
Baty’s first homer, which came in the fourth inning, almost changed the complexion of the game. With the Mets down 4-0, Baty made it a one-run game by hitting a three-run bomb off rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who was making his MLB debut.
Baty put the Mets on his back once again in the bottom of the eighth. With New York down, 6-3, Baty hit a 3-1 fastball from right-hander Julian Merryweather for a two-run shot over the left-field wall. It was Baty’s second two-homer game of his career.
According to Mendoza, Baty’s recent success at the plate started before he was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse on April 24.
“The last 10 games [before] he was sent down, he was attacking his pitches, putting the barrel on the ball and using the [entire field],” Mendoza said. “He went to Triple-A for a little bit, and since he has been back, it’s the same thing.
“[He has] conviction with his swing decisions and driving the ball to all fields. Even with two strikes, he was staying short with a lefty today. We saw him hit a solid line drive to left field. There is a lot to like right now. He is getting ready on time. That’s where it starts.”
The Mets suddenly have a good problem at third base. They have to choose between Baty and Mark Vientos. When asked if he earned the chance to play every day, Baty said. “I don’t make those decisions. I don’t want to make those decisions. When my name is in the lineup, I want to be the best player I can be.”
One thing can be said about Baty: When things go wrong on the field or when he is sent down to the Minor Leagues, he doesn’t mope or feel sorry for himself. He works even harder to get back to the big leagues. He did that, and it’s safe to say he will be in The Show for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Mendoza said. “I have 13 position players that are pretty good. I somehow have to do this type of rotation and keep everyone fresh, active and contributing. We’ll do that with Brett and some of the other guys, too.”
Baty wasn’t the only one with RBI chances. In the seventh, the Mets had a chance to at least tie the game at 4. With Cubs right-hander Daniel Palencia on the mound, New York had runners on first and second with one out, but Juan Soto struck out and Pete Alonso grounded into a forceout to end the threat.
The Mets had another chance in the ninth inning against Porter Hodge. After drawing a walk to start the frame, Jeff McNeil was replaced by pinch-runner José Azocar, who represented the tying run, but Lindor hit into a double play. Soto followed and grounded out to end the game.
“We created traffic and we couldn’t come up with the big hit, but I’ll take my chances every night as long as we continue to put guys on base. More times than not, those guys will come through,” Mendoza said. “You have to give [the Cubs] credit.”