There have been so many people who cycled through here in this injury-marred season, that it’s hard to remember them all. So, as the season and playoff hopes slide through our hands, let’s take a moment to recall the Bench Mob, including ones who may or may not have been around in the first half when that group made its name.
Kevin Pillar – Even those of us who weren’t his biggest fans were inspired by how hard he played and how he bounced back from getting hit in the face with a pitched ball. Still, none of us wanted him to log 323 PA this season.
Tomas Nido – Had moments where the hits fell in for him and he was certainly missed when he was on the IL. He’s an okay backup catcher, as long as he’s not pulling in too much money. While it never felt like he was an automatic out, a .610 OPS isn’t anything for which to perform cartwheels.
Luis Guillorme – Could have had substantial playing time this year if he wasn’t on the IL at the wrong times. Still, it seemed like a step forward for him this season and very few will complain if he’s on the team next year.
Jose Peraza – Right now he has more PA as a Met than Javier Baez, which doesn’t seem possible with all of the time he was either injured or in the minors. He seems like a solid reserve/pinch-hitter but it’s hard to imagine carrying both Peraza and Guillorme going forward.
Billy McKinney – Ah, yes, the star of the Bench Mob. There was a two-week period where he was terrific. But in his final 55 PA with the Mets, he posted a .484 OPS. And in 98 PA with the Dodgers after leaving the Mets, McKinney has a .507 OPS.
Brandon Drury – He resurrected his career with a .783 OPS in 88 PA with the Mets. He probably won’t be in Queens next year but seems likely to be in the majors with some team.
Patrick Mazeika – He obtained cult status with a couple of clutch run-scoring fielder’s choices. But at the end of the day, they were outs, something he proved quite good at achieving. While no one should ever want to see him in the batter’s box ever again for the Mets, maybe we can start his coaching career now. Seems like he might have a future there.
Albert Almora – His (-11) OPS+ speaks for itself. He’s still under team control but if the Mets tender him a contract, we should riot.
Mason Williams – Looked like a major leaguer to me when he was with the club. Would welcome him back as minor league depth for next season.
Cameron Maybin – Have always been a fan, ever since my brother told me he used to be a bat boy for the Asheville Tourists. But no great backstory can make up for a .218 OPS.
Travis Blankenhorn – He wasn’t Almora/Maybin bad but it wasn’t much fun to see him in the lineup, either. Only got 24 PA with the club but it seemed like he made more outs than that.
Johneshwy Fargas – Played well in his brief stint with the Mets before getting hurt. Is now with the Cubs, although not doing quite as well there as he did in Queens.
Khalil Lee – He’s tearing it up at Triple-A Syracuse. He didn’t look ready for the majors when we saw him.
Wilfredo Tovar – Had already forgotten that he made it back to the majors this year with the Mets.
Chance Sisco – Didn’t hit here but he still should have played over Mazeika.
Jake Hager – Got the same number of PA with the Mets (8) as Jerad Eickhoff and was nowhere near as productive.
Interesting gang for sure. Looks to be about on par with a late 1970s Met starting line up. I guess Villar graduated, so congratulations to him…it should result in a nice 2022 payday if they play.
And somehow this team is under .500
Pillar, Villar, and Peraza were all big plusses… held the team together when there was not much else. Guillorme was solid and I expect would have gotten his bat going at some point. He’s a man, and he just needs playing time to be productive… but he contributes. Looking forward to Khalil Lee getting here… maybe the next Conforto, with speed. The bench and Jake’s incredible start were the best two things about the season.
The Syracuse Mets probably could have been pretty good had the Mets not kept needing to ravage the team.
The Bench Mob was a ray of sunshine in a partly cloudy season.
Pillar has a team option with $1.4m raise that should be exercised.
Guillorme and Nido should be tendered.
Peraza, Drury and Williams should be offered minor league contracts.
Villar should be retained with a raise unless they sign Byrant or Semian.
Filling a bench before the season may be a minor issue, but the case is fairly simple for the Mets this year. Bring back Villar, Pillar, Guillorme, and Peraza. Batting average does not matter, because no one in those positions get any rhythm. Each of those guys distinguished themselves as what you want in a bench player. Good D, a quality AB, and the minimum of mistakes. Of the four, Guillorme was the most erratic, but we know he is solid and can even get on base when he gets playing time. Peraza and Pillar were similar, amazingly quality contact in few opportunities. Villar had a great season. I never thought I’d say that…