Eric Campbell deserves 
to be playing more. Actually, Eric Campbell deserves to be starting. It’s obvious that the Mets are having struggles offensively. Bobby Abreu, Chris Young, Eric Young Jr. and Curtis Granderson make up the four potential outfielders on a daily basis.
Campbell hit .326 with a .437 OBP in two seasons at AAA (153 games). His career minor league numbers are a .284 AVG with a .380 OBP in 661 career minor league games. The fact is the kid can hit and he can get on base. He isn’t going to be a superstar that hits 25-30 home runs and drives in 100 runs, but he will do what the Mets so desperate need players to do right now and that is hit.
Campbell has been a starter at every minor league level. Calling him up and letting him sit on the bench in favor of Chris Young is just not practical. Campbell isn’t groomed for the pinch hit/utility role, nor should he be used in that capacity.
Now I’m not suggesting that Eric Campbell being infused into the lineup is the solution to all of the Mets hitting woes, but he certainly wouldn’t make them any worse. In fact, odds are that he would help them.
The biggest concern with Campbell playing every day is his defense in the outfield. Critics say that whatever Campbell would do with the bat would be cancelled out by his fielding. Well first off, Chris Young’s defense has been far from stellar. A certain 14th inning in Philadelphia tends to stick out in my head. Plus when Terry Collins is running out Eric Young Jr. and Bobby Abreu, it’s clear that defense isn’t his main priority.
Plus Campbell has experience playing the outfield in the minors. He has played in over 200 career games in the outfield during his seven seasons in the minors. This is far from the Lucas Duda or Daniel Murphy experiments where you are trying to find a guy a home to get his bat into the lineup. Campbell can play a position that is hitting poorly.
Terry Collins said today that he winning takes precedent over development of younger players. I would ask him is playing Chris Young everyday really helping the Mets get back to winning ways? It’s pretty clear we all know the answer to that question.
Campbell has only been given 51 major league at bats. And he has looked very good in that small sample size. A .294 AVG with a .345 OBP seems exactly what the Mets could use in the lineup. Campbell is hitting right around what he did in the minors and his on-base percentage is a little lower that it should be.
Collins wants to wins games and has said in the past that he is going to put offense over defense in order to make that happen. Well Mr. Collins, Chris Young’s .200 AVG isn’t getting it done. He isn’t hitting for power, he isn’t hitting for much of anything. Eric Campbell may thrive with regular playing time, he may not. But at this point in the season, you have to try to catch lighting in a bottle. At it seems that Eric Campbell may just be that lighting.
I couldn’t agree more. As a matter of fact, I’d release C Young an eat the balance of his more than gratuitous contract
Eric Campbell should play instead of Chris young or over Lucas Duda at first base.
This another example why Collins should be fired.
It’s time for the Mets to make a move like this. Put Chris Young on the bench and let’s see what “Soup” can do.
Within a few days, Juan Lagares will be playing CF, and obviously Granny keeps playing.
If Campbell could place a stake in the ground, I have no issue in moving Abreu right now for a A/A+ prospect.
I don’t see the Mets moving Abreu before the trading deadline.
Eric Campbell is just another hot AAA player that has come up to the Mets and has been cooling ever since on the bench. At the least, he should have been getting some OF at bats at the expense of CY as your article rightly points out.
The most obvious place to find Campbell at bats is at first base when a lefty is on the mound. He has a 930 OPS compared to Duda’s 422 OPS against left handers.
Campbell has been starting every game we have faced a lefty. Problem is, we haven’t faced a lefty in 2 weeks. Last one was June 5th against the Cub’s Travis Wood. He’ll be in there today against the lefty Heaney and it looks like he might get another against the A’s.
And don’t forget that Terry Collins doesn’t play Wilmer Flores much because he has Honus Wagner on the roster to play at shortstop.
Collins says it’s about winning right now, not developing players. Guess what Terry, we are not winning. Guys like Young, Tejada, Duda should be sitting or the most platooning. Young should just be released and eat contract or sit on bench and eat contract, just not play and get outs while eating contract. Play Campbell, Flores for an extended time to see what they can do. We know what the others can’t do and that is win.
Couldn’t agree more with this article and the comments following. Campbell needs to play more. I thought his versatility would make it easier for TC to incorporate him into the lineup alittle more, but he’s clearly just made him a right hander platoon first baseman at best.
I too don’t see how playing Tejada/CY correlates with winning now either. Seems to me Flores/Campbell have more potential and abillity to drive ball consistently, regardless of what stage in their “development” is. Power is something this team badly needs.