At the beginning of the season I would have thought this statement was madness. Even up until the end of April, I would have said you were probably wrong, but maybe not as wrong as previously thought. But the numbers don’t lie, and when Eric Young, Jr. is in the lineup, the Mets score and win.
In 166 ABs, Young, Jr. has scored 31 times. That’s good for an almost 19% Run/AB. Daniel Murphy, who currently leads the team with 47 runs in 309 ABs has a rate of 15%. David Wright stands at 11%, Curtis Granderson at 13%, and Lucas Duda and Juan Lagares are both hovering around 12%. This is not a widely used statistic of course, but it’s a good way to show just exactly what Young, Jr. is bringing to the Mets. When he’s in he scores runs, and runs lead to wins.
The last time Young, Jr. scored a run, and the Mets did not win was back on May 3 versus the Colorado Rockies. Granted Young, Jr. was hurt for a good portion of time between then and now, but that’s still a length of 22 games played. Meanwhile, the Mets winning percentage with Young, Jr. in the lineup is almost 46%. That’s a better percentage than Lagares and Bobby Abreu, two guys who fans have been clamoring to have play more.
This does not mean that Young, Jr. is the make or break element to the Mets making the playoffs, but he seems to be a strong part of making the Mets a more consistently winning team. Other factors weigh heavily as well, good starting and bullpen pitching, avoiding dumb base running mistakes, better hitting with RISP, etc. But Young, Jr. definitely deserves some credit.
Even when he doesn’t get on base, which is a lot, he can play havoc with the defense. He can bunt for a hit, forcing the defense to move around the diamond, and potentially create an error. His speed and defense in the outfield has been better than what some expected. And frankly when Lagares comes back this week, it will be tough to pit Young, Jr.’s successes against Chris Young‘s struggles.
The fact of the matter is that Young will most likely be traded to a competitive team who is looking for some pop from the bench and/or a fourth outfielder. Young may be more than that, but he has yet to show this with the Mets, and at this point he just needs a change of scenery to get away from the boo-birds. That leaves an outfield of Young, Jr., Lagares, and Granderson to play the majority of the remaining season. It has proven to be the most effective outfield for the Mets so far, and should continue to be used.
On a better club, Young, Jr. would probably not get as much playing time, or be such a vital aspect of a team’s offense. This Mets team is not a better club, though. They play brilliantly at times, and then fall completely on their faces the next night. Consistency in many areas is something that’s been lacking for most of the year, and this is a point to which Terry Collins can fix that.
By putting out a regular outfield, while giving Abreu his days to hit, Collins can take away a point of concern, and deal with other issues. And there are plenty. Shortstop is still a guessing game of who is starting today. Travis d’Arnaud is coming back, but nobody knows what we’ll get from the young backstop. Meanwhile the bullpen has been Collins Achilles heel all season, and he needs as little distraction as possible to manage that better. Make your life a little easier Terry, and just keep penciling in your speedster.
Simply put, the best lead off hitter on the team is Curtis Granderson. That is evident from his lifetime of statistics and his stats this year alone.
If you are going to put Young at the 9th spot, well, we’ve seen that story lately. Its 25 plate appearances and 3 runs scored. Not thrilling.
I’m not saying Young can’t have a purpose, but if the best you can get out of a LFer is the 9th batter in your lineup … you have some issues with LF.
Hey, I get it, the guy produces something. We are using a phenomenal number of outs by players that don’t produce, so its not like have no use for EYJ. But the ABs in the outfield go to the three guys that can hit – and there can’t be any mistake that it should be going Grandy/Lagares/Abreu.
Effective immediately. And for crissakes, show enough balls to cut CY.
Sorry Jerry but when was the last time this FO or ownership showed us any cojones? SA will tell TC to continue using CY and hope he gets hot just before the trading deadline so he can show us how adept he is at signing old fossils with potential. Just a thought. What happens if they trade Abreu at the deadline?
“when was the last time this FO showed us any cojanes?” You have intermediate memory loss. Consider us cutting ties with the likes of Bay et al; this team does act quickly on *contract related issues* – it moves slowly on talent related issues.
“what happens if they trade BA at the deadline?” I hope that to be the outcome. I don’t believe that EYJ or BA have long term impact for the Mets. One of the two will garner new talent at the deadline, obviously I think Abreu is that guy.
Therefore it only makes sense to give ABs to the guy – “showcase” – that you will trade later. Now, that is a FO talking not a coach. If, as people believe, SA controls TC, we would see that.
I doubt the former comment and most assuredly doubt we’ll see the latter.
thanks,
JG
Jerry don’t forget Bay gave them financial breathing room when he allowed the FO and the Wilpons to defer the remainder of his contract over several years. I agree you have to give players like CY and BA so you can move them at the trading deadline and continue to add to the farm system.
Absolutely right but Terry Collins is double minded and won’t do it. Collins need to be fired. Putting Campbell in clean up. A better manager they would be over 500 now not 35-41
I enjoyed your thoughtful and balanced argument for EY but can’t support the conclusion that a player with a 629 OPS should be the starting left fielder.
EY’s strength is his elite baserunning and his weakness is his inability to consistently get on base with a 318 OBP. The logical conclusion is to use him, when the situation presents itself, as a pinch runner in a key spot of the game. EY will still get his opportunity to play when an OF is injured or rested but he is not an everyday player.