Mets try to compete while starting a sub-par Triple-A outfield

When the season started, the Mets weren’t scoring runs because their regulars got off to slow starts. Now, they’re not scoring runs because the regulars are injured, the backups are injured and they’re playing guys who, quite frankly, aren’t MLB quality. And we still haven’t seen Mallex Smith. What’s that – he’s injured, too? That’s too bad, as he would have fit in perfectly with the balsa wood lineup the Mets are currently trotting out there.

The Mets’ Opening Day roster had five outfielders on it and four of them are on the IL and the fifth one is playing first base because of another injury on the team. In their last game, the Mets’ starting outfield was Cameron Maybin, Johneshwy Fargas and Khalil Lee. That’s two guys who weren’t in the organization in the second week of February and a third who had over 2,200 PA in the minors without ever appearing in the majors.

Maybin was purchased from the Cubs on May 18 – allegedly for $1. He’s a former first-round draft pick, one who’s been in the majors since 2007. He didn’t have the career that many hoped for but it’s hard to be disappointed with a guy who’s spent 15 years in the majors. He was really good for the Yankees back in 2019, as he put up a 126 OPS+ in 269 PA. In 33 games since then, Maybin has a .666 OPS. Let’s hope that’s not a sign.

Fargas signed as a minor league free agent with the Mets back in January of 2020. He was solid for them in Grapefruit League play, posting a .783 OPS. But he didn’t get any professional ABs once 2020 started with the lack of a minor league season and not getting a call from the alternate site. He did even better this year in Florida, posting an .875 OPS. But it was in about half of the playing time he got in 2020, as the Mets were more interested in seeing Albert Almora and Brandon Drury get ABs. Fargas went to Syracuse, where he swiped eight bases in eight games. He’s on the top step of the dugout in the majors, roots hard for his teammates and looks generally happy to be here.

Lee was the toolsy prospect that the Mets picked up in a three-team trade for a minor league reliever and a PTBNL. Right now, we’re concerned who that PTBNL will be because Lee looked completely overmatched in Spring Training and he’s 0-8 with 8 Ks in the majors so far. He looks good in the uniform and if he ever makes contact, the ball might go a long way.

It hasn’t been a great year for offense so far in the majors, as the 30 teams have combined for a 4.36 runs per game average, down from 4.65 a season ago. Of course, pitchers are hitting again in the NL and April is the worst month of the season for offense. Maybe once the summer months come, rpg will be where it was last year.

Still, we’re looking at a 4.36 rpg average for MLB. In the Mets’ last 10 games, they’ve put up a 3.7 rpg and that’s with a seven-run game in the stretch. Six times in the last 10 games, the Mets have scored three runs or fewer. Impressively, they’ve gone 6-4 with that offense and two of the losses were one-run games that they lost in the ninth inning.

It’s hard to imagine the offense putting up better numbers until the regulars return, as we’re looking at the worst lineup since the days when Eric Campbell and John Mayberry Jr. were holding down the middle of the order. Fortunately, the next opponent is the Marlins, who have great pitching but who aren’t exactly setting the world on fire with their offense, either. The Marlins average 3.95 rpg and have scored three runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games.

This would be a good time for Francisco Lindor to start hitting. Earlier this month it looked like the breakout was happening. But in his last six games, it’s been back to lousy, as he’s gone 3-23 with a .504 OPS.