New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte was one of the most disappointing players in 2023. After a great 2022 season where he batted .292 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs, Marte slipped to .248 with 5 home runs and 28 RBIs in 2023.
Injuries were a big factor in Marte’s 2023 regression. After playing in 118 games in 2022, Marte only played in 85 games in 2023, while battling migraines, and injuries to his neck and groin, the latter which shut him down for the remainder of that season after August 5.
Along with Marte, the Mets have other good and important hitters in their lineup, in Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Francisco Alvarez, etc. But over the last two seasons, Marte’s presence and absence from the lineup seemed to affect the Mets the most.
In 2022, Marte missed most of September after getting hit in the hand during an at bat in the early portion of that month. The Mets finished that year with 101 wins, but barely hovered around the .500 mark in September at 18-13. They blew the National League East division to the Atlanta Braves in late September and settled for a Wild Card spot.
In 2023, Marte never was 100% healthy to begin the year after having surgery on his groin in the offseason. It affected his play throughout the season. Along with his drop-off at the plate, Marte also was not the same on the outfield, in tracking down fly balls.
McNeil and Lindor also got off to slow starts, and Alonso slumped mightily in June and early July. But all of them fared much better in the second half. Marte’s struggles continued in the second half and was shut down in August.
When healthy, Marte impacts the Mets lineup in many ways. He will provide power close to 20 home runs and he provides speed on the basepaths. With his speed and power, Marte can also hit for extra bases with doubles and triples and can hit the ball the other way. Marte was also a clutch hitter for the Mets in 2022, often getting big hits late in games to put the Mets up ahead.
Alonso is the team’s best power hitter. Lindor also provides power and speed as evidenced by his 30-30-year last season. McNeil when on, can hit for a high average, and Nimmo’s on base skills as the leadoff hitter, is also big.
But Marte seems to make the Mets lineup go. His absence in September 2022 affected their offense and was a factor in the Mets blowing their division lead. And with his insufficient play all season in 2023, the Mets lineup never got things going consistently.
If Nimmo, McNeil, Lindor, Alonso and Alvarez all play up to their capabilities, the Mets should still boast a solid lineup. But a healthy Marte can boost the Mets lineup even more with his all-around skills, that can perhaps make the Mets more like the 2022 lineup that wreaked havoc all season that year.
I’m not disputing any of the points that you made David,* but I think that a very big factor for the Mets tending to do poorly is that where veterans (or $) is concern, the organization doesn’t pull the trigger fast enough in getting them out of the lineup. Marte, Carrasco for example. At the same time, they tend to pull the trigger or don’t seem to trust their youngsters/prospects. Vientos in particular. And let’s face it, if it wasn’t for injuries, Alvarez would not have been given a shot last year.** They certainly were reluctant to even call him up.***
Don’t know who is to blame for this mindset….the manager? the front office? Anyways, I have this fear that a rookie manager might be hesitant to rock the organizational boat.
* Did the offense in 2022 really “wreaked havoc”?
**Never made sense for the Mets to have given a two year contract to a mediocre veteran C if they really believed in Alvarez.
*** If you’re going to be a bad/mediocre team, I’d rather see youngsters who some may have a higher ceiling, then tried and true veteran shlubs. Way cheaper also.
I agree with you Footballhead. At his age, I think that Marte is going to see fewer at bats and will share duty in right field with Tyrone Taylor.
I don’t think that he is their most important hitter. I think it it is more important for Alonso to make improvements rather than look like Mark Reynolds.
Alonso will play 150 plus games regardless of his performance, whereas if Marte is really in decline he will get benched.
Also keep in mind that if any of the prospects rake in the minors in the first half of next season, that they could get a call up and Marte would be disposable.
Take this remark as you will, but I’m just trying to be helpful in my own limited way.
I am a great fan of footnotes¹ both in writing and reading²
I enjoy being helpful³
1. While holding down ALT type “0185” on your numeric keypad
2. ALT 0178
3. ALT 0179
It is unrealistic to have expectations that the 35 yoa will rebound to his 2022 stastics. A more realistic expectation should be 110 OPS+ and hope for 500 PA. Marte still can have an impact with his baserunning but he shouldn’t be thought of a core player going forward.
I hope that the Mets record this year “barely hovers around ” like they did at the end of 2022 (18-13). It would mean a 94 win season!
Is he that important? I think not. But, it was sad that the team went into the freezer as a whole in September 2022 and got swept in Atlanta. Shameful.
And it now appears that carried over to 2023. They just don’t have enough table setters to keep pressure on a pitcher and rack up high scoring games. Look at their lineup: mostly low average and lower OBP guys swinging for the fences.