The Crane Pool Forum

Bring back Baty After The Break!


He was slugging .610 before taking a collar each of the last two games and is stlll OPSing at .899. He has six games at second and can get some more in over the next week. Bringing him back would get the Mets a sixth infielder which a safer and healthier way to live, allow McNiblets to become the not-so-super utility guy which would be the best chance to justify his continued presence at this point, and it would displace Ben Gamel, who doesn't really have a role on the roster anyhow.

Telling him now that he's returning after the break will kick in some positive hormones and he can finish his internship at second without living like his livelihood is on the line.

He could start four or five games out of 10 to start not taking too much from any one player, maybe three games at second and two at third until everybody sees how things are developing.

Let's throw him the bone! Look how dark things are in the International League! But there he is, playing second like a dude!

Why? Iglesias has been hitting and plays marvelous defense at second (and third). Frankly, at this point Baty is insurance if something happens. He's certainly not taking the third base job away from Vientos. Baty's had numerous chances and hasn't really performed. He should be stashed quietly at Syracuse until a need arises.

LBRWHIUWNH!!!! (Leave Baty Right Where He Is Unless We Need Him)

Because he can contribute in ways Gamel cannot, in the short term and the long.

I say we need him and have ever since Marte went down. We've just had that disguised by several totally hot guys in the lineup.

That's not true so much any longer. We can get more from the left side than McNeil, Stewart, and Gamel have offered, while not particularly cutting into the playing time of José Iglesias much at all.

Edgy MD wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:49 pm Because he can contribute in ways Gamel cannot, in the short term and the long.

I say we need him and have ever since Marte went down. We've just had that disguised by several totally hot guys in the lineup.

That's not true so much any longer. We can get more from the left side than McNeil, Stewart, and Gamel have offered, while not particularly cutting into the playing time of José Iglesias much at all.

I like having him here in Syracuse. For purely selfish reasons I'll admit. He's raking against AAA pitching. He won't play enough at the MLB level were they to call him up - I don't know that his 2B defense is ready (and the last couple of games I've attended he's been at 3B, not 2B). You're not going to displace Iglesias who is hitting over .300 and playing strong 2B defense (and keeps Lindor happy at the keystone, not to be discounted).

I can see him taking over for DJ Stewart or Gamel, some reps in the outfield wouldn't be a bad idea.

There is absolutely a roster spot, as DJ Stewart is not adding value.

Is he benefitting from playing everyday? Might he regress up here in a minor role ?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 7:13 am I can see him taking over for DJ Stewart or Gamel, some reps in the outfield wouldn't be a bad idea.

I was thinking more like deployments in the infield that bump McNerfles to the outfield. But the playing time would come out the same.

metirish wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:19 am Is he benefitting from playing everyday? Might he regress up here in a minor role ?

That's certainly a concern, but I think there's an opportunity with the Mets to initially start five games in 10. I would hope that's enough action to keep his talents from atrophying.

Syracuse scratched out a 4-3 victory last night, on the strength of a three-run homer by Mr. Baty.

If you bump McNeil out to RF, you put Iglesias at second. You don't bench him in favor of Baty. And if you don't play Baty, what's the point?

Agreed with deep-sixing DJ. He's done virtually nothing.

Speaking of McNeil, Jayson Stark handed out his mid-season awards for The Athletic in the categories of MVP, Cy Young award, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Yuk award and LVP (the L is for "Least"). Only one Met made a showing in Stark's awards: Jeff McNeil finished third in his LVP rankings.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/563292 ... ni-skenes/

Lefty Specialist wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 12:20 pm If you bump McNeil out to RF, you put Iglesias at second. You don't bench him in favor of Baty. And if you don't play Baty, what's the point?

Well, there are different lineups on different days, with plenty of opportunities to go around.

Gamel is starting about one game in ten. You can give that game to Baty, along with Gamel's roster spot. That's one.

Stewart is starting about three games in ten. You can give one of those to Baty. That's two.

McNeil is starting about five games in ten, and is, as noted, nearly the least valuable player in the league. Surely two of those games can be taken and given to Baty. That's four.

That puts us within one game of Baty playing 50% of the time, without yet taking any games away from Iglesias, Vientos, or Lindor. Surely taking a game from one of them every thirty games won't upset the apple hat, and that gets us to a 50% starting rate for the guy.

That's a role. That's being a part of things. That's doing a lot more with the roster spot than giving it to Gamel, who simply has no role, having appeared only once since July 5, as a pinch-runner who stayed in the game to play a single inning in the outfield.

Talent can stagnate not playing enough in the majors. That's true. But it can also stagnate being stuck in the minors.

He's simply got more to give, though I think Gamel is adorable.

While he had been hitting for power and average at Syracuse, his average has been dropping like a prom dress - down to .277.
I could be the result of trying to be noticed/ brought up and going only for power. Or it could be water seeking it's own level. (Another reason might be he's trying to look good to other teams as trade bait- he wants to get out of the organization)
Whatever the cause, I need to see if he can pull himself out of the slump while feeling comfortable playing second base. That would be a true test in my mind before I would recall him.

Later

Dropping to .277 hardly seems to be a real issue when McNeil is up to .215.

He was hitting close to .350 only a few weeks ago.
I'd still like to see him turn the ship around before I recall him.
There's no urgency to rush it.
Later

I'd like Baty to get some reps at the MLB level to showcase him more than anything

Looking forward Acuna and Mauricio will likely pass Baty sooner rather than later on the depth chart

MFS62 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 2:02 pm He was hitting close to .350 only a few weeks ago.

Yes, that's the nature of small sample sizes. He took two collars in two days, and his average went down, but there's no need to conclude that's a pattern as he turned around and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored and three RBI yesterday.

MFS62 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 2:02 pmI'd still like to see him turn the ship around before I recall him.

I'm not sure what "turning the ship around" looks like. He's done great. He's unquestionably the top lefthanded hitter on the team, and the Mets unquestionably have room for improvement among their lefthanded bats.

MFS62 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 2:02 pmThere's no urgency to rush it.

I have an urge to improve the team. I don't see any evidence that a callup after the break can be regarded as a rush.

After further review

If Baty can be worked in at the expense of DJ Stewart or Gamel I'm all for it

Geez, DJ Stewart has fallen off a cliff

Baty and break have a new meaning: Brett's left index finger was fractured by HBP the other night. Out 4-6 weeks, or what's left of the season.

Blurgh.

At least he can end his Syracuse limbo.