Mets Player Performance Meter: Position players, June 24-30

Yesterday’s win saved this from being a recap of a week in which the Mets went 0-7. The Mets rallied late to pull off a victory and avoid their second straight sweep to finish the week 1-6. Despite that, there are some bright spots on the offensive side of things. Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso showed exactly why they were chosen for the All-Star game this week, carrying the offense from the top of the order. Dominic Smith also had a scorching week that included four home runs. However, Michael Conforto is uncharacteristically in a bit of a slump of late and Todd Frazier has cooled off somewhat.

The Mets’ two hottest hitters this week by far were Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith. It feels like I say this every week, but Jeff McNeil once again topped the Mets leaderboard in hits this week with twelve, which is good for an even .400 batting average for the week. Five of those hits went for extra bases, including one home run. He scored five runs, drove in seven (which also leads the team), and stole a base. He put up a 191 wRC+ for the week. As of this morning, McNeil leads the majors in batting among qualified hitters with a .348 batting average and earns his second fireball in a row.

McNeil took care of the hits, but Dominic Smith took care of the bombs, having a banner week in the home run department. He posted a 228 wRC+ for the week, buoyed by four long balls. Both marks lead the team this week. His home runs represent all four of his RBIs for the week, but he also scored seven runs, which also leads the team. He walked twice and swiped a bag as well this week.

Meanwhile, Pete Alonso continues to do Pete Alonso things. His eight hits this week are second only to McNeil for the team lead and his 149 wRC+ this week is behind only McNeil and Smith. Alonso continues to be selective at the plate, drawing four walks this week, which is tied for the team lead. This buoyed his on-base percentage to an impressive .424 for the week. Alonso scored four runs, drove in three, and stole a base this week.

Alonso’s high walk rate may be due, in part, to the fact that teams are beginning to pitch around him to get to Robinson Cano, who the Mets keep hitting in the three hole. However, that strategy did not pay off as much this week as it may have in weeks past. Cano also collected eight hits this week, matching Alonso for second on the team. Seven of those eight hits were singles, but it’s an important step forward for Cano as he tries to find a groove. Cano had two RBIs this week and posted a 96 wRC+ over 28 plate appearances.

J.D. Davis has shared time in left field with Dominic Smith, but with Smith hitting so well, Davis has mostly been relegated to the short side of a platoon situation, while also serving as the primary right-handed hitter off the bench. He has served well in that role this week and had a great week with the bat, continuing to show that he is perhaps the best offseason acquisition by Brodie Van Wagenen. Davis collected four hits and a walk in eleven plate appearances this week, scoring one run and driving in a run.

The only player other than Alonso to draw four walks this week was Michael Conforto, who is otherwise slumping. However, his two-out walk to load the bases ahead of Jeff McNeil last night was key in the Mets’ comeback rally in the eighth. Conforto had just four hits in 30 plate appearances this week, good for a .160 batting average and a 60 wRC+. He hit one home run, scored four runs, and drove in three.

Todd Frazier was also instrumental in yesterday’s comeback win, leading off the eighth inning with a solo homer, his third home run of the week. Normally three home runs would probably lead the team if not for Dominic Smith’s ridiculous week. Those three home runs represent all of Frazier’s extra base hits for the week. He also had four singles to make seven hits in all in 30 plate appearances. He posted a so-so 97 wRC+ for the week, but his six RBIs for the week are second only to McNeil for the team lead.

The Mets’ catching contingent had a decent week at the plate. Tomas Nido is still very much not hitting for power, but his batting average is steadily rising. This week, he collected four base hits and two RBIs in twelve plate appearances, continuing to serve as deGrom’s personal catcher. He also caught Syndergaard yesterday in his first start off the injured list.

Wilson Ramos posted a 93 wRC+ over 20 plate appearances this week. He collected five hits—four singles and a home run—and walked once. His solo home run represents his only run scored and his only RBI for the week.

Amed Rosario had a mediocre week at the plate this week after putting together a few solid weeks in a row. He put up a 58 wRC+ over 29 plate appearances. However, he is still showing occasional power, as he hit another home run this week, his ninth of the year, which already matches his entire 2018 total. Overall, he had six hits and drove in four runs. However, his six runs scored for the week are second only to Dominic Smith for the team lead.

The Mets’ late-inning defensive replacement/pinch running contingent continues to struggle. Carlos Gomez appeared in three games this week, but did not come to bat, as he was used exclusively for defense and pinch-running. Somewhat surprisingly, instead of opting to send down or cut a pitcher, the Mets designated Gomez for assignment when they activated Syndergaard from the injured list for yesterday’s game. However, he had fallen off a great deal with the bat since his hot start with the Mets. The Mets will see if Gomez clears waivers so that he can perhaps remain in the organization.

Now Juan Lagares, owed more money than Gomez, will be the sole player in that role. Lagares appeared in five games with six plate appearances this week. He went hitless and drew a walk.

Adeiny Hechavarria has seen his playing time decline considerably since the return of Robinson Cano and now serves a similar role to Lagares, but in the infield. He went hitless in four plate appearances this week, but stole a base and scored a run during yesterday’s eighth inning rally as a pinch runner, replacing Tomas Nido on the base paths.