Mets Player Performance Meter: Position players, September 16-22

Thanks in part to Coors Field and Great American Ballpark, the Mets’ offense put up a 117 wRC+ this week as a group—the second highest mark in the National League. They also accrued 1.3 fWAR this week collectively, which was tied for the most in the National League. This week featured Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil getting back on track and the continued resurgence of Brandon Nimmo, but also the cooling off of Michael Conforto and Robinson Cano.

We’ll start with Pete Alonso, who reached yet another milestone this week, blasting his 50th home run of the season and becoming just the second rookie to accomplish that feat in baseball history. It was one of three home runs he hit this week, which ties him for the team lead. He also leads the team in both runs scored with seven, RBIs with six, and wRC+ with a 212 for the week. His eight hits were tied for most on the team. Next he’ll set his eyes on the final prize in these last seven games of the season: the single season rookie home run record.

The other player to collect eight hits this week was Jeff McNeil, who also hit three home runs this week. He posted a 177 wRC+ over 28 plate appearances, continuing to show vastly increased power numbers in the second half, at the expense of some batting average. McNeil also walked twice, scored six runs, and drove in five runs.

As if two players with three home runs in a week wasn’t enough, the Mets actually had three players reach that mark this week. Brandon Nimmo also hit three home runs over his 27 plate appearances this week. Nimmo has been unstoppable since returning from the injured list and looks very much like the 2018 version of himself, which is about as encouraging a sign as the Mets could imagine heading into next season. Nimmo put up a 168 wRC+ overall this week with seven hits, five runs scored, five RBIs, and two walks.

This week also saw an uptick in offensive production from Amed Rosario, who had been slumping a bit heading into this week. Rosario put up a 145 wRC+ over 23 plate appearances this week, continuing to hover right around a 100 wRC+ for the season. Given his improvements on the defensive side in the second half, that mark will do just fine to make him roughly a three win player at shortstop. Of Rosario’s seven hits this week, four went for extra bases, including two home runs. He scored two runs and drove in five runs this week.

Despite the advantageous hitting environments on this road trip, some Mets hitters did cool off quite a bit from previous weeks. Robinson Cano had been on quite the hot streak since coming off the injured list, but he posted a lackluster 60 wRC+ this week over 23 plate appearances. He collected four hits—a single and three doubles—over that span. He walked once, scored a run, and drove in a run.

Despite hitting just .143 this week, Michael Conforto managed an 80 wRC+ thanks mostly to his six walks this week, which is by far the most on the team. He also drove in a respectable five runs this week thanks mostly to his towering three-run shot off Trevor Bauer in yesterday’s game that helped propel the Mets to victory, certainly a good sign that he may be emerging from his slump.

J.D. Davis also had an underwhelming week at the plate this week overall, putting up a .182/.250/.455 slash line over 12 plate appearances. He had just two hits, but one of them was a home run, which represented his only run batted in for the week. He scored three runs and walked once.

The Mets’ catching contingent did well for itself this week at the plate. Wilson Ramos posted a 120 wRC+ in 18 plate appearances, driving in a run and scoring twice. He collected four hits and walked twice. Tomas Nido had just two plate appearances, but hit a home run in one of them. Rene Rivera reached base once in his four plate appearances via the walk.

Todd Frazier posted a respectable, but unremarkable 104 wRC+ this week in 15 plate appearances. He had four hits—all singles—and two walks. He drove in a run and scored two runs this week. A free agent after this year, he is likely seeing his final at-bats as a Met.

Of the Mets’ bench players, Juan Lagares probably had the best week, smacking an RBI single in one of his two plate appearances this week and excelling as a defensive replacement, as usual. With his departure, the Mets will be in need of a true center fielder to act in his role next season.

Jed Lowrie has still yet to collect a hit as a New York Met, going hitless over three plate appearances. He did, however, reach base on a walk once this week. Luis Guillorme and Rajai Davis had just one plate appearance apiece this week and did not reach base. Joe Panik hit a single in one of his five plate appearances and scored a run. Sam Haggerty appeared in three games as a pinch runner, but did not have any plate appearances this week.