For the New York Mets to be great, Terry Collins needs to be better

Riding the Hot Bat

Many may not understand the difficulty a ball player experiences when he comes off the bench. There is no routine to follow, you could be called on at a moment’s notice.

This was the case with Wilmer Flores during the 2015 season. There were spurts where Flores was the most dangerous hitter in the National League.

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In a stretch dating from July 3 to July 7, Flores smacked 5 home runs with 10 runs batted in. That type of production can occur at any time when it comes to Wilmer’s batting skills. Collins will need to find the suitable playing time to harness that talent.

First base will also be a guessing game with the return of Lucas Duda. Duda will account for a large number of strikeouts, what Collins receives in return, are long balls that take your breath away. Duda can certainly mash the ball, as that has been on display over the past few seasons.

Health and inconsistency have tempered his ascent to becoming one of the predominant home run hitters in the league. James Loney, a more consistent contact hitter, could provide a better base to base approach.

Again, it will come down to Terry making the right decision on the right day, to whom should start.