The time for waiting is over. If the New York Mets are going to make a push into the playoffs, they need Amed Rosario — and they need him now.
Just over a month ago, we called for the New York Mets to promote Amed Rosario. Obviously, the team didn’t listen back then.Maybe they’ll listen now that the Mets believe they can make an unlikely charge back into the National League playoff picture.
“We’re talking about making a run,” manager Terry Collins told the New York Post’s Zach Brazillier before Friday’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
But doing so is going to be difficult with a lineup that has featured just one consistent bat all season, Jay Bruce. Sure, Yoenis Cespedes and the currently injured Michael Conforto are capable of big things, but neither one has met expectations so far.
The Mets can’t rely on the other big bats they’ve got on the disabled list, Neil Walker and David Wright, to return to action anytime soon or to produce when they do get back on the field.
A team with its eyes on the playoffs can no longer give Jose Reyes regular playing time. While he still has value as a veteran leader, he’s killing the team at the plate, hitting just .202 with a .615 OPS.
That’s where Rosario comes in.
Rosario has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League this season, hitting .315 with seven home runs, 49 RBI and 14 stolen bases for the Las Vegas 51’s, the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
.@Amed_Rosario (@LasVegas51s – AAA @LosMets) de 5-2, 2CA, H3(6), .316Avg. pic.twitter.com/364TjYIgfZ
— Águilas Cibaeñas (@aguilascibaenas) June 28, 2017
Is there really any question that he would be an upgrade over Reyes at the plate?
While Rosario will one day be a fixture in the middle of the Mets lineup, Collins could plug him in as the team’s No. 2 hitter, behind Curtis Granderson, where his speed and ability to get on-base in front of the team’s other big boppers would be an asset.
He’d also be an upgrade defensively, as his glove is perhaps his biggest asset.
Here's top-Mets prospect @Amed_Rosario making a nice play at nice play at the hot corner for the @LasVegas51s last night pic.twitter.com/OXFLWvPnml
— Astro (@Astromets31) June 30, 2017
While Rosario can play third base, he’s athletic and versatile enough to play second base and shortstop as well. Having Rosario and Asdrubal Cabrera as a double-play combination would only help the Mets in their quest to battle for a spot in the playoffs.
Per Joe Giglio of NJ.com, General manager Sandy Alderson recently told reporters that he doesn’t want to bring Rosario up yet because he’s afraid of the pressure he’d face and what kind of impact it could have on the 21-year-old.
“If we’re playing well, there’s no real urgency to bring him up. If we’re playing poorly, I’d hesitate to bring him up because he’d be looked at as our potential savior. So it’s kind of a double whammy at the moment. On the other hand, if we get another two months into the season and things haven’t gone as well as we’ve hoped, maybe the future is now.”
Maybe he’s right to be concerned, but if the Mets are going to make a playoff push, they need a spark. Waiting another two months to promote Rosario isn’t going to help their cause.
Besides improved production, the Mets need to inject some excitement and athleticism into the lineup if they have any chance to
They need a player just like Rosario.
