MLB insider suggests the Marcus Semien injury is a NY Mets nightmare that it isn't

Leave it to Bob Nightengale to misunderstand what the Marcus Semien injury means to the New York Mets. After a two error game and 1 for 8 day at the plate in the doubleheader overall, Semien goes on the IL with a hip flexor strain that Nightengale seems to believe belongs on the list of bad things happening to the team.

The timing was impeccable with Ronny Mauricio returning from the IL a day prior and now replacing Semien on the roster. There is a path for Mauricio, after all, to get significant playing time. He had his chance when Francisco Lindor went down but suffered an injury of his own soon after.

The silver linings are plentiful for the Mets upon their loss of Semien. While no one wants the man to get hurt, because by all accounts he’s not a bad guy and his locker room presence is welcomed, the player has done more damage to the team than assistance.

Mets fans aren’t upset about losing Marcus Semien and his .613 OPS

Beastly with runners in scoring position this season, Semien lands on the IL with a .292/.333/.375 slash line in those situations. It does include 0 home runs and only 5 extra-base hits. The welcomed hitting with runners in scoring position only makes the amount of times he fails to start a rally stick out more.

Worth -3 OAA this season, Semien has been well-behind his usual run prevention ways. The defensive fall-off has included 6 errors vs. the 2 he made all of last season with the Texas Rangers. The Mets bought into his ability to save them runs even if he was going to be the .214 hitter he currently is.

Where the Mets may lose some steam is against left-handed pitchers. Semien is hitting .250/.321/.347 against southpaws on a roster loaded with lefties, many who haven’t done so well with reverse splits. 

Based on the Mets’ spot in the standings, the best outcome for them is to figure things out with the young kids. See who or what Mauricio can be. He’s the one guy who hasn’t gotten a long enough look. This should be his chance whether it’s at second base or third base.

Semien has performed well below all projections. Even with some of the league’s unluckiest numbers, there wasn’t nearly enough to show he was going to ever be close to the kind of player they needed him to be.

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