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Questionable NY Mets decision shouldn't be ignored because so much else went wrong

From start to finish, the Mets don't seem to have the right sense of urgency.
ByTim Boyle|
New York Mets v San Diego Padres
New York Mets v San Diego Padres | Orlando Ramirez/GettyImages

Should the New York Mets be worried? If they aren’t, they haven’t passed by a mirror recently. It’s one thing to have little fear in the teams chasing you. Their problem is they aren’t making the best winning moves possible at every corner.

Wednesday’s lineup was a perfect example. A strange newfound faith in Luisangel Acuna landed him at second base in the number nine spot. This wasn’t the difference in the game. It just seemed like a lack of urgency on their part.

Acuna didn’t even make it through the game. Lifted for Brett Baty with the team already trailing 8-1 in the seventh, it seemed like poor planning. Carlos Mendoza didn’t have a good enough explanation pregame either.

The Mets are setting themselves up for losses with moves like this

A part of the rationale to have Acuna in the game at second base was the loaded Philadelphia Phillies lineup with lefties. Acuna’s defense at second base is viewed superior to Jeff McNeil (who sat) and Brett Baty. In either way, it clashes with the team’s need for offense. What’s more, the numbers back it up.

McNeil has hit .286/.390/.429 versus lefties this season. His .819 OPS is the best of anyone with more than 10 at-bats against lefties. Why sit him?

Baty isn’t even far behind Acuna versus southpaws. Both now have a .250 batting average with Acuna owning a slight edge in OBP. It’s peanuts to compare the two. The more important thing is to have Acuna readily available for when the Mets would need him most: late in the game for his speed. He’s the quickest player on the team and among the top in sprint speed throughout the entire league. If his defense is so awesome, it’s best to keep it ready for those final big outs late.

A case can’t really be made to sit McNeil against a lefty with the numbers he has produced. Choosing Acuna over Baty doesn’t make much sense either. No, it didn’t ultimately cost the Mets the game. But much like leaving Justin Hagenman in there too long to let the previous day’s game get out of hand, the team seems to be sabotaging themselves regularly. Or what about having Acuna pinch hit on Monday rather than having him ready to be the pinch runner late?

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