NY Mets: 3 most important role players for a deep playoff run

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As much as the New York Mets would plan to win a championship because of their star players, it’s those more minor figures that could end up being equally as important. The 2022 Mets have asked several role players to step up this season. In the playoffs, they might be more useful in specialized situations.

For a deep postseason run, it’s these three role players who can help them go far or stop dead in their tracks.

1) NY Mets know exactly what to do with Terrance Gore

Is there a more purposeful role player in Major League Baseball than Terrance Gore? He is a pinch runner and maybe a guy you’d call upon to finish a game in the field. Aside from that, there isn’t much we can or should expect Gore to offer the Mets.

The Mets already know exactly how it is they will use Gore. Here’s a situation they’re hoping happens often: Daniel Vogelbach leads off the seventh inning with a double. Gore pinch runs for him, steals third base, and scores on a sacrifice fly.

Gore’s deadly speed is a weapon that playoff teams love to have. On the Mets, a team that isn’t exactly the most eager to steal bases, it’s even more valuable.

Gore won’t be able to impact games until late but when he does get those opportunities it could be the difference between a one-run loss or a walk-off victory. He’ll have his hamstrings nice and stretched out for an appearance often. Timing when to put him in the game or when to save him for a little later will be the only internal question Buck Showalter has to debate.

2) NY Mets can get a lot of value out of Trevor Williams in the playoffs

Calling all Trevor Williams fanboys and fangirls. Is there anything this guy cannot do?

If there was an award for a long man of the year, it would have to go to this guy. He has bounced between the rotation and bullpen with such tremendous success that he could end up being one of the more important role players for the Mets in the playoffs. Showalter could use him for multiple innings or even rely on him just to get them through a frame. He has been reliable enough to the point where he is right there with Seth Lugo and Trevor May in terms of pitching in a setup role. Only Adam Ottavino might be ahead of him.

Williams won’t get a chance to start in the postseason but he’ll be the guy to enter the game if any starter has a quick exit and some innings need to be eaten up. As the case often is with playoff games, Williams will also be the guy Showalter asks to start them off in extras—or at least enter as the game gets a little deeper into the night.

The Mets are hopeful they don’t have to overuse their bullpen in the postseason. This is a team built with starting pitchers capable of going far. Williams is both an emergency option and someone the team can trust to get them far. At the very least, he can save some arms from getting burnt out.

3) NY Mets shouldn’t hesitate to use Luis Guillorme often

Luis Guillorme might not see his name written on too many lineup cards to begin the game as long as everyone else healthy. The team’s fifth infielder has been quite spectacular for them in his role during the regular season. We can credit Jeff McNeil for the success as well. Because McNeil can play the outfield, Guillorme is an easy choice to start on the infield in his place.

It seems we could see a lot more of Guillorme in the postseason. In certain pinch hitting situations, he could be useful. Because the Mets won’t want someone like Gore going anywhere near a bat and they won’t want to waste a backup catcher, Guillorme could end up with some major plate appearances.

What has made Guillorme successful in the major leagues is his plate discipline. He’s no longer just “that guy who caught that bat with his barehands in spring training.” Guillorme’s reputation as a slick-fielder remains. However, he has grown into so much more.

After Gore pinch runs, maybe even for someone like Pete Alonso, it’s Guillorme who could enter the game. It’s not often that a backup infielder is as highly regarded as Guillorme is for this year’s Mets team. The ability to provide them with defensive security at three positions and provide flexibility for others is tremendous. Just knowing what he can do is important enough before actually being able to do it.

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