3 Mets players who could draw the ire of fans at Darin Ruf levels

2) NY Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar has little room for a slow start

One of the bigger mysteries on the Mets roster is Eduardo Escobar. Yes, we know what he can do. We saw the best of him in the final weeks of the 2022 season. We also suffered through months of Escobar struggling. He has very little room for error with Brett Baty breathing down his neck. Could he become the next guy Mets fans draw their sports-hatred toward?

Escobar does have a good relationship with the fans. He comes across as humble and likable. It doesn’t matter who you are as a person when you’re not playing well. Even if you’re up for sainthood, if you’re hitting too close to the Mendoza Line, you’re not going to win over New Yorkers.

Escobar is probably in much less danger of getting designated for assignment than Pham because of how much more his salary is and other uses for him. Escobar has spent time at other places on the field. He could probably even manage in the corner outfield spots if the Mets ever really needed to use him there.

A candidate to become the next Ruf in the eyes of fans, Escobar can stomp out any of those negative feelings quickly by having a big first month of the season.