1 player the Mets starting lineup desperately needs to heat up

So far, so good for the 2022 New York Mets. They are off to one of their best starts in franchise history. Except for a couple of hiccups, Buck Showalter has gotten the most out of his roster. Mostly everyone on the team has contributed in some shape or form.

The Mets starting pitching has been the anchor of this team even in the absence of its two aces, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. The bullpen has had its ups and downs but you expect it early in the season. The lineup and bench are much improved from last year but will have some days where it reminds you of the struggles of years past. When I look at the lineup I see a few players who could use a jolt.

The Mets starting lineup desperately needs Eduardo Escobar to heat up

The New York Mets brought in Escobar this past offseason as part of a flurry of signings they made, including Mark Canha, Starling Marte, and Max Scherzer. He was signed to start at 3B which hasn't seen consistency since David Wright handled the hot corner.

Escobar had played for 4 teams before coming to Queens. The Escobar who hit between .250-.270 with some power was the guy I thought we were going to get right from the start.

Unfortunately, Escobar has not been able to find his footing at the plate. On top of that, we have seen him also struggle on the field making a few costly errors. It is quite possible that his struggles on offense have now trickled into his defense. Only Escobar would truly know the answer to that.

Once Escobar gets back on track, I think this offense will hit another gear. It is already exceeding expectations and to add his offense to the mix will make this team dangerous not only this summer but as the Mets make their quest for the 2022 MLB postseason.

It has not been all bad with Escobar though. His presence in the locker room cannot be denied. He is a clubhouse leader and players look up to him. This Mets clubhouse has really taken a change for the better. All of the new editions have contributed to that, and Escobar is no different.

Escobar has fit the clubhouse leader role well with Scherzer. You can tell that his teammates really take to him. During the first week of the season, Escobar took the entire team to his favorite restaurant, Fogo de Chão. Not only did he treat them to a delicious meal but this dinner was a great bonding experience for the team as a whole.

To show their appreciation for Escobar, the Mets celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a big leaguer. According to Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo, he was gifted  “a bottle of sparkling wine signed by his teammates, a T-shirt commemorating the occasion, and an oversized, $10,000 check for his foundation.”

The love for Escobar is real and I do believe that he will eventually get out of this slump and play up to the back of his card. When that will happen, I am not sure. Sooner rather than later would be best though.