How long does it get to be April? I’ve argued against rash moves, asking for a waiting period because regardless of minor league success, Brett Baty hit .182 in the majors. At one point Friday night against the Athletics, Eduardo Escobar’s batting average dropped to .095, meaning he was on a state road like Highway 81 north from Citi Field to Syracuse.
It was at that point that the argument to keep Baty in Triple-AAA ended. This isn’t like the promotion of Francisco Álvarez, a player who showed this spring he is vulnerable to the high fastball and major league off speed pitches and allowed a passed ball that nearly cost the Mets on Sunday.
Most catchers who come up to the majors at a young age do so due to their defensive abilities. Iván Rodríguez was 19, but Yadier Molina was three weeks away from his 22nd birthday. Charles Johnson and Sandy Alomar were 22 when they made their major league debuts behind the plate.
From what I’ve seen from Alvarez this April, he’s got the arm and framing abilities to be a good defensive catcher. A season in Syracuse where he’s able to work on blocking balls in front of him from his kneeling position. Spending the time catching everyday could allow him to become the top prospect he’s been called for the past three years.
I think a full season playing everyday in Syracuse would have helped Baty the same way, but after Sunday's 4-3 win, Escobar is batting .125 and that includes grounding into a double play in the top of the ninth. It’s hard to argue for anyone batting close enough to the state highway that an 0-2 is enough to dip near .100 for the season. I’m confident Baty can stay off the state highway and Escobar can finish games with his glove because if Baty's with the big club, he has to play pretty much every day.
I’m not breaking out participation trophies and handing out orange slices, but the caretaker is about to come out in me. The leap between college and the NFL, NHL, and NBA is a puddle; Triple-AAA to MLB a pool; so how exactly is one to judge the largest leap of difficulty in American professional sports? Was last year’s brief stint in September enough to take the shine off the allure that is Dodger Stadium?
Will Baty have protection batting behind him in the order or bat ninth so opposing pitchers know Brandon Nimmo is up next? And how much can be expected from this April call up? Are we counting good at-bats as positives or are positive results with a show of power the only measuring stick?
Keith Hernandez is said to love Baty’s swing. What happens after his first slump; will the same loud voices who have called for his promotion be patient with him or say how Ronny Mauricio can play the hot corner or who they’ll need to pursue at the Trade Deadline since it’s clear that Baty’s not the one.
My voice is one of many; one of millions in New Jersey and the Tri-State who are focused on a series that gets heat anyway. The two largest markets in the country facing each other for three games. There was already going to be attention paid. Now there will be more and that’s the truth.
Upcoming Series: New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
Monday, April 16 - 9:40 pm
David Robertson (0-2, 4.19 ERA) vs. Dustin May (1-1, 1.47 ERA)
Tuesday, April 17 - 9:40 pm
Tylor Megill (3-0, 2.25 ERA) vs, Clayton Kershaw (2-1 3.50 ERA)
Wednesday, April 18 - 2:30 pm
Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.41 ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (0-2, 5.63 ERA)
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