Javier Báez Giving Mets Much-Needed Spark Following IL Stint

Prior to Sunday afternoon’s 13-run outburst by the New York Mets in the nation’s capital, I tweeted the following about Javier Báez:

Javy Báez since coming off the IL on 8/22 (47 PA): .250/.298/.568 with 8 XBH (5 2B, 3 HR), 5 RBI, and 9 runs scored, all good for a 132 wRC+. That seems to be on-brand for Javy. #Mets #LGM (via @SNYtv) pic.twitter.com/4HjJULHTLt

— Matt Musico (@mmusico8) September 5, 2021

I should’ve added that I’ll take this production with open arms from the 28-year-old infielder. Sure, he hasn’t been walking much and was striking out at a high clip, but it’s all part of the El Mago experience. None of this was a secret before New York acquired him.

He must’ve seen my tweet (he definitely didn’t, but maybe?) because he then proceeded to go 4-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base, two RBI, and three runs scored. As if that wasn’t cool enough, this type of performance hadn’t been accomplished by a Mets player in more than three decades:

4-4 (or better) with HR & SB, Mets history:

Javier Báez, Today
Kevin McReynolds, 7/27/88
Darryl Strawberry, 4/30/86
Mookie Wilson, 7/7/84
Darryl Strawberry, 4/22/84
Ted Martinez, 9/3/73
Tommie Agee, 6/28/71
Tommie Agee, 9/1/69
Tommy Davis, 5/28/67

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 5, 2021

Báez’s four-hit game was also the fourth time he’s registered multiple hits in a contest since getting activated from the Injured List. All of this is in stark contrast from his first 10 games with the Mets, where he slashed .171/.216/.343 with two homers, three RBI, and four runs scored in 37 plate appearances, producing a 53 wRC+. If we’re just looking at what Báez has accomplished since the calendar flipped to September, his 1.283 OPS through 20 plate appearances certainly jumps off the page.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is enjoying what he’s seen from the right-handed slugger, and after watching his club win eight of nine, he’s out for blood on the Twitter machine.

Where are the Twitter “experts” complaining about Baez now. They must be away for the weekend

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) September 5, 2021

He always knows how to get people talking.

Again, this is how things go with Báez — there will be times when he looks completely overmatched at the plate and he’s swinging and missing at everything. But, there will also be times like on Sunday, when he showed the kind of power he has with this oppo-taco home run.

Another one! @javy23baez #LGM pic.twitter.com/KnRVvSkXez

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 5, 2021

Add in what appears to be superb natural instincts on the bases and in the field, and the Mets have themselves the type of ballplayer that can spark a struggling offense. Which, oh yeah, has been happening for most of 2021. But could the offense finally be waking up now that we’re in the final month of the regular season?

The naysayers will say it doesn’t matter because it’s against the Nationals and Marlins, but they’re still big-league teams and the Mets still have to execute. To their credit, especially after an awful two-week stretch against the Dodgers and Giants, they’ve done exactly that. As our own Mathew Brownstein pointed out on Twitter Sunday evening, New York scored just 95 runs in August. But through five September games, they’ve already scored 39% of that total (37 runs).

That’ll definitely play as the Mets make a last-second push toward the postseason. Was Báez at least partially responsible for this awakening? Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo did what they could throughout August, but with Báez in the middle, it seems like the lineup is starting to click again. It took a little while, but Francisco Lindor is heating up after returning from his own IL stint, Michael Conforto is swinging a hot bat, and both Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Villar have enjoyed a terrific series against the Nationals.

Sometimes, all it takes is one player, one sequence, or even one swing to turn things around. Getting Báez back when the Mets did in Los Angeles was likely a huge psychological boost, and even more so when he immediately contributed with an RBI double in the first inning. There will always be that dark corner on Mets Twitter that’s salty because New York should’ve acquired Kris Bryant instead of Báez. Is that true? It seemed like he checked more of the boxes for New York, but none of it matters anymore. What does matter is the guys on the Mets’ roster have woken up to give themselves a chance at playing baseball in October when it seemed like all hope was lost.

New York’s playoff odds are still low, but they’re much better than what they were a couple of weeks ago. On August 27th, the Mets were 62-67 and boasted just a 1.5% chance of reaching the postseason, according to FanGraphs. Heading into Monday’s finale in D.C., they’re 69-68 (nice) and have a 10.4% chance of making the playoffs.

Crazier things have happened. This has been a resilient bunch for most of the season, and they’re showing it again here by pulling us back in right when we all thought the season was over. A lot of that has to do with the Mets getting some of their star players back from injury in Lindor and Báez. And while Báez’s production will never be 2015 Yoenis Cespedes-esque, he’s given this team a spark when they desperately needed it.

The post Javier Báez Giving Mets Much-Needed Spark Following IL Stint first appeared on Metsmerized Online.