Harrison Bader has been out of the starting lineup for three of the Mets’ last five contests. He was penciled back into center field today before their game against the Cardinals was postponed.
On Tuesday, Bader expressed some frustration with his somewhat sporadic playing time in a chat with Mike Puma of the New York Post. “I don’t handle it well, I can tell you that,” the outfielder said about a reduced role. “But I certainly don’t let it affect the way I prepare, the way I keep focused when I do get an opportunity to go in there and play, even if it’s later in the game. If anything, it lights more of a fire under my ass. I’m bothered by it for sure. But I respect what they view as giving us an opportunity to win. And at the same time whether my name is in there or not I prepare to play every single day of the season.”
Bader stopped short of outwardly criticizing the coaching staff. However, he acknowledged that playing less “has been a challenge, not what (he) expected” when he signed a one-year, $10.5MM free agent deal. “I want to win, but I want to play,” he added. “We all want to play, but it’s hard. We have got a lot of guys and I respect the position that everyone is in. … I don’t know who makes the lineup, but whatever we have got going on I respect that position.”
The Gold Glove outfielder has started 26 of New York’s 36 games on the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza has turned to more of an outfield rotation recently. That’s largely a credit to DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor, both of whom are hitting well. Stewart, who has been limited to facing right-handed pitching, has made up for a lowly .185 average by drawing 17 walks and hitting four homers over 85 plate appearances. Taylor has a more conventional .288/.312/.425 batting line in 78 trips.
Stewart worked as the designated hitter for the season’s first couple weeks. J.D. Martinez has stepped into that role. The Mets have Starling Marte locked in as the primary right fielder. If Mendoza wants to get either Stewart or Taylor into the lineup, that generally necessitates pushing Brandon Nimmo to center and sitting Bader.
Bader is hitting .280/.314/.340 with one homer through 105 plate appearances. That has made him the least productive of the Mets’ outfielders offensively, at least by measure of wRC+, yet it’s solid work overall. Considering that Bader is also the team’s best defensive outfielder, he certainly hasn’t played his way out of the lineup. As Mendoza pointed out to Puma, it’s more so that Stewart and Taylor have so far outperformed their anticipated roles.
That all falls under the category of good problem to have, as the solid contributions from five outfielders gives the Mets cover if anyone struggles or suffers an injury. Aside from Nimmo, there were questions about everyone in that group heading into the season. Marte and Bader had career-worst offensive showings in 2023. Stewart is a 30-year-old who has never played more than 100 games in an MLB season. Taylor has primarily been a depth outfielder whom the Brewers flipped to New York for a minimal return over the winter.
The Mets also brought in Adrian Houser in that deal, though his tenure in Queens has gotten off to a much rockier start. Houser was at least temporarily pushed to the bullpen after struggling to an 8.16 ERA over his first six starts. The Mets called up top prospect Christian Scott last week to join Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, José Buttó and Sean Manaea in the rotation. Mendoza indicated they could go to a six-man rotation with a challenging section of the schedule coming up, but they’re also not far from having to make another decision with the pitching staff.
Tylor Megill has been on the injured list since departing his first start with a shoulder strain. The right-hander has made a trio of rehab outings, including four hitless innings with seven strikeouts at Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. Mendoza said Megill will make another start for Syracuse on Sunday before the team reinstates him (X link via Puma). It remains to be seen if he’ll reclaim a spot on the MLB staff. Megill still has a pair of minor league options, so the Mets could keep him in Triple-A even when he’s fully healthy.
In other injury news, prospects Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert are seeking a return to game action by the end of the month or early in June, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Williams has been delayed by a right wrist injury, while Gilbert suffered a right hamstring strain. Williams, the 14th overall pick in the 2022 draft, started the season at Double-A Binghamton. Gilbert, acquired in last summer’s Justin Verlander trade, opened the year in Syracuse after a huge finish in Double-A last season.
Bader is a great defensive player but he doesn’t bring a lot of production to the plate. For an offense that struggles mightily, that makes it difficult to pencil him in every night.
The top 5 in the lineup are good, it’s the bottom 4 that kills them. Top 5 are also streaky.
Right, the top 5 are no better than the bottom four. Is that what you really wanted to say , mate?
Cleaver-Guess it really just depends on which night you’re talking about
I think he understands that but he’s also playing for a contract for next year and beyond. He’s always came across as a solid dude during his time with the Yankees so I’m glad the NY Post didn’t try to spin this, as they always do with stories, as him being disgruntled.
The player said both the right thing you’re supposed to say (eventually), but also provided plenty of disgruntled remarks. If you’re a below average player you should keep your head down and your mouth shut. The world and the Mets own Harrison Bader nothing beyond his inflated paycheck. It is astonishing that Bader spent less than 100 games with the NY Yankees, but in that time adopted their fan mentality that they are special, superior, and that other people desperately want to hear their thoughts. If Mr. Bader wants to get paid next year he should do what everyone else does and put in the work instead of crying to his fat friend Mike Puma.
So he shouldn’t answer a question asked by a reporter? He should just keep his mouth shut and go to work?
Sometimes the fans do more “crying” over a situation than the player they’re attacking.
This is a classic example.
Is preventing a run less valuable than producing one?
The chances of preventing a run are a lot less then producing a run. So it’s not a one for one comparison.
Irrelevant to the question being asked.
The original question was about him playing every night that you gave an answer too. It is most certainly relevant to how much playing time he gets.
Interesting. How are you able to tell what I was responding to?
Well your question wouldn’t have made much sense of a response other than the original comment.
If he wants to win he went to the wrong team. Ultimately, he just wants to play so he can get his next contract. That’s fine, but this is what he basically signed up for.
Meta have what it takes. New york is where it counts
It will be even tougher for Bader once Drew Gilbert gets off the IL in a few weeks. The kid showed last year in AA that he can flat out hit.
He plays a decent CF, too. Younger and with far more upside than Bader, he’ll likely make Harrison a one year rental in Queens.
Bader is a rental either way. Gilbert only had 28 ABs in AAA.
“It will be even tougher for Bader once Drew Gilbert gets off the IL in a few weeks.”
Gilbert plays in AAA and will likely be there most of the season. His health will have very little bearing on Bader’s playing time. Gilbert has played 7 games total in AAA and is coming off of an injury. Zero reason to rush him to the majors unless he goes on a tear over the next month.
It’s tough having 5 OF’s that can all play. Stewart’s power has to be in the lineup a few days and Taylor’s stick and arm make him a viable option. It should clear up by the trade deadline. Marte or Bader, maybe both could be gone.
The Mets really have to be kicking themselves to bring in such a delusional player as Harrison Bader. Guy has never put up 450 PA in a season. Never been even an average hitter. Plenty of guys can give a good CF without proving their inability to self-assess. Most of them can stay on the field for more than a few weeks at a time. It is very confusing to see a 1-1.5 WAR role player speak so emphatically when he should simply be happy to have a job. Peter Bourjos never flapped gums like this, and that’s why the people loved him.
i.ibb.co/W2n1m5M/Screenshot-2024-05-09-at-8-03-18-…
The Mets are not lamenting the lack of a production from a player who has never had production. That’s simply not why he was brought here. He’s here because of defense and it’s a 1 year deal flippable at deadline.
He’s not delusional. The quote is nowhere near as big as issue as the title of this post and the reactions suggest.
“Bader is hitting .280/.314/.340 with one homer through 105 plate appearances. That has made him the least productive of the Mets’ outfielders offensively,…”
———————————————————————
…. and yet, Bader just can’t figger out why he’s not starting every game.
—-Well, never mind the player’s woeful ignorance and total self-absorption, either Bader is just the sort of complete schmuck who is immune to introspection, or there’s a hole in Carlos Mendoza’s game and he’s failed to explain to Bader why he’s playing less frequently in a way Bader can understand.
—You can’t stay in the lineup regularly and it’s not 2021, so we’re pacing you.
—You’ve been the worst hitter on the team since April 20: .192/.250/.212, so we’re finding time for other players.
— and so on.
In any case Mendoza should nip this in the bud. The last thing these mediocre Mets need is a fragile, declining malcontent who still believes he’s in his prime.
A .185 average is not “hitting well”. Carry on.
Stewart has very good power but he’s really just a slightly better version of Vogelbach. Can’t run, can’t hit for average, can’t play the field very well. He’s been pretty good lately at hitting with men on base, something that Vogelbach failed miserably at. He’s pretty inconsistent though – he was horrible for first 2 weeks of the season.
A DH who is here for Righty situations has a .365 OBP, what are you not understanding about why that’s good? Carry on.
Getting on base 31 times in 85 PAs is pretty good, though. Also worth noting that he’s only had 65 ABs so a few games going 2-4 has him up over .250 pretty quick.
Nothing like a turtle-speed guy who walks and gets on base a lot, just so he can clog the basepaths.
His OBP is. 389. Who cares what his BA is?
People seem oblivious to the fact that when you put the ball in play, you’re susceptible to the most punishing offensive subtraction short of a triple play—and there are seven ways to hit into a double play.
He ‘offenses’ well, how’s that? .800+ OPS
Baders hitting 280 right now, and he is a top flight CF, which is very hard to come by.
Stewart has pop but is hitting below 200, he’s drawing a lot of walks — but at an unsustainable rate. It’s a good problem to have right now if they’re both getting on but I don’t see Stewart being able to walk this often over the course of the season, but for now let it ride if he comes back to earth bader is in every day (until he gets hurt). Good on Mendoza for getting everyone playing time.
Some old-school Batting Average Love here.
He has always had a good eye at the plate. Why wouldn’t it continue?
@NYG4246
Stewart actually has the lowest chase rate in all of MLB, so he will likely continue to draw plenty of walks. Perhaps not at the same rate, and he is a base clogger, but with his pop he’s a decent offensive MLB player.
I don’t doubt he’ll continue to walk but his current 20% (17/85) is really high. Impressive, no doubt, I just think this is a small sample size and in all likelihood will come back down to earth as the season progresses.
Do teams actually use pencils to pencil guys into lineups or is it markers/pens? Curious, because I’m looking to invest in a pencil company and if MLB requires teams to use pencils to pencil guys into lineups, I’d like to invest in the official pencil supplier of the MLB.
I am a little surprised that Harrison does not know who creates the lineup card. Most likely the manager. He is a good centerfielder and needs to continue what he is doing, but more importantly to stay healthy.
Wrong. The Mets’ FO has a long history of dictating the lineup card.
Not really any different from most teams now.
22/3 K/W with 2 HRs.
Bader injury history and skill set make him a 4th outfielder. Coach staff has nothing to do with it
I’d rather them play Bader over Stewart. Stewart doesn’t hit much but when he does its clutch. His defense isn’t any good though. I’d rather they keep Stewart on the bench as a pinch hitter and just let Bader player CF everyday. Taylor is a good fill in player for when Marte needs his days off. The problem with this team is that we have too many mediocre players where you can justify playing someone else over any of the players. There aren’t any corner stone pieces on this team like the Cardinals have with Arenado or the Braves have with Acuna. Lindor is the best defense shortstop in the league but his hitting is horrible, especially in clutch situations when the game is within 3 runs. Lindor should be moved down to 7th in the lineup. The Astros did the same thing to Correa when he was there, always batted 6th or 7th. I’d bat Alonso at 2 since he really doesn’t hit well in the cleanup role and he had success there in his rookie year
He doesn’t know who makes the lineup everyday? Even if it’s not the manager, which then why have one, they should at least tell the players what’s goin on
It’s too bad Bader didn’t get a contract with another team that could play him more, there are players that do better playing most of the time. He’s great in cf and runs the bases more than great. Just my view.