{"id":36966,"date":"2020-08-28T20:00:03","date_gmt":"2020-08-29T00:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=36966"},"modified":"2020-08-28T20:00:03","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T00:00:03","slug":"new-york-mets-mid-season-report-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/08\/28\/new-york-mets-mid-season-report-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Mets Mid-Season Report Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been an interesting start to what has already been a crazy 2020 MLB baseball season. With only 60 games and every matchup having more importance, the\u00a0<\/span>New York Mets<\/span><\/a>\u00a0with first-year manager\u00a0<\/span>Luis Rojas<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>have a record of 14-16. Let’s take a look at how each player has performed through the first 30 games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dominic Smith: A<\/h2>\n

If\u00a0<\/span>Yoenis Cespedes<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>never\u00a0<\/span>opted out<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Dominic Smith<\/span><\/strong><\/a> may not have got a shot to play every day, and has he ever taken advantage of it. Smith has played both left field and first base as well as designated hitter. He leads the team with seven home runs and has 23 RBI\u2019s, including a streak of four games in a row with a home run.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Conforto: A<\/h2>\n

It was a bit of a frustrating start to the season for a\u00a0<\/span>Michael Conforto<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. He came up with at-bats in critical spots with runners on base and struck out. However, recently he redeemed himself against the <\/span>Miami Marlins<\/span><\/a> with a game-winning two-run home run after the Mets blew a lead in the eighth inning. <\/span>Conforto has been the ironman all season, playing in all 30 games. His numbers are also strong as he is hitting .330 and has five home runs and 14 RBI\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andres Gimenez: A<\/h2>\n

The Mets\u00a0<\/span>number three ranked prospect<\/span><\/a>\u00a0made the team out of summer camp as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. Following injuries to multiple starters,\u00a0<\/span>Andres Gimenez<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>has turned himself into an everyday player but was recently placed on the injured list. While he has yet to hit for power, Gimenez has done everything else. The rookie hits for contact, steal bases, and plays terrific defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob deGrom: A<\/h2>\n

As\u00a0<\/span>Jacob deGrom<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>aims for a third straight Cy Young, he has pitched well to start the season. deGrom has picked up a pair of wins and had his best start in his last outing where he struck out 14. Injuries continue to nag deGrom as he had a hot spot on his hand and then <\/span>missed a start with neck stiffness<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span> When he is healthy, the Mets have one of the best pitchers in the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luis Guillorme: A<\/span><\/p>\n

Luis Guillorme<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>hit .565 in his final year of high school. He has started to resemble his younger self with an incredible start to the season. With the extended rosters, Guillorme secured a spot on the team and has been red-hot at the plate. He also plays tremendous defense and is one of the biggest surprises on the team this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robinson Cano: A-<\/h2>\n

Robinson Cano<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>had a miserable first season with New York. He suffered an early-season injury after hitting over .400 to start the year. The former New York Yankees\u2019<\/a> second baseman hit a home run in his first game back and hit a game-tying single with two outs in the ninth against the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>. Cano can still hit but he is streaky.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Peterson: A-<\/h2>\n

The odds of David Peterson<\/a><\/strong> getting a start this season had it been a regular year with a healthy rotation would have been low. Regardless, the young left-hander has been the second-best pitcher on the Mets this season. He earned his first win<\/a> at Fenway Park and has a win in three of his four starts. Peterson has done a terrific job of getting ahead of hitters and cemented himself into the starting five despite going on the injured list.<\/p>\n

Chasen Shreve: B+<\/h2>\n

Chasen Shreve<\/a><\/strong> has seen his role expand as a multiple inning reliever this season. Despite not throwing particularly hard, the left-hander has 18 strikeouts in 13 innings. He earned his first win of the season after going two and one-third innings out of the bullpen on August 17. The home run has hurt him a bit, but Shreve has provided the Mets with a quality arm out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n

Jared Hughes: B<\/h2>\n

After Jared Hughes<\/strong><\/a> missed the start of the season following his battle with COVID-19, he has been terrific in his return<\/a>. Rojas has asked a lot from the veteran reliever and uses him in multiple inning situations occasionally. Hughes quickly made an impact with his teammates and the fans with his quirkiness on and off the mound.<\/p>\n

Seth Lugo: B<\/h2>\n

Seth Lugo<\/strong><\/a> started the season out as a main piece in the bullpen. He can pitch in any circumstance, and despite a couple of poor outings, he was still the team’s best reliever. The Mets moved him to the rotation and has made one start. He was perfect in his three innings in that start.<\/p>\n

Drew Smith: B<\/h2>\n

One of the more impressive Mets’ relief pitchers this season has been Drew Smith<\/a><\/strong>. The young pitcher underwent Tommy John<\/strong><\/a> surgery last season and has come back strong in seven appearances after surprisingly being sent down to the alternate site. Smith is pitching to a 3.00 ERA and has his velocity up in the upper 90’s.<\/p>\n

J.D. Davis: B+<\/h2>\n

Ever since J.D. Davis<\/a><\/strong> came to the Mets, all he has done is hit. He has moved up to the middle of the order and played excellent defense at third base after starting the season off as the starting left fielder. Davis has four home runs and 12 RBI\u2019s and has become the every day third basemen.<\/p>\n

Pete Alonso: C<\/h2>\n

Coming off a 53 home run rookie season, Pete Alonso’s<\/a><\/strong> expectations were high for the 2020 season. He got off to a rough start but has started to find his game of late. The big slugger has increased his average a bit and now has six home runs and 16 RBI’s at the midway point with his big hit coming against the Yankees with a game-tying three-run home run in game number 30.<\/p>\n

\n

Pete Alonso snaps an 0-for-13 skid with authority. pic.twitter.com\/QptrPT5Gw6<\/a><\/p>\n

— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) August 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n