ATLANTA — It’s time for the Mets to put it in ’Spin cycle: More Jordany Valdespin, please.
I’ve seen enough of Valdespin to make me want to see more. He has become king of the pinch-hit home run for the Mets, and that alone makes him worthy of more playing time.
This season is essentially a science project for the Mets, so let’s see what Valdespin can do on an everyday basis in the outfield.
Give him the chance to play every day. Get answers now. After all, it’s not as if the Mets came into the season with an outfield featuring the Upton Brothers and Jason Heyward.
The Mets will get their first look this season at Justin and B.J. Upton tonight, the start of a three-game series at Turner Field against the Braves. Heyward is sidelined following an appendectomy.
Valdespin has carried the Mets to their last two victories. On April 24, he blasted a walk-off grand slam against the Dodgers at Citi Field. The Mets then lost six straight before Valdespin lined a three-run pinch-hit home run to help beat the Marlins on Wednesday.
That should be enough to get him a longer look. Valdespin, 25, has a chance to be a part of this team’s future while the likes of Marlon Byrd, Collin Cowgill and others are stopgap measures.
The Mets need to see if Valdespin can continue to surprise. There will be issues along the way because Valdespin is not beloved by teammates and has a tendency to make it the Jordany Valdespin Show even when his team is trailing, but he at least has energy and has shown amazing pinch-hit power, blasting six pinch-hit home runs over the last two seasons.
Let’s see how much talent he really possesses.
When Jose Reyes left, there was a severe loss of team energy. Watching Valdespin, I get the impression he views himself as a Reyes-type player. He even grew the same beard Reyes grew this season and shaved his head a la Jose. Valdespin will add energy.
The fact Valdespin can be annoying is something the Mets are going to have to live with. Maybe with more experience, he will gather more knowledge on how to act like a pro. Every young player can’t walk through the door and be like David Wright.
For as long as the game has been played, there have been annoying teammates. Maybe Valdespin will grow up. Maybe the Mets will help him grow up by showing him the way and rewarding him for his success. The veterans around the Mets must take it upon themselves to show him the ropes, just don’t expect it. Someone should take Valdespin under his wing and show him the right way to act to bring out the best Valdespin has to offer.
Valdespin has 10 RBIs. That is more than Ike Davis, Lucas Duda or Ruben Tejada, and he only has had 57 at-bats. Of the outfielders who have been around since the start of the season, Duda and Cowgill each have eight RBIs, Byrd has 11 and Mike Baxter has one.
The game is not just about on-base percentage, it’s about driving in runs, too.
Manager Terry Collins needs to start all the talented players he can find. It’s that simple. If Valdespin falls on his face with increased playing time, the Mets will at least have an answer to the question: Can he be an everyday player? This is an organization with too many questions. Over two years, Valdespin is a .208 hitter as a pinch-hitter and .256 hitter in non-pinch-hitting situations.
Give Valdespin the chance to succeed on an everyday basis. Maybe the Mets have an outfielder right under Mr. Met’s nose. Valdespin only has 248 at-bats in the majors.
Valdespin has come up big as a pinch-hitter. No matter how the Mets ’Spin it, he deserves the opportunity to start on an everyday basis just to see if he can continue to deliver big hits.