Terry Collins’ job will only get tougher.
With Juan Lagares set to be activated from the disabled list by the Mets before Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh — with the team making room on the roster by optioning Wilmer Flores to Triple-A Wednesday night, leaving them no backup shortstop — Collins’ crowded outfield will become better, but even more complicated, as the manager will face a near-daily dilemma in juggling three outfielders into one available spot.
So, how will Collins divide playing time among Eric Young Jr., Chris Young and Bobby Abreu?
“That’s a good question,” Collins said before correcting himself. “That’s a great question.”
Though Curtis Granderson is the only outfielder assured of at-bats nearly every game, Lagares likely will be penciled in alongside him in center field consistently. With a trio of outfielders whose inconsistency makes Collins’ job of picking a bat akin to picking out of a hat, the Mets manager at least knows Lagares provides something he always can count on.
“We know one thing, he’s as good a guy who patrols center field as there is in this league, so when he gets back here, we know we’re stronger defensively, that’s for sure,” Collins said of Lagares, who has been on the disabled list since June 2 with a right intercostal strain.
Even following an 8-5 loss the Athletics at Citi Field on Wednesday, Collins’ decisions will become more difficult after seeing the team’s recent offensive surge, with five wins in their past seven games.
Chris Young, whose name was floated on Monday as a potential candidate to be released, has responded by hitting three home runs in the past two games — including a two-run homer on Wednesday — after hitting four in the previous 57 games. Eric Young Jr. has recorded a hit in seven of nine games since returning from the disabled list and 40-year-old Abreu is batting .318 in 20 starts this season.
Every game will be another opportunity for Collins to be second-guessed.
“I’m going to try and do the best we can to make sure those at-bats are divvied about,” Collins said before the game. “As I’ve explained to all those guys … if you look at what Bobby Abreu has done when he plays, it’s very, very good. What you see when Eric Young is in our lineup and gets on base, we win. Chris Young, hopefully this is a big start for him.
“As long as we start to play more consistently, those are easier to do and to be able to spread those at-bats out, but right now I don’t have an answer about how we’re going to do it.”