Wednesday catch-all thread (5/21/25)
Please use this thread all week to discuss any Mets-specific topic you wish.
After a rotten start to the season as he was in an awkward time-share role with the even-worse Jose Siri, Tyrone Taylor has been very productive in his last 30 games. In 92 PA, Taylor has a .289/.344/.446 line. While the top of the order has been struggling here recently, Taylor has helped make the bottom of the order productive, as he’s usually hitting last or next to last in the lineup.
Without a doubt, the hits are falling in for Taylor, as he has a .371 BABIP in this stretch. You’d hope for more production with that much good fortune but Taylor is never one to walk a lot and his ISO isn’t off the charts in this streak. In parts of five seasons with the Brewers, Taylor had a .212 ISO in 972 PA. Yet his power hasn’t been anywhere near that in his stint so far in Queens.
Last year, Taylor had a .154 ISO in his first season with the Mets and this year, it’s a woeful .119 in 137 PA. In this recent hot spell, Taylor has a .157 ISO or pretty much what he did last year for the Mets. It seems like the days of him running .200-plus ISOs are over.
And it seems that Citi Field is the reason for the drop. In 12 PA as a visiting player, Taylor had just a single and a double. And as a Met in his home park, Taylor has a .111 ISO in 238 PA.
As a Brewer, Taylor had a .244 ISO in 472 PA in his home park.
Carlos Mendoza has been careful not to run down Taylor by giving him more days off than any other non-catcher starter. It’s just that if Mendoza wants to continue that trend he should give as many of those off days to Taylor when the Mets are at home. To date, Taylor has an OPS 100 points higher on the road here in 2025.
Traditionally, the Memorial Day weekend is the time to evaluate the roster and make some tweaks for the next third of the schedule before the trading deadline is upon us. Taylor is one of players to look at. After a slow start he is trending offensively very well. His defense is above average. Right now he is secure with his position as center fielder. Torrens is playing better than Alvarez. He hits LHP better than Alvarez also. He deserves more playing time therefore a platoon should be instituted. Baty grabbed a lifeline he also improved defensively. In his major league career he has not hit LHP (453 OPS) therefore he shouldn't play against LHP. The right-handed DH is a glaring weak spot against LHP because Vientos should play third base leaving Marte as the DH. Marte is failing at that role and needs to improve before July or the Mets should upgrade. Vientos should be the DH against RHP because he hits them well.
The starting pitching has been a pleasant surprise. Megill is having some recent issues but the injured starters are on the horizon. Minter's and somewhat Young's injuries were a blow to the bullpen. I don't think Castillo or Cabrera are the solution. An upgrade for a LH reliever should be a primary target.
All in all, there aren't many pressing issues for the roster. Stearns has done a good job.
I have faith in Soto. He is too good and too young too young to not turn it around. Feels like Alonso was a mirage in April. It turned midnight and he turned into vintage 24 Alonso. I would like to see a good bat to be acquired and a lefty reliever. Dont want to give up a good prospect for a rental.