Can Mets save the season? This streaky young slugger will be key

PHOENIX — On a team filled with superstars, fat bank accounts and polished resumes, there’s first baseman Mark Vientos.

The New York Mets’ total payroll is US$352 million, of which Juan Soto’s salary this year is the MLB’s highest of US$61.9 million.

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They have seven All-Stars.

Also, they rely heavily on their 20^th– The highest-paid players, making just $33,750 more than the MLB minimum to help lead them through these difficult times.

Viantos served as a necessary pinch-hitter and almost single-handedly won the Mets’ game, a 3-1, 10-inning victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday night.

Vientos’ leadoff home run in the second inning not only gave the Mets their only hit of the first nine innings, but also gave them half of their two-hitter run.

It was Ventos who led the way in 10 games, scoring double figures in runs^th The win gave the Mets their fifth win in seven games on a three-city West Coast road trip.

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“Cleaning up spots, I love it,” Ventos said. “It feels good. I feel like I’ve been doing this for a while.”

Of course, the Mets are still dealing with injuries, thanks to their abysmal 3-17 record and 15-23 record.

But maybe they still have a pulse.

If they want to miraculously get back into the game, they desperately need the 2024 version of Vientos, who has 27 home runs, 71 RBIs and an .837 OPS. He struggled last season, hitting .233 with 17 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .702 OPS, and he was even worse this spring while playing for Nicaragua with the WBC.

He hit .476 through the first seven games of the season, but when the Mets were in disarray after Game 11^th In his best game of the season, Vientos also dipped to .160.

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Now, after hitting a pair of two-run homers against the Angels and hitting hard but having no luck in Colorado, Vientos is saving them in the desert.

While the Mets’ top prospects Soto, Beau Bichette and Brett Batty went 0-for-12 with no draws and the entire lineup allowed just two hits and one hit in nine innings, Vientos was outstanding.

Suddenly, that confidence began to surge.

“I feel good now,” Ventos said. “I have to live my days to the fullest and continue to be consistent.”

“This is a guy that when he starts playing, he’s mentally locked in and that helps him a lot,” Mendoza said. “He’s a really good hitter and it’s great to see him continue to have good results.”

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The biggest difference, Mendoza said, is that when Vientos gets balls in the strike zone, he doesn’t miss them. He has struck out just five times in his last seven games and hit the ball to the outfield in each of his four at-bats on Friday.

“He doesn’t miss a good shot,” Mendoza said. “When he throws the ball in the zone, he’s going to do damage, and that’s what he does best. He carries the ball the opposite way, but stays in the slot, stays short at times and just controls the strike zone.

“He’s very dangerous and we’ve seen his power over the years.”

Of course, if the Mets want to make a difference late in the season, they’re going to need performance from him and all of their superstars. Soto, who is worth $765 million, missed two weeks with a calf strain and hit just four home runs and 10 RBIs. In the first seven games of this road trip, he had just two RBIs and hit .148.

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Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract, but he only hit two home runs and 16 RBIs. He had no extra-base hits on this trip.

Francisco Lindor, the shortstop worth $341 million, was batting .226 with two homers and five RBIs when he injured his calf. He is expected to be out for at least another month.

Jorge Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million contract to replace Pete Alonso at first base, but is no closer to starting a rehab assignment due to a right wrist contusion. Prior to the injury, he was hitting just .179 in 14 games.

You may be wondering why the Mets have allowed the second fewest runs in baseball.

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They also need more pitching performance, like Nolan McLean who gave up just three hits and one run in six innings, and four different relievers who pitched four scoreless innings and gave up just two hits.

“Hopefully,” Mendoza said, “we can get things going smoothly here.”

Given their horrific start, they had no choice.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mets’ Mark Vientous to decide if New York can return to MLB postseason