Mark Canha spent the previous two years taking part in every single day for Oakland and commenced this season with the identical sort of work schedule for the Mets.
Now a semi-regular, following the emergence of left-handed bats within the lineup, together with Tyler Naquin’s trade-deadline arrival, the veteran outfielder is attempting to supply when his flip arrives.
He was absent Monday’s beginning lineup, a day after delivering a two-run double in opposition to the Braves.
“I’m sort of used to it and it doesn’t hassle me,” Canha mentioned earlier than getting used as a pinch-runner within the Mets’ 5-1 win over the Reds at Citi Area. “Truthfully, I need to be within the large leagues and play successful baseball.
“To not point out the best way the schedule is constructed this 12 months, it’s fairly condensed and I don’t know if I might make it if I needed to play 162 video games. I don’t suppose my physique would maintain up. I feel a number of the most effective groups are doing this, giving guys relaxation and utilizing all people on the roster.”
Canha, who arrived on a two-year contract price $26.5 million, has earned excessive marks for his demeanor all through.
“In case you search for ‘skilled’ and ‘successful participant,’ Mark suits each of these,” Buck Showalter mentioned. “This man, he’s been simply strong because the day he acquired to Port St. Lucie and I might see why he was so coveted by our group. He’s a really articulate, sensible man who actually understands the top recreation and he desires to win. Don’t ever underestimate his need to play and contribute. He’s a get-after-it man. I like Mark quite a bit.”
The Mets promoted Brett Baty — their first-round choose within the 2019 draft — to Triple-A Syracuse. The third baseman owned a .312/.406/.544 slash line with 19 homers and 59 RBIs in 89 video games for Double-A Binghamton. He joins the group’s prime prospect, catcher Francisco Alvarez, at Syracuse.
Showalter has grown to understand the pageantry that accompanies Edwin Diaz’s entrance right into a recreation at Citi Area. The supervisor mentioned he needed to go away the dugout for a loo break earlier than the ninth inning began Sunday, however waited till after Diaz entered to his customary “Narco,” with horns blaring.
“I mentioned, ‘I’m going to remain right here and watch this,’ ” Showalter mentioned. “I don’t care how you’re feeling about all that stuff — that’s fairly good. I stayed there.”
Sunday’s SNY broadcast was the second most-watched within the historical past of the community. The published drew 555,000 viewers, in response to the community. Solely the Mets’ remaining regular-season recreation in 2008, which drew 806,047 viewers, was extra watched. The sequence in opposition to the Braves averaged 462,000 viewers, an SNY report.
