Mark Canha didn’t have a glove appropriate for third base, or any current expertise on the place. He did, nevertheless, have some expertise on the sizzling nook, and that made him the Mets’ greatest candidate Friday night time.
The left fielder performed his fifth profession sport at third base (and first since 2016) with the Mets experiencing an infield emergency throughout their 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Phillies at Citi Area.
Third baseman Eduardo Escobar was pulled within the second inning with what the Mets termed left facet tightness, one batter after second baseman Jeff McNeil sustained a proper thumb laceration (supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned he believed Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins stepped on McNeil’s thumb on a play at first) to create the jam.
The Mets have extra energy, however much less flexibility, with Daniel Vogelbach and Darin Ruf on the roster. Canha instructed Showalter that he had performed third earlier than — although he might not have talked about how way back “earlier than” was — and so he was moved from left discipline to 3rd. Luis Guillorme, in the meantime, took over second base and Tyler Naquin got here in to play left discipline.
“You’re type of simply hoping they don’t hit it to you ever,” mentioned Canha, whose hope was dashed within the fourth inning, when J.T. Realmuto hit a floor ball that Canha, utilizing his greater outfield glove, cleanly fielded and threw to first for the out.
“As quickly as he caught it, I used to be like, ‘Oh, thank God,’ ” Mets starter Max Scherzer mentioned.
Canha mentioned he had no concept when the final time was that he took floor balls at third. He commonly performed the spot for a number of weeks within the minors in 2014, which was earlier than many groups performed the shift — which made his subsequent likelihood more difficult.
Within the sixth inning, Philadelphia’s Darick Corridor hit a bullet to shallow proper discipline, the place Canha had been stationed due to the shift. Guillorme dove in entrance of Canha, who was shielded and couldn’t cleanly discipline the quick hop. Corridor reached safely, however was erased on a double play.
“It’s type of a loopy play; that’s a special type of play,” mentioned Canha, whose teammates and supervisor appreciated the emergency work.
“Mark’s at all times ready,” Showalter mentioned. “He’s a baseball participant.”
Showalter mentioned he’s assured Dominic Smith has not seen the final of the most important leagues. He isn’t fairly as assured, nevertheless, that the following time he’s referred to as up, his vacation spot can be Queens.
“He’s going to get a possibility once more up right here, if not for us, any individual else,” Showalter mentioned. “However I’m hoping it’s for us as a result of we like Dom.”
Smith was reinstated from the 10-day injured checklist Thursday, finishing his rehab task, however was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
He had sustained a proper ankle sprain July 16 that put him on the shelf, and the lefty slugger’s job had disappeared by the point he might return. The Mets’ commerce for Vogelbach, a lefty DH, took up one spot, and once they acquired Naquin, a lefty able to taking part in left discipline, it used up one other. Smith had been changed after 58 video games wherein he by no means acquired going, hitting .194 with out a residence run.
The Mets traded J.D. Davis, his former DH platoon associate, however held on to Smith on the deadline and may have him round as depth.
“I nonetheless really feel like there’ll be a necessity for him someplace alongside the best way,” Showalter mentioned of the popular Smith. “And he’s had a great perspective about it. He understands the place we’re and what we’re attempting to get achieved right here, and ready round for him to return off the [IL] wasn’t essentially one thing we wished to do.”
Smith, who was wonderful in 2019 and 2020 however has struggled in restricted roles since, might have performed his closing sport with the Mets. The membership may have a option to make with the 27-year-old first baseman/left fielder, who’s eligible for his third 12 months of arbitration this offseason.
“I believe he additionally understands the place this sport goes to take him if he stays true — he has the power to play up right here and influence the staff,” Showalter mentioned. “It’s good to have him right here but in addition down the highway, I hear [Syracuse manager] Kevin Boles and the individuals down there communicate actual extremely about the best way he’s going about his enterprise. That can bode nicely for him.”
The following chapter of the Mets and Braves rivalry, with the 2 longtime nemeses preventing atop the NL East as soon as extra, has been enjoyable to observe for Mike Piazza.
The Corridor of Fame catcher mentioned he just lately has seen Chipper Jones — whom he first known as “Larry” — and is trying ahead to seeing John Smoltz after the Mets took 4 of 5 from the Braves final weekend.
The Mets and Braves, within the late-Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s, had some traditional battles, together with the 1999 NLCS. The Atlanta groups led by Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Jones often gained.
“The irritating half was once we had been going up in opposition to the Braves, and everybody [was] saying, ‘Nicely, you guys at all times struggled with them.’ Nicely, they’d 4 Corridor of Famers,” Piazza mentioned whereas talking at a Citi Area occasion to rejoice his partnership with True Vodka and the Mets.
“I believe possibly it’s good that as kind of the following technology, generally you simply want to show the web page,” he mentioned. “The brand new guys don’t know concerning the kind of struggles we had.”
Piazza can be at Outdated-Timers’ Day on Aug. 27.
“I simply wish to make contact,” Piazza mentioned. “If I hit the ball onerous, everybody’s like, ‘Go oppo [opposite]’. Go oppo? I haven’t swung a bat in seven years.”
Trevor Might had pitched 3 times since being activated Aug. 3, however by no means in consecutive days.
Showalter mentioned he quickly desires to see whether or not Might, who missed three months with proper triceps irritation, can start to grow to be an possibility on back-to-back days, which might add one other weapon and assist share the bullpen load.
“Simply frequently attempting to not overload one man so we will maintain them wholesome and make them extra productive pitchers,” Showalter mentioned.
Francisco Lindor’s fourth-inning single prolonged his on-base streak to 19 video games.
