MILWAUKEE — The Mets appear to have avoided the worst when it comes to Francisco Alvarez. The receiver was not in the lineup Saturday, a night after being scratched from a game due to back spasms, but he is expected to be available off the bench in the second game of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Alvarez practiced Saturday afternoon and took batting practice. As he left the field, manager Carlos Mendoza noted that he looked “pretty good.”
“I think we have a player,” Mendoza said. “It was quite scary. Yesterday I was in the clubhouse when he came in and he didn’t look great, but by the time we got out of the stadium he was in a much better position. I arrived today and same thing.
However, it might be more beneficial to have Luis Torrens behind the plate this weekend. Alvarez struggled to block pitches in the dirt and control the running game Friday night, with the Brewers stealing a combined six bases against Alvarez and Torrens. Milwaukee has a group of aggressive runners who make good jumps and Torrens has been more effective at throwing out runners than Alvarez this season.
However, Mendoza said it starts with the pitchers, deflecting criticism away from his young catcher.
“There’s a lot of noise with Alvarez, but I think it starts on the mound,” Mendoza said. “We have to give the receivers a chance. [The Brewers] are really good. Not only are they fast, but they have information, they’ll pick out some tips if they have it. So we must do a good job of protecting our home.
The Brewers have clearly done their homework on Alvarez, who has allowed 63 stolen bases this season and has only caught 14 runners stealing. He also allowed 40 wild pitches and was charged with 10 passed balls, both of which were problems in Friday night’s loss.
Statcast ranks Alvarez well below average in blocking, but his pop times and framing are highly rated. Pitchers love throwing to him and they feel like he handles umpires well.
Speaking of umpires, Alvarez said he plans to apologize to Ramon De Jesus, who called him on a pitch below the zone Friday night after a 10-pitch at-bat. Alvarez slammed the home plate umpire out of frustration and felt bad about it.
“I definitely think I was overdoing it,” Alvarez said. “He’s just missing one throw and he’s also a person, so he can miss throws. But for now, the game [went] faster for me. When he [made] This call, I had a bad expression. I really don’t need to do this, so I’ll apologize tomorrow and let’s move on.
Mendoza stood up for Alvarez and was kicked out by De Jesus. The skipper appreciates that his young catcher is intent on making things right, but had no problem with the way he handled himself.
“We’re competing, and he reacted the way he reacted because every pitch and every at-bat means something,” Mendoza said. “He put up a hell of a stick fight, he thought he walked and before you know it he’s going back to the dugout. So he showed frustration, which is normal, but that’s why I got into this…
“He knows they’re human, he knows they work hard. We will continue. »
As for Mendoza’s apology? De Jesus shouldn’t expect it.
“I don’t think I need it,” Mendoza said.
LINDOR’S STATUS
Francisco Lindor was in the lineup as DH Saturday and Luisangel Acuña played shortstop. The Mets insist they are comfortable using Lindor at shortstop as he struggles with back pain, but the shortstop still has trouble bending. After playing all nine at shortstop Friday night for the first time in two weeks, the Mets decided to use him at DH to give him a break defensively.
“I just thought after leaving him on the ground for 10 to 11 days, going back-to-back on the field was not ideal,” Mendoza said. “Him being in the lineup, we have to try to keep him that way as long as possible.”
TRAINERS ROOM
The Mets won’t be getting injured pitchers back anytime soon. Right-hander Kodai Senga (triceps soreness) has no tentative date for a live bullpen session, Paul Blackburn is still dealing with back pain and reliever Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) is out for the rest of the season.
However, infielder Jeff McNeil underwent X-rays on his fractured wrist Friday and is expected to begin strengthening his joint in the coming days in preparation for the start of baseball activities.
McNeil trains in California when he resides during the offseason. With his wife, Tatiana, about to give birth to their second child, the Mets let him return home to the Central Coast to continue his rehabilitation. The team has not ruled out a return for McNeil in the postseason, if the Mets are successful and advance.
