SAN DIEGO — The focus is on 2018 and the future. That’s because 2017 has been a nightmare for the Mets.
But if the focus really is on the future and what’s best for the Mets, what the heck is Michael Conforto still doing batting leadoff?
Conforto, with that gorgeous lefty swing, is the classic No. 2 or middle-of-the-order hitter. That is where he is best suited, and that’s where he should have been hitting Monday night, when the Mets beat the Padres 5-3 at Petco Park.
Perhaps the most amusing thing about the Mets is that they live in this organizational fantasy world, where they think they will be able just to flip the switch to 2018 and everything is going to be OK. All the problems of this year will be gone in an instant. They magically will be a year ahead.
The Mets never anticipate the worst happening. They never fully plan out their future. There is a lot of hoping and guess work.
They have all this time now to let Conforto get comfortable hitting deeper in the lineup, yet they probably won’t do anything of the sort.
They will keep Conforto at the leadoff spot.
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There is no doubt Conforto is the bright spot this year. He has 19 home runs, second to Jay Bruce’s 25. He owns 52 RBIs, second to Bruce’s 65. He leads the team in walks with 44. He leads them in batting average with a .293 mark. Sure, he’s had success at leadoff, but this is the first time in college or the pros he has hit leadoff.
The Mets are going to need more run producers in their future. As Conforto gets older, his lefty swing could work wonders in the middle of the lineup.
This is the time of the season to give him a little more experience in that area.
In some ways Conforto is the Mets’ version of Aaron Judge: a humble outfielder who plays the game right and is team-oriented.
“I think I’ve done some things I wanted to do,” Conforto told The Post after the victory. “I’ve earned a spot and kind of showed some versatility, which was a big goal of mine. I think it’s been a good year so far, but what I’ve learned from last year is to continue to keep working. I’m looking forward to getting better.”
In 55 games as a leadoff hitter, Conforto is batting .284 (61-for-215), but here is your small-sample-size view of what Conforto could be in the middle of the lineup. He has 37 at-bats in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth spots and is hitting .324 from the middle of the lineup, including a .500 average in the three-hole. Yes, I know it’s only 10 at-bats, but it’s five hits in those 10 at-bats.
It’s about making his hits more productive for the team.
The point is to let him have more middle-of-the-order at-bats as the season finishes so it puts him a step ahead for the future.
The three spot is reserved, of course, for the The Franchise, Yoenis Cespedes.
Conforto had five at-bats Monday night, none with a runner on base. The first four came against lefty Clayton Richard. He struck out three times and doubled, then popped up in the ninth. Twice Cespedes was intentionally walked. It would be interesting to see how Conforto would respond to the challenge of batting behind Cespedes.
Conforto is 24. He will hit wherever the Mets ask him to hit. His career is rising. He could anchor the Mets’ lineup for years.
It’s not only about trying to make the best trades for the future. It’s about figuring out what’s best for your own players.
Simply put, the Mets need to be better scouts of their own organization.
Remember in spring training, Conforto was set to be an extra outfielder and probably was ticketed for Las Vegas.
The Mets didn’t know what they had then and they still may not fully know. This is the time of year to plug Conforto into the second spot or middle of the order and find out.