- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 456,718
- Reaction score
- 44
NEW YORK — It was a relatively nondescript play — a slow ground ball to the third base — that caught the attention of both Carlos Mendoza and Francisco Lindor on Monday night.
With two runners on and one out, the roller to the left side seemed earmarked for an inning-ending double play. Tyrone Taylor ripped down the line to make sure that didn't happen. And two pitches later, Lindor blasted a three-run home run.
"Everybody's kind of passing the baton and at the end of the day, that's kind of what it's all about," Lindor said. "My at-bat today doesn't really come without Tyrone running the bases as hard as he could to try to beat it out."
Heading into the season, the Mets' center field position was never expected to be counted upon to bear the weight of the team's offense. That role is reserved for the top of the lineup and the team's top earners: Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso.
With Jose Siri now sidelined with a fractured tibia, which will keep him out for eight to 10 weeks, Taylor is expected to see the majority of the action in the middle of the outfield. For the 31-year-old, who's in his second season with the Mets, the responsibilities remain the same: hustle, play good defense and be ready when his number is called.
"I try to come every day like I’m prepared to play, like I’m prepared to start even when I’m not playing every day. Nothing really changes for me along that," Taylor told NorthJersey.com of his stepping into a larger role.
"I think more just getting my body ready and being better with my recovery every day."
When David Stearns took the reins for his first season as the Mets' president of baseball operations following the 2023 season, one of the first trades he made was with his former team, the Brewers, to acquire Taylor and Adrian Houser.
Taylor's calling card was his defense, boasting combined 9 outs above average in the prior two seasons before joining the Mets. With speed in the top 10 percent of Major League Baseball, he brings elite range. That defense is one of the keys to Taylor's opportunities in center field.
"He’s always ready to go. The way he goes and gets baseballs out there, he’s an elite defender," Mendoza said. "He keeps it fun, keeps it loose. He competes. He’s going to give you an at-bat. There’s impact. He hits the ball in play, especially when he controls the strike zone. He gets in trouble when he chases, obviously like every hitter."
Anything Taylor provides on offense is an added bonus. Last season, he slashed .248/.299/.401 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, 47 runs and career highs in doubles (22) and stolen bases (11). Siri had not provided a whole lot in the way of offense early this season. The lifetime .207 hitter was 1-for-20 with five runs, two stolen bases and eight strikeouts in his first 10 games.
Taylor joked about his responsibilities at the bottom of the lineup: "I’m hoping to get on base so the big boppas can drive me in," he said with a laugh.
In the eyes of Mets coach Antoan Richardson, who handles the team's outfielders, there is no replacing Siri, whose 16 outs above average with the Rays last season were tied for fifth-best in the major leagues.
For Richardson, the biggest thing for the replacements is making sure they're on the same page with the other outfielders. That level of communication is something that Taylor has grown more comfortable with as a member of the Mets. He said it often feels like he and Nimmo are "reading each other's minds."
"Sometimes it’s a good thing because we play with each other and we know each other, but also, we got to remember to communicate at times," Taylor said. "I think that’s a cool thing that we know which balls each other are going to get and stuff.
"I think Juan and I do a good job communicating pre-pitch. He’s always getting my attention and telling me whether he wants to go in or back on the ball. It’s pretty cool. We do a good job."
The center field position comes with a lot of responsibility, and Richardson views the position with particular importance.
"Just to be the guy that’s wanting to be that accountability partner in that position is the most important thing for me," Richardson said. "You patrol most of the outfield and you need that person to be the glue guy for that unit."
When asked on Monday about the team's split in center field, Stearns said Taylor is going to "get a lot" of the playing time there.
Stearns feels comfortable about the depth at the position, with Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Luisangel Acuña all waiting in the wings as options.
"I think it's who's playing well, what pitchers we're facing, how we want to structure the lineup on any particular day," Stearns said, "but we feel confident we have enough people to play there to cover that position and cover it well."
McNeil has long been touted for his versatility, going back to his days at Long Beach State where he played four positions his senior season. He has made three appearances in center field in his seven-year major league career.
Nimmo, who staked his claim to the majority of everyday starts in center field beginning in 2021, shifted back to the left field corner last season as a way to promote even more durability for the 32-year-old.
Acuña, who broke in as middle infield, made his first 31 starts in the middle of the outfield last season with Triple-A Syracuse.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tyrone Taylor: NY Mets player thankful for center field chance
Continue reading...
With two runners on and one out, the roller to the left side seemed earmarked for an inning-ending double play. Tyrone Taylor ripped down the line to make sure that didn't happen. And two pitches later, Lindor blasted a three-run home run.
"Everybody's kind of passing the baton and at the end of the day, that's kind of what it's all about," Lindor said. "My at-bat today doesn't really come without Tyrone running the bases as hard as he could to try to beat it out."
You must be registered for see images attach
Heading into the season, the Mets' center field position was never expected to be counted upon to bear the weight of the team's offense. That role is reserved for the top of the lineup and the team's top earners: Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso.
With Jose Siri now sidelined with a fractured tibia, which will keep him out for eight to 10 weeks, Taylor is expected to see the majority of the action in the middle of the outfield. For the 31-year-old, who's in his second season with the Mets, the responsibilities remain the same: hustle, play good defense and be ready when his number is called.
"I try to come every day like I’m prepared to play, like I’m prepared to start even when I’m not playing every day. Nothing really changes for me along that," Taylor told NorthJersey.com of his stepping into a larger role.
"I think more just getting my body ready and being better with my recovery every day."
The spark that Tyrone Taylor provides
You must be registered for see images
When David Stearns took the reins for his first season as the Mets' president of baseball operations following the 2023 season, one of the first trades he made was with his former team, the Brewers, to acquire Taylor and Adrian Houser.
Taylor's calling card was his defense, boasting combined 9 outs above average in the prior two seasons before joining the Mets. With speed in the top 10 percent of Major League Baseball, he brings elite range. That defense is one of the keys to Taylor's opportunities in center field.
"He’s always ready to go. The way he goes and gets baseballs out there, he’s an elite defender," Mendoza said. "He keeps it fun, keeps it loose. He competes. He’s going to give you an at-bat. There’s impact. He hits the ball in play, especially when he controls the strike zone. He gets in trouble when he chases, obviously like every hitter."
Anything Taylor provides on offense is an added bonus. Last season, he slashed .248/.299/.401 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, 47 runs and career highs in doubles (22) and stolen bases (11). Siri had not provided a whole lot in the way of offense early this season. The lifetime .207 hitter was 1-for-20 with five runs, two stolen bases and eight strikeouts in his first 10 games.
Taylor joked about his responsibilities at the bottom of the lineup: "I’m hoping to get on base so the big boppas can drive me in," he said with a laugh.
Tyrone Taylor: Fielding the position
You must be registered for see images attach
In the eyes of Mets coach Antoan Richardson, who handles the team's outfielders, there is no replacing Siri, whose 16 outs above average with the Rays last season were tied for fifth-best in the major leagues.
For Richardson, the biggest thing for the replacements is making sure they're on the same page with the other outfielders. That level of communication is something that Taylor has grown more comfortable with as a member of the Mets. He said it often feels like he and Nimmo are "reading each other's minds."
"Sometimes it’s a good thing because we play with each other and we know each other, but also, we got to remember to communicate at times," Taylor said. "I think that’s a cool thing that we know which balls each other are going to get and stuff.
"I think Juan and I do a good job communicating pre-pitch. He’s always getting my attention and telling me whether he wants to go in or back on the ball. It’s pretty cool. We do a good job."
The center field position comes with a lot of responsibility, and Richardson views the position with particular importance.
"Just to be the guy that’s wanting to be that accountability partner in that position is the most important thing for me," Richardson said. "You patrol most of the outfield and you need that person to be the glue guy for that unit."
Brandon Nimmo? Jeff McNeil? Who else can fill in at CF?
You must be registered for see images attach
When asked on Monday about the team's split in center field, Stearns said Taylor is going to "get a lot" of the playing time there.
Stearns feels comfortable about the depth at the position, with Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Luisangel Acuña all waiting in the wings as options.
"I think it's who's playing well, what pitchers we're facing, how we want to structure the lineup on any particular day," Stearns said, "but we feel confident we have enough people to play there to cover that position and cover it well."
McNeil has long been touted for his versatility, going back to his days at Long Beach State where he played four positions his senior season. He has made three appearances in center field in his seven-year major league career.
Nimmo, who staked his claim to the majority of everyday starts in center field beginning in 2021, shifted back to the left field corner last season as a way to promote even more durability for the 32-year-old.
Acuña, who broke in as middle infield, made his first 31 starts in the middle of the outfield last season with Triple-A Syracuse.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Tyrone Taylor: NY Mets player thankful for center field chance
Continue reading...
