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New York Mets: Yoenis Cespedes Must Be A Savior

By Michael Addvensky

Jul 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) rounds first after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) rounds first after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Yoenis Cespedes was just activated from the disabled list this past weekend. He’s already having a huge impact on a New York Mets lineup that has been really struggling as of late.

Last season, the New York Mets did not look like a playoff team for the majority of the season. Their lineup wasn’t anything that special, and as good as the pitching was, it couldn’t carry the team. Then, something changed. The team acquired Yoenis Cespedes. Just like that, the Mets were transformed into a playoff team.

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Things are a little different this year. Expectations were a lot higher going into the season. With a full year of Cespedes along with the dominant young pitching staff, many people expected the Mets to win the NL East once again. Unfortunately, things haven’t panned out so well.

Injuries have really impacted the team. Matt Harvey struggled mightily early on. In June, he decided to have season-ending shoulder surgery. Lucas Duda has been out since May with a back injury David Wright played for a few months, but then had to be placed on the disabled list due to a herniated disc in his neck. He also had to have surgery, ending his season. The Mets just haven’t had much luck with health in 2016. And those are just the major injuries.  

Right now, the Mets sit at 62-62, 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot in the NL. They begin a three-game series with the Cardinals in St. Louis tonight. This will undoubtedly be the Mets most important series of the season.

The Mets are in a much worse position than they were this time last year. However, all is not lost just yet. Cespedes is healthy once again. With his bat back in the lineup, the Mets might just have a chance to go on a run.

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Cespedes showed everyone this weekend just the kind of impact he can have on the Mets lineup. He was activated from the disabled list on Friday. That night, he went 1-for-4. The Mets lost to the San Francisco Giants 8-1. The next afternoon however, he went 3-for-5 with an RBI double and two solo home runs. The Mets won the game 9-5. He only had one hit on Sunday night, but it was a big one. Cespedes hit a long two-run homer off of Jeff Samardzija in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie. That home run would end up being the difference, as the Mets won 2-0.

Just like in 2015, Cespedes will have to be the one to save the Mets. Hopefully his quad doesn’t act up again because the Mets cannot afford for him to go down another time. When healthy, he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in all of baseball. The numbers don’t lie. In 97 games, he’s batting .293 with 25 home runs and 64 RBIs. He has the ability to carry a lineup. That’s just what the Mets need him to do.

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