New York Mets: Keon Broxton isn’t as good as he thinks he is

Thursday, New York Mets outfielder Keon Broxton once again failed in a game-winning situation. Odd for a player who believes he’s underutilized. He must really think the team is crazy now because he was designated for assignment Friday morning.

When Keon Broxton struck out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth on Thursday killing a New York Mets rally, a metaphor ran through my mind. I hope he drives an automatic because he can’t handle the clutch. Watching him once again fail when it mattered was like listening to gears in a transmission grind when someone misses the shift on a stick.

Anyone who makes it as far as the majors has more talent than 99.99 percent of everyone else that’s ever played the game. At the same time, they as well as every little leaguer knows that playing time is earned not given. That’s why it was interesting when Broxton told Newsday yesterday that his lack of playing time this year comes as a surprise.

"“From the start of the season I’ve been surprised,” Broxton said. “I haven’t been playing too much, I haven’t gotten as many opportunities. It’s not like I started out bad. It is what it is though. They got a plan and they’re working with it, so all I can do is try to be ready.”"

It’s not like he had a history of outstanding hitting, Broxton was average at best. In 798 career plate appearances over parts of four seasons, before joining the Mets, he had a .221 batting average. It’s been worse in New York, Broxton is hitting .143 in 49 at-bats. What really sticks out like a lime green house in a red brick neighborhood are his strikeouts. Broxton has struck out 22 times or 45 percent of his at-bats.

With those numbers, how he’s surprised by his lack of playing time is almost unfathomable. When Broxton was traded to the New York Mets, which one of Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes (when he comes back), or Jeff McNeil did he think he’d be taking playing time from. Additionally, although he’s a good fielder, Broxton is not better than Juan Lagares. There is such a thing as realistic expectations.

If Broxton’s at-bat against Sean Doolittle in Washington D.C., Thursday, looked familiar, it should. He did the same thing against Hector Neris on April 17, in Philadelphia. His failure in both those games is the difference between a 20-22 record and a 22-20 which would be a half game out of first place.

The Mets placed Conforto on the seven-game injured list after he took one on the chin. While chase an in-between fly ball, his jaw collided with second baseman Robinson Cano’s shoulder.