Mets enjoy rare luxury of batting practice

For the first time in eight days, the Mets were able to take batting practice Wednesday on an actual baseball field.

That may seem like a simple task for a Major League team, but it’s been a rare luxury this season for the Mets, who have already had seven games postponed or suspended due to COVID-19 and weather issues in Washington, New York, Denver and Chicago. Even when the Mets have been able to squeeze in nine (or seven) innings of baseball, they haven’t always been able to hit on the field. Believing strongly that that’s contributed to their early offensive malaise, the Mets were determined to take batting practice at Wrigley Field.

And so their hitters bundled up against cold, windy, wet conditions, with temperatures dipping into the 30s. In their minds, it was worth it to escape the confines of indoor batting cages.

“We needed to get out on the field and be more baseball-like,” hitting coach Chili Davis said. “Hitting in the cage is one thing, but getting out there and seeing ball flight and really working your swing [is another].”

Although reticent to make excuses for his hitters, who entered Wednesday’s play ranked 30th in the Majors in runs per game, Davis did admit the team’s disjointed schedule hasn’t helped. For hitters, nothing is more important than seeing live pitching. When games are scarce, hitting on the field at least gives position players the hint of a live game atmosphere.

The Mets haven’t had much of either recently. Instead, they’ve spent their time in indoor batting cages, using high-velocity machines and even virtual reality sets to simulate game conditions. Those things help, but only to an extent.

Said manager Luis Rojas: “The weather’s a little bit of a challenge right now.”

Fortunately for the Mets, a reprieve is in sight. Temperatures in Chicago are forecasted to rise into the mid-50s on Thursday, with precipitation cleared out of the area. The Mets will be even warmer on their next homestand, which begins Friday against the Nationals.

They’ll be eager to hit on the field before that game, as well.

“We all walk around and go, ‘Batting practice is overrated,’” Davis said. “It’s not. It gets you on the field. It gets you a feel for the batter’s box, for home plate. If you make a good swing, you get to see your ball flight. It gets you moving around. It gets you in that baseball environment. I’m not one for excuses, but it is a fact: We haven’t been on the field much because of the weather. I heard it was like 70 degrees in New York the other day. We could use that right now.”

Aches and pains

Brandon Nimmo was out of the Mets’ lineup Wednesday due to right hip stiffness, which he played through the previous night, going 0-for-5 (including a strikeout with the bases loaded, one out, and the Mets trailing by two runs in the ninth). The Mets were aware of Nimmo’s hip issue at the time. A day later, they decided to give him some rest.

Rojas said the team considered using Albert Almora Jr., who is the only Mets position player yet to start a game, in Nimmo’s usual defensive home. Instead, Rojas went with Kevin Pillar, who started in center field. Second baseman Jeff McNeil moved up to the leadoff spot for the first time this season.

The Mets plan to give Almora a start at some point in the near future, but Rojas didn’t reveal any concrete plans for that. Serving mostly as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, Almora entered Wednesday’s play with just two plate appearances in 12 games.

The Florida report

Reliever Drew Smith (right shoulder soreness) threw live batting practice Wednesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. That puts him in position to rejoin the Mets soon, although the team could option Smith to its alternate site if it lacks a vacancy in the bullpen. Smith was on the Mets’ Opening Day roster bubble before his shoulder issue sidelined him late in camp.