CHICAGO — The Mets lineup has been one of the hottest in the league since the calendar turned to June, but even when it cooled off Saturday at Wrigley Field with a loss to the Cubs, J.D. Martinez stayed hot.
Named the NL Player of the Week on Monday, Martinez has been putting up ridiculous numbers for the Mets in June. He reached base in 10 straight plate appearances from June 14-16 and reached base safely in 21 straight games from May 27-June17, hitting .289 with seven home runs, 22 RBI and a .961 OPS in that span.
His 152 OPS+ shows just how valuable he has been to the Mets this season.
The DH has been carrying the Mets at a time when they need someone to step up and lead the way at the plate. He’s also been a leading voice in the clubhouse.
“I was just calling him Coach J.D. yesterday,” third baseman Mark Vientos told the Daily News this week in Chicago. “Just kidding, but he’s a brilliant mind. He’s been around the game for a while and he’s been helping in all aspects of the game. Not just the offense, but like, on the mental side and the vibes. He’s a great part of his team and I’m happy he’s with us.”
Vientos wasn’t exactly happy about the addition of Martinez in spring training. Having both grown up in South Florida, the two have known each other for years. But the signing of Martinez in March came at cost of a roster spot for Vientos out of spring training.
Now the Mets can’t afford to take either of them out of the lineup.
“He’s given me some pointers for sure,” Vientos said. “He loves talking about baseball. He acts like he doesn’t, but he loves it. I know he does.”
One of the key pointers Vientos has picked up from Martinez this season: There is always another game tomorrow.
When the Atlanta Braves were working a combined no-hitter against the Mets in May, Martinez broke up the no-hit bid and made an extremely poignant comment that resonated with many in the clubhouse.
“You really can’t get caught up in all that, then you start putting all this excess pressure on yourself,” Martinez said following the loss. “And for what? You get no hit? Who cares? Tomorrow is another day.”
Martinez has seen just about every scenario possible in his 14-year career, from getting cut out of spring training to becoming a six-time All-Star and a World Series winner. He’s played on tanking teams, teams that should have been better than they were and teams that were historically good in the regular season that faltered in the postseason. Nothing fazes him.
“He’s levelheaded, laid back, chill,” Vientos said. “He knows how long this season is very even-keeled. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low, and that’s the name of the game. We were just talking about that, how in this game, the best players are never too high and never too low.
“No matter how good you’re doing, or how bad you’re doing, you stay the same.”
The 24-year-old Vientos has watched Martinez closely this season and listened to anything he’s had to say, trying to gain any sort of insight he can into how he works. It’s exactly what the Mets hoped for.
“Especially from the offensive side, I’ve been saying how vocal he is,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Not only in hitters’ meetings but the one-on-one conversations, whether it’s in the locker room, in the cages, in the training room, the cafeteria — anywhere. This is a guy that prepares, does his homework, is very detail-oriented and he’s not afraid to share with people.”
Martinez shows no signs of slowing down, even as he approaches his 37th birthday in August.
His expected numbers, exit velocity and barrel rates are among the best in the league. Much like he has his entire career, the right-handed hitter continues to drive the ball to the opposite field.
Hitting behind Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo in the No. 3 spot, and in front of cleanup hitter Pete Alonso, the top of the order is making life difficult on opposing pitchers.
“There’s a reason why he’s got the numbers and the career he’s had, especially with runners in scoring position — because he just keeps it simple,” Mendoza said. “Obviously, he does his homework. He knows what the pitcher is trying to do to him in certain situations and those are some of the things that he’s sharing with the guys. But at the end of the day, he’s prepared. And like I said, he keeps it simple.”
Simple, but effective.
Martinez has a huge impact on the Mets on and off the field, proving to be everything they hoped he would be when they signed him in March.
