By Rich Mancuso/Sports Editor
The Mets had their best comeback of the season, all with this added depth that was unexpected. Yes, three days after the rumors and the losing, winning does change the composure and complexion of a team.Two days after and there is no talk about the departure of manager Mickey Callaway.
Winning their third straight after being swept in three by the Marlins will stop the talk. But this Mets 6-1 comeback win over the Nationals Wednesday night at Citi Field showed that depth for this team is there.
General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen, who faced the media Monday, was all smiles after this win. He should be smiling. Some of the aggressive wheeling and dealing in his brief tenure have worked and some have not. But this win showed something, and from the onset of spring training there was going to be a time when the Mets needed depth as they had in this win.
Juan Lagares with his three-run two-out double in the eighth had an impact. And for the time being, Lagares, the seven-year Mets veteran will be inserted in the lineup. The outfield has been hit with injuries to Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo.
Which leads to Rajai Davis. Welcome to Flushing, and it was a quick call. Davis was one of those veterans invited to spring training and the Mets GM got what he expected. It took over two hours and an Uber ride from Allentown Pa for the ride to Citi Field.
The Mets owe Uber for that ride that cost over $200.00. It was a ride that will live in Mets history and makes Brodie look good again with the depth he added to this roster. Davis, after taking batting practice in Allentown Pa. with Syracuse of Triple-A was dispatched to Flushing.
More importantly, and moments after the Lagares double, Davis hit a three-run homer to left off a struggling Sean Doolittle. A great way to start his debut as a Met. Even better, a sign for sure that the Mets have that roster depth waiting for the injured to return.
It was also the Mets largest comeback of the season. Too bad, and once again, Jacob deGrom got no run support prior to that six-run inning. Nimmo has a neck strain and Conforto is recuperating from a concussion he sustained last week on a play with Robinson Cano.
“I appreciate it,” Davis said about the opportunity. “I’m trying to make an impact right away and I was fortunate enough to be put in that position to make something happen.”
There have been these moments in Mets history when a player was suddenly on the scene and made an impact. Mike Piazza, though with a greater magnitude and eventual Hall of Fame status. Davis, a veteran of 14 Major League seasons, is with his eighth team. The 38-year old arrived at Citi Field in the third inning.
It did not take long to make an impact. The depth is there for the Mets and Mickey Callaway could have him in the lineup for the finale of this series Thursday afternoon. The Mets will be looking for a four-game sweep, and after that 1-5 road trip and three putrid loses to the lowly Marlins things are looking a bit better.
Lagares said about his hit, “That was huge right there. I am always ready,” And the injury prone outfielder works hard to be ready, as the Mets organization have never given up on the now 30-year older veteran. He can expect more playing time and it could work to their advantage with the depth that was assured in the offseason.
But Rajai Davis? He was not supposed to be in the picture. Not for now and perhaps not until September when rosters expand. But this is baseball and a long season where anything can occur. What is known after this Mets win is the depth. And it doesn’t matter how many years they have been on the field.
Just a few years ago, Davis was in the same dugout with Callaway as the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians.
“He’s been doing this for awhile, so he has confidence in himself,” Callaway said. “He’s very, very prepared. He’s the man.” With Robinson Cano, possibly sidelined for a bit with a tight left quad, perhaps more depth is on the way?
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