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New York Mets manager Buck Showalter Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Let's cry foul over Buck Showalter's senseless approach with 'Baby Mets'

By Matthew Neschis | Last updated 9/6/23

The time has come for manager Buck Showalter to take the training wheels off the "Baby Mets," the team's promising rookies.

New York Mets fans got their first look at what the future may hold Tuesday night when all four of the "Baby Mets" — catcher Francisco Alvarez, third baseman Brett Baty, second baseman Ronny Mauricio and DH Mark Vientos — shined in an 11-5 rout of the Washington Nationals.

Alvarez kick-started the scoring barrage in the first inning, blasting a three-run home run — his 22nd of the season and first since Aug. 1. Vientos followed suit in the third, crushing a triple to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field. Baty and Mauricio additionally got in on the fun, driving in a combined three runs in the third and eighth innings.

When the dust had finally settled at Nationals Park, the Mets youngsters had gone 5-for-13 with a combined five runs and six RBI.

The Baby #Mets in their first game starting together:

5-for-13, 5 R, 6 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, SB, 2 HBP, BB pic.twitter.com/AK3VDOfqVL
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) September 6, 2023

Tuesday's lineup marked the first time all four of the "Baby Mets" started in a game, but it may be a long time before that happens again.

According to SNY sportscaster Gary Cohen, Showalter is hesitant to play all the highly touted prospects on a nightly basis, instead opting to craft the best lineup possible each game. With a final stretch against clubs that are all in playoff contention, the manager reportedly believes the Mets should field the team best equipped to win, for they "owe it to the teams that they're battling with."

Here’s the audio of Gary Cohen passing along his convo with Buck Showalter about the Mets playing their lineup different against contenders. pic.twitter.com/PQrXmsMPDs
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) September 6, 2023

On paper, few would disagree with the approach Showalter has implemented, but starting journeymen Jonathan Arauz, Rafael Ortega or Tim Locastro over perceived pieces of the future makes little sense in the midst of a lost season.

Much of the struggles of the "Baby Mets" this season can be attributed to a lack of consistent playing time. Barring Alvarez, who won the starting catching role in April, the other rookies have not received consistent playing time in the majors. Baty leads the pack with 101 career major league games, followed by Vientos with 59 and Mauricio with four.

The "Baby Mets" have brought a sense of excitement and invigoration missing from the team since New York's trade deadline fire sale. For the sake of their development and the entertainment of the team's fans, Showalter must throw the kids in at the deep end and see if they float.

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