The Mets have played 20 games since September 16, and Francisco Alvarez has started 17 of them.
Luis Torrence last started a game on September 30th (the meaningless final day of a doubleheader in Atlanta), on a day when the Mets have only played one game since September 28th. Not allowed to participate.
It's been two weeks since Alvarez was sidelined in a key game, but even on that day, he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and caught a ball in the ninth.
While the three-day break between the NLDS and NLCS will be beneficial for the Mets' pitching staff and a player like Alvarez, it's not what the Mets wanted.
“Baseball never stops, so neither do I,” Alvarez said Wednesday before the Mets defeated the Phillies at Citi Field. He started his seventh playoff game in nine days.
This may be the advantage of having 22-year-old Genki Ball as his regular catcher.
Alvarez didn't have a great postseason offensively, going 4-for-26 with one RBI and nine strikeouts.
He got better behind the plate, putting out two runners on 10 attempts and working well with a pitching staff that boasted a postseason ERA of 3.06.
His best moments during the playoffs were few and far between, calming down a pitcher and charging toward Jose Quintana in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 3 in Milwaukee.
Quintana faced a full count against Gary Sanchez with one second left on the pitch clock.
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Álvarez noticed the clock, lost his position and ran towards Quintana, trading a possible walk in exchange for a mound visit.
On the next pitch, Quintana struck out Sanchez for the final out.
There were also questions about whether Alvarez, who is worse than Torrence in terms of suppressing stolen bases, would be able to play full games against a fast team.
Coach Carlos Mendoza declared Alvarez his man, and Alvarez was cemented into every starting lineup.
The Mets will be hoping his power comes in handy at some point during this run. In terms of enthusiasm, Alvarez hasn't slowed down.
“He's just an unbelievable kid,” catching coach Glenn Sherlock said. “He has so much energy. He prepares. He gets treatment. He makes sure he's ready to play. He knows his priorities in these games. The child is ready.
“He would be very disappointed if he wasn't there. He wants to be there every day.”
