MILWAUKEE — Jose Iglesias and Mark Vientos are half of the Mets' talented infield, but they're the stars everyone expected to earn less than 1 percent of their solid annual salaries. As a song (though not as frequently heard as Iglesias' New York hit “OMG”), they might rank second and third behind current Mets hitter and team MVP Francisco Lindor. .
Mets president David Stearns' batting average appears to be nearing 1,000, but when it comes to rewards, Vientos' call-up and Iglesias' contract and subsequent promotion continue to top the near-perfect list (long (but see below for a partial list). 1 and 1A.
The upstart Mets, who are said to be underdogs, entered the wild card matchup with the Brewers in good shape, and won against the hated Braves in the south to decide a spot in the playoffs, and once again the sudden tandem of Iglesias and Vientos appeared. contributed to its retention. The flow is heading here. It was a team effort for the Mets to win Game 1, 8-4, but the surprisingly dynamic duo was once again at the center of things.
Mets owner Steve Cohen knows better about investing than almost anyone in Warren Buffett's inner circle, with Iglesias and Vientos making a combined $2.24 million (the veteran Iglesias making $1.5 million and the young Vientos is worth at least $740,000), or 0.66% of his assets. The team's payroll is a league-high $341 million. The budget is high, but today's team looks like it's worth it.
The Iglesias case is deeply troubling. Despite being a career .283 hitter with a great glove, his plight is still hard to believe as he was forced to sign a minor league contract for four consecutive years. Lindor now says he deserves a multi-year deal, and who can argue with that?
Even though he didn't write the team's fun theme song as his alter ego, Candelita, he's been a joy around the Mets, on the field, and in the clubhouse since originally signing with a sure hand as a depth player in Triple-A. .
It's hard to understand why he became a winter outcast. Teammate JD Martinez said flatly: [screwed] he. He hit .300 at Colorado State but couldn't get a job. ”
Iglesias responded to Martinez's claims, saying, “I don't think I was treated fairly in the fight.” “But I have this chance. Everything in the past is in the past and I'm here today. [trying] To help this great organization, our great team. And I embrace this opportunity with both hands and have no intention of letting it go. ”
Iglesias' batting average of .337 (an MLB record for a player with 260 at-bats) was not due to luck or singing talent. He consistently hits the ball hard and collects more infield hits than almost anyone. His teammates will say he's faster than he looks. In response, Iglesias says, “I can move.” He also came out of the box as ferocious as anyone else, and such effort allowed him to beat Brewers starter Freddy Peralta with a head-first dive for the game-tying run midway through the game. Ta. 5th win in 5 runs.
After several years of struggling to find his footing in the organization, Vientos, who now leads the club in the slugging department, followed two batters later with a two-run hit, giving the Mets the lead for good. Lindor said he was proud of himself. And Vientos said: But I'm just focused on what we've done. I'm not going to stop and congratulate myself. ”
These two always believed in each other. It's only now that others have started riding.
They aren't the only surprises for the Mets. The list of players who haven't been with the team since the start of the season is longer than anyone, including Martinez, Jose Butt (two perfect innings pitched on Tuesday), Ryne Stanek (perfect ninth inning), and Jesse Winker (two runs). This includes triples, etc. ), Reed Garrett, Lewis Torrence.
No wonder the Mets' popularity is increasing day by day. Here, chants of “Let's go Mets” could be heard from behind the visitors dugout. “OMG” signs appeared everywhere. This team from Queen's has a reputation for resilience and cohesion, and the good times have continued.
This turnaround wasn't as dramatic as the one against Atlanta, but it overcame some early setbacks. Nothing can bring this team down.
The Mets moved up the standings by the end of the division series against the rival Phillies. If they get there, they'll be underdogs there too.
It was the behind-the-scenes movements that set the stage for this incredible breakthrough. Iglesias has to be one of the best players in minor league history, probably second only to R.A. Dickey, but probably few others.
Vientos could rake at any time. But for a long time, skeptics outnumbered believers. He was offered a trade by the previous administration to the Cubs and a number of other teams at various times. They weren't sure if there was a position for him. He has surprised at third base with some decent play, and his bat should be a mainstay for years to come. He is already at the center of what is happening here. Same with him and Iglesias.
