When the New York Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes at the trading deadline last season, comedian Jerry Seinfeld coined the phrase “A Cespedes for the rest of us.” Thus far, the Cuban outfielder has yet to disappoint. Known as a “Five-tool” player, he can run, throw, field, hit for average, and hit for power.
Before he put on a Mets uniform midway through the 2015 season, the “Amazins” were last in the National League in both home runs and runs per game. But all that changed upon his arrival, and the Mets quickly took over first place after July 31st in runs scored and HR’s. In 57 games with the team, Cespedes has batted .287 with 17 HR’s and 55 RBI’s.
[bibblio style=”bib–default bib–hover bib–white-label bib–row-2 bib–title-only bib–size-16 bib–font-arial” query_string_params=”e30=” recommendation_type=”optimised”]
During the off-season, Cespedes was offered long-term contracts by several teams. The Washington Nationals wanted to give him a deal worth over $100 million, but he turned it down because he wanted to play in the bright lights and big city. He signed a 3-year deal with the Mets worth $75 million, with an opt-out clause after this year. He took less money to play for the Metropolitans and so far has earned every penny. Some retired players have come out recently on sports talk radio and said that today’s baseball players are “soft” and don’t want to play every day, but that is not the case here. In one of his very first meetings with Manager Terry Collins, Cespedes told the skipper, “You don’t need to worry about me, I play every day.”
The Mets have a record of 34-28. They are 2nd in the National League in HR’s and 13th in runs scored. The lack of run production is not the fault of the man affectionately knowns as “Yo-Ces” With power hitters David Wright and Lucas Duda out of the lineup due to injuries, the Mets need their center fielder to carry the team. In 56 Games, Yo-Ces has 16 HR’s, 40 RBI’s and a slugging percentage of .574. It’s been a long time since the Mets had an every day outfielder who can put the team on his shoulders. Not since Darryl Strawberry have the Mets had an elite slugger in their prime. Yo-Ces has truly been a pleasure to watch day-in and day-out, and Mets fans are lucky to have “A Cespedes for the rest of us.”
For more from Monte Perez, follow The Sports Whisperer on Twitter @Montetjwitter11, and listen to the Monte Cristo Sports Thing on WRNJ Radio.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Scott Clarke / ESPN Images
