Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after game three that Francisco Alvarez will be back in the lineup for game four despite his continued struggles, as the young catcher struck out three times and committed a throwing error in the 8-0 blowout loss to the Dodgers.
Mendoza has pushed all the right buttons for the Mets since June, but Gio says sticking with Alvarez with so much on the line might be one that comes back to bite him, and this magical Mets season.
“Carlos Mendoza is sticking with his guys…that might be a mistake,” Gio said. “Sometimes, making that one move to change things where you’re not panicking, but have seen enough, can be the difference between winning and losing a series.
“I think he needs to seriously consider taking Francisco Alvarez out of the lineup.”
Alvarez has been brutal at the plate all postseason, posting an OPS of just over .300 while stranding 10 men on base over the last two games alone. Luis Torrens is not known for his bat by any means, but at this point, he could be an upgrade over what Alvarez has given the team offensively.
“I know he’s not gonna do it…but he is now so lost that the pendulum has swung the other way,” Gio said. “He’s so screwed up from swinging and missing that he’s now taking pitches, and struck out twice looking at strikes right down the middle!”
Still, you never know when anyone on this Mets team will come up with the big hit, so even with how bad he has looked, Boomer says Alvarez can’t be ruled out of a potential clutch plate appearance if the situation arises in Thursday’s pivotal game four.
“He is totally overwhelmed in the batter’s box…he is going through it as a young man, and it’s not easy,” Boomer said. “It was disappointing just like game one was disappointing, but they came back in game two, so they can come back tonight.”