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Acting general manager Zack Scott has defended Mets medical and performance staff over the plethora of soft tissue issues that have spurred a parade of players landing on the injured list in what he also described as a “mediocre” season at Flushing.
Without specifically naming any, Scott attributed some of the injuries to the Mets players for not complying with medics’ plans to keep them healthy.
“In some cases you can have the best plan, and if the plan isn’t followed, it won’t necessarily work out. Sometimes that’s the problem, ”Scott said ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the nationals. “On soft tissues [injuries], we talked about each one, but there was nothing that struck me as a glaring error in our process, in our treatment, in our training, which led to it.
“I think there are specific examples where it’s clear that something could have been treated differently. Most of the time, to be honest, it’s compliance issues.
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is currently on the injured list with an oblique injury, and acquiring deadline Javier Baez is overnight after leaving Sunday’s game in Philadelphia with hip tightness that moved behind her back. Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, Carlos Carrasco and Robert Gsellman have also spent a lot of time on the soft tissue injury list. Brandon Nimmo, JD Davis and Jose Peraza have been sidelined with hand or finger injuries and starter ace Jacob deGrom is currently on the IL with stiff right forearm.
Scott added that he was not trying to “vilify [any] players ”, and we do not know which Mets he was talking about specifically.
When asked to elaborate on his ‘compliance’ remark, Scottt said, “Actually, following the plan. Because these are all individuals in control of their own bodies and sometimes they are not as compliant as they should be. It happens. I have seen this happen in the past.
“Return to the individualized approach. You also need to take charge of your career and your health. It really is an easy narrative to put on performance staff or hitting coaches. But it is simplistic. It’s a partnership with these groups and players and everyone has to shoot in the direction.
The Mets entered that six-game homestand with seven losses in their previous eight games to drop to a single game above 0.500 (56-55) for the season and from first place to third place in the East NL, 2 1/2 games behind the division-leading Phillies. They had lost 15 of their first 24 games since the all-star break and were second to last in the MLB in points scored, ahead of the Pirates only.
“Obviously there are a lot of games left to play and we still have a chance to compete and win this division,” said Scott. “It’s baseball and… there’s always a chance, so you can’t go too low or too high when things are going well.
“Having said that, we played very poor baseball for most of the year. This recent stretch has been far worse than mediocre. We would have taken mediocre at this point. For this stretch it has been unacceptably bad, and we have to be better. But we’re not going to panic because you can’t do that in this game.
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