TO CLOSE

Michael Conforto during his big night against the Phillies
Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt

PHILADELPHIA – As for 2019, Mets manager Mickey Callaway would like an improved defense. More versatile hitters would be good too.

He would also like to put in his lineup a healthy and productive Michael Conforto, like the one that marked a new career in the RBI on Monday.

"It's one of the best games in the league when it goes like that," Callaway said. "Doing what he does now is fun to watch."

Conforto participated in six races, including the winning round in the seventh inning of the Mets' 9-4 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The three-point Comforto circuit in ninth place sealed the match, and it has 22 points produced in September, its highest of all months.

Zack Wheeler (12-7) has pitched seven four-point innings in what could be his last start as the team wants to be cautious with him.

The Mets (70-80) have also been formally eliminated from the playoffs.

"I knew I was going to understand things. If I put the job to the test and continued to stay positive and keep working hard, I would end up doing what I did last year, "said Conforto. Ordinary. I knew that at some point it would come back.

What a difference

The upgrade of the offensive will be a major priority for the Mets during the off season, but it is an encouraging sign that Conforto has once again become a manufacturer of differences.

The attack collapsed in the first half as Conforto struggled and took off in the second half as the outfielder regained his pace.

The Mets apparently brought Conforto back after an off-season surgery, playing in the sixth game, and he only hit .216 with a 0.710 OPS in 85 games. He did not hit for power, and his production was pedestrian. He did not scare the opposing teams.

Conforto, the second counter-game, came back to the bat, and his 3-on-5 night pushed his cut line to .278 / .346 / .547 / .893 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 56 games. He became the dynamic All-Star bat again in the first half of last season.

Jake Arrieta's double helped the Mets take a 4-0 lead in the fifth, and his double double against Tommy Hunter in seventh place gave the Mets a 5-4 lead. He added a three-run homer in the ninth, his 10th game this year.

"I think I'm not looking so much anymore," said Conforto. "In the first period, I was trying to find what I had last year and repeat my swing and be consistent with it and be at the time for n & # 39; s Any terrain and stay in the area for off-speed terrain. "

Other places

The Mets will still have to improve the lineup outside of Conforto, and Callaway has highlighted the addition of batters with bat-to-bat skills like Jeff McNeil.

The team was too dependent on the circuits, which led to an increase in strikeouts, and the circuits did not arrive this year, paralyzing many rallies.

Having hitters able to put the ball in play puts pressure on the defense and also gives the team the opportunity to score a runner after a double or triple.

"It's a bit harder to navigate our lineup with some of the versatility we have with our players." McNeil beat bats and hit the ball, no matter where it is thrown. "

Excited for the future

With Conforto in the lead, the Mets are now 31-25 in the second half and are playing a respectable baseball mark against the playoff contenders.

It is hard to overlook the fact that this team lost 11-1 and had a chance to win an NL East win, but there are positive signs for the future.

Especially with this version of Conforto.

"I think at this point we are a better team and a better organization than at the beginning of the organization and that's one of our goals. delighted with this game but we have to win more games "Callaway said before the game. "We need to win more games for our fans, we see the support we are getting on the road in Boston and they deserve better than we gave them this year – that's the end result."

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