Mets Top Rockies as Michael Cuddyer Comes Off D.L., and Sits

The Mets’ Michael Cuddyer, right, with the Rockies’ first-base coach, Eric Young, before the start of Monday’s game at Citi Field. Credit Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Cuddyer had little other choice, though. With the influx of talent on the roster, Collins could afford to dole out playing time to those who deserve it most. And Cuddyer, the Mets’ big acquisition during the off-season, had struggled at the plate most of the year. In this new climate, a veteran like him, earning $8.5 million this year, could become a bench player.

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“We’re looking to play the best nine players we can in any given game,” General Manager Sandy Alderson said.

So Cuddyer watched Monday, his first day back, as the Mets showed off their new, deep offense and beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, with one home run and one methodical rally.

Travis d’Arnaud hit a solo home run in the second inning, and the Mets scored three runs in the seventh to take the lead for good. Eight Mets went to bat in the frame. D’Arnaud singled to get the momentum going. Conforto worked a key six-pitch walk to keep the inning going. Curtis Granderson took a pitch off his body, with the bases loaded. Daniel Murphy slapped a single, scoring two more runs. All three runs came with two outs.

“I really believe right now that late in the game, when we get guys up there, they’re going to put on legitimately good at-bats,” Collins said. “They might not get hits. But they’re good at-bats. We were just sitting on the bench, looking at each other, saying, ‘Gosh, a year ago, we don’t win that game.’ ”

If they had not produced, perhaps Collins would have reason to bench them. This is the meritocracy the Mets now operate under. For Cuddyer, in particular, it may take some adjusting. At the time he was activated off the disabled list Monday, he was batting .250; he had as many strikeouts as total hits; and his on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.683) was his lowest since his first season in the majors, 2001, when he played eight games.

Still, earlier in the season, when the Mets played through a number of injuries, they relied heavily on Cuddyer, even batting him cleanup. When he first injured his knee in late June, they were so desperate for offense that they held out hope he could play through it, even though he could not play an entire game and would limp through the clubhouse afterward, his knee heavily wrapped.

Speaking with the news media Monday, Cuddyer smiled widely. He played down any concern over his role. (“I’m up for whatever,” he said.) He indicated he was healthy, or at least healthy enough. (“I either say you can play or you can’t play,” he said. “I can play.”) He appeared excited about the team’s recent success, even though it had come without his being involved.

“Guys are on board and pulling in the direction of winning baseball games, not worrying about themselves or what their numbers are like,” he said.

At a news conference, Collins gushed about Cuddyer’s mind-set: “He is one of the ultimate pros I’ve ever been around. Anytime I’ve said something to him, he nods his head — ‘Yeah, yeah, no problem.’ Because he understands the game, he understands what his part is.”

In Cuddyer’s absence, Conforto proved himself to be a reliable contributor. He impressed the Mets with his confidence, his defense, his base running, his arm, his general approach at the plate. Entering Monday, when the Mets had to decide whom to demote in place of Cuddyer, Conforto’s statistics were not overwhelming. He was batting .222, with four extra-base hits and eight R.B.I., in 36 at-bats. But the Mets demoted Eric Campbell instead.

Before the Mets called up Conforto — to take Cuddyer’s place when he went on the disabled list — they had indicated they would be cautious with his development. They said they wanted to nourish his talent in the right environment, in which he could play regularly, mature mentally and grow at a rate that was best for his long-term success as a player.

Being in a playoff chase evidently changed that thinking.

Conforto also insisted on Monday that he could continue his growth, even if he were not playing every day. Just by studying opposing pitchers, watching veterans on the team and listening to the coaches, he said, he could learn things here he could not in the minors.

“Whatever’s asked of me, I’m all in,” he said. “This is where I want to be. I want to stay here as long as I can. Hopefully, I get to stay here the rest of my career.”

To do that, Conforto may have to distinguish himself in a crowded outfield. Collins said that he would mix and match but that some would play more than others. Juan Lagares, the reigning Gold Glove winner, appears to have been relegated to the bench as a defensive replacement. Depending on how Cuddyer performs, he may find himself benched, too.

“We may look up next week and he’s swinging the bat like we know he can, and he’s in there,” Collins said of Cuddyer. “And we’ll figure out something else later, what to do with Conforto.”

INSIDE PITCH

Sandy Alderson said he expected Steven Matz to throw 25 pitches in a minor league game Saturday. The Mets expect him to return in early September, at which point they will go back to a six-man rotation in an effort to prevent their starters from reaching their inning limits.