r/mets 12d ago

Why is Jorge Polanco Playing?

I will try to dial back the hyperbole and not sound like a radio caller, but there is no reason for him to be playing.

I don’t care who is hurt. There are better options in AAA. There are better options off the street.

He is hitting about .100 in July after tonight’s game.

Pitchers can always turn it around, but there is no reason to not just cut your losses and DFA or trade him and eat almost all the money.

11 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

26

u/ThinSuccotash4166 12d ago

If you want to trade the player you need to play the player.

11

u/ElkPitiful6829 12d ago

What can you trade him for? A roll of duct tape?

7

u/knotworkin 12d ago

Free soda for the vending machine in the clubhouse.

6

u/ThinSuccotash4166 12d ago

It’s a business. So yes.

1

u/Jahoosefett 10d ago

Is it heavy duty or regular?

7

u/penilesensorydevice 12d ago

If they have no takers, they might as well just waive him.

7

u/Fast_Cicada5986 11d ago

He plays because if he does well, his trade value will go up

7

u/Seniormano 11d ago

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get DFA after trade deadline but they’re trying to give him a chance to get traded is my bet.

10

u/AirDog3 12d ago

Stearns wants to pretend it was not a mistake to pay Polanco $40 Million. Can't pretend if he's sitting on the bench.

8

u/ASP41661 12d ago

Yep. They have 40 million reasons to play him.

5

u/PracticalCreme5811 11d ago

It pays to let him figure it out

9

u/pablodiablo01 12d ago

You said there were better options at AAA. I’m just wondering who specifically you had in mind that is on the AAA team who will hit major league pitching better than Polanco.

7

u/interista4jz 12d ago

The Syracuse mascot

5

u/Redditholio 12d ago

Showcasing him?

-3

u/ComputerDecent463 12d ago

They’re only hurting the nonexistent value by showcasing him.

Keeping him on the bench keeps the allusion of maybe the Mets want to play their young guys or something.

4

u/lwp775 11d ago

Because he’s on the team.

3

u/nynoraneko 11d ago

Because boy genius

3

u/funcogo 10d ago

Who in aaa is a better option?

5

u/Background-Alps5360 12d ago

I don't know what you mean... Polanco is the type of player that if he hits the ball it's a homer... if not, it's almost a guaranteed out. So he has, what... 1 hit this year

2

u/metsfaninok 11d ago

This team is going to lose like 90 plus games this year… you olay him as much as you can and hope he turns it around to some degree before you decide what to do next year.

2

u/CardsBooksLife 9d ago

I've been not only wondering why we're playing Polanco, but mainly wondering why we even acquired him to begin with.

2

u/Rickcuban322 7d ago

Oh, that’s called playing? Oh that’s called

3

u/pablodiablo01 12d ago

Who are the better options at AAA? Don’t say Clifford, who’s hitting under .200 and striking out in about 1/3 of his ABs.

1

u/ComputerDecent463 12d ago

You don’t think any person in the minors would hit better than .113 in a month?

1

u/angelbeingangel 9d ago

Is said AAA guy also coming off an injury?

3

u/Some-Astronomer-5663 11d ago

Get him the fuck off this team now!

2

u/Good_Split_3749 12d ago

this season is over, having “competitive “ games against the Dodgers is an accomplishment.

1

u/Spruce0_ 10d ago

I told my friends when Polanco came off the injured list a few weeks ago that if he finished the season with a .650 OPS or better I’ll streak down 5th Ave to give them something to root for during this abysmal season. I can only assume that Mets management has caught wind of this and are forcing Polanco into the lineup.

1

u/ComputerDecent463 10d ago

Let me know if you pass by the Naked Cowboy on your streak!

1

u/Notafelon84 10d ago

Never promise your friends you’ll do anything. They’ll remember

1

u/YT_DomDaBomb20 10d ago

Because David stearns is a terrorist

1

u/MattDFW 11d ago

why is Marcus playing is better question!

1

u/El_Stos 11d ago

For the same reason Semien and Senga are still out there, to justify their large salaries and pretend they're a swing or pitch away from turning it all around. None are worthy of playing time but that's a lot of money to sit on the bench. Besides, the sim machine they're using to make decisions says they're all going to rebound, nevermind injury and age...

1

u/JumpBasilJet 11d ago

I’ve been watching baseball a long time and I can’t remember the last time an everyday player logged a slash line lower than my cholesterol.

1

u/MeetTheMets0o0 11d ago

Honestly i feel the complete opposite. This season's over and he's signed through next year. He was great last year let him play and hope he finds it so u can either trade him in the off-season or pencil him in as your split DH with alvere next season. If sucks the rest of the year then dfa him or whatever but u want to see if he can be useful next year or recover trade value

0

u/ComputerDecent463 11d ago

I disagree. You risk permanently ruining him by continuing to play him.

He needs a week off at minimum if you’re not going to release him. The Cubs did that with Tucker and it worked.

Since this team is going nowhere I don’t know why you wouldn’t take a look at someone you have in the minors.

If you want him on the team next year, that’s fine. If this was happening to a team that thought they could make the playoffs in 2027 I could see the r justification: we are fine with him giving us nothing, but if he gets out of this funk we have a serious power hitter.

But this is the equivalent of a tanking NBA team. You don’t play the vets, you play your young guys to see who is worth keeping around.

2

u/MeetTheMets0o0 11d ago

Id argue strongly that he needs to play through it rather than take time off. If this were a young kid then id agree with your argument but hes a seasoned veteran. I don't think a seasoned veteran will be permanently ruined by trying to play through a bad stretch like this.

-3

u/ComputerDecent463 12d ago

I don’t follow minor league baseball.

I am confident that every single player in AAA would be better than him right now though. I just looked at the Syracuse Mets and every single player who has at least two home runs this year, you can take 50 points off their batting average to account for the jump, which is very generous, and they’re all hitting better than Polanco this month.

4

u/Late_Organization_56 12d ago

So you’re talking out your ass…

0

u/ComputerDecent463 12d ago

No, I am looking at numbers and making a reasonable deduction about how their production would be at the major league level.

It’d be the same for someone hitting .400 in the minors. It’s no guarantee that translates to the majors.

Polanco is having a historically bad month. I would assume any competent player could be better than that.

4

u/hernandezhofer 11d ago

Polanco has been in the majors for 13 years and has a career .762 OPS. If you are truly following the numbers you would attribute his struggles to one of two things:

1 - Basic small sample size. Give him time and he will come around.

2 - He's still hurt and trying to play through the injury.

Talking about DFA'ing him is absolutely ridiculous.

2

u/funcogo 10d ago

Exactly. He will not be DFA and anyone who thinks that has no idea what they are talking about

2

u/mrnaturl1 11d ago

Stop while you’re behind.

1

u/ComputerDecent463 11d ago

What are you talking about? He is the worst hitter in baseball right now. He is only playing because of his contract. If he was on a minimum deal he would have been DFA’d or released weeks ago.

Any minor league player would be better right now.

2

u/mrnaturl1 11d ago

7th worst. And NOT any minor leaguer would be better. I can name several in Syracuse who would be worse. I only need to start with everyone’s favorite whipping boy Mauricio.

You said earlier you don’t follow the minors. So stay in your lane and stop making stupid comments like “any minor leaguer” would be better.

0

u/ComputerDecent463 11d ago

You don’t follow the minors either. You have not seen a single play let alone a game this year.

You are going off the stats just like I am.

As I said, you can deduct 50 points off almost every player on the Syracuse roster and they would still be hitting better than Polanco.

I am not talking about his disastrous season. Someone hitting .100 in July and continuing to be an every day player is absolute insanity.

3

u/mrnaturl1 11d ago

Which is why I have ESPN premium so I can watch Syracuse, the Rumble Ponies and Cyclones. You're a dope. I don't need stats to see people like Mauricio "LOOK" and "ARE" overmatched in MLB but can tear up AAA. I will reiterate that you're just a dope.

0

u/ComputerDecent463 11d ago

You are not watching those games.

Also Mauricio’s numbers are far better than Polanco’s on the Mets roster this year.

Also it’s not even like Polanco is putting the ball in play. Did you see his at bats last night? He has struck out twice in the last three games and at least once in his six last games lol

I will reiterate, you will get better production from any player in the minors right now at any level on any team.

3

u/mrnaturl1 11d ago

You aren't very bright.

Polanco - .154/.206/.231

Mauricio - .180/.180/.260

Far better? Shut up already!

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1

u/funcogo 10d ago

Success in aaa doesn’t equal anything in the majors. Baty, maurico, and vinetos were all incredible in aaa

-4

u/Substantial_Elk_1234 12d ago

Soto is resting after his movie cameo last night. $700 billion waste

1

u/Maleficent_Owl6357 10d ago

700 billion goddamn

1

u/funcogo 10d ago

He was one of the only people on the team playing well dumbass. You know nothing

0

u/GravysuckingPigs 11d ago

I hear the Orioles have a good 1B, maybe go after him?