Lagares Not In Mets' Lineup Again; #FreeLagares Trending On Twitter
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Juan Lagares is not in the Mets' lineup.
Again.
On Friday night against the Nationals, Eric Young, Jr. is staring in left field, Curtis Granderson is starting in center field and Bobby Abreu is starting in right field.
Tonight's lineup:
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 16, 2014
Young, Jr.-7
Murphy-4
Wright-5
Granderson-8
Abreu-9
Duda-3
Recker-2
Tejada-6
Niese-1 pic.twitter.com/EKi7F7Cd6g
At the beginning of the month, manager Terry Collins named Lagares his "everyday" center fielder.
So much for that, it appears.
The 25-year-old didn't start the last two games for the Mets, both shutout losses to the Yankees at Citi Field. He started on Tuesday night but came off the bench in Monday's series opener at Yankee Stadium.
Unless Lagares is hurt, keeping him on the bench is baseball malpractice, pure and simple. #Mets
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) May 16, 2014
Starts this week, since Monday: Bobby Abreu 2, Juan Lagares 1. There is zero excuse for that. It's infuriating.
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) May 16, 2014
Since all #Mets talk about is starting pitching,maybe TC should ask Niese if he'd rather have Lagares patrolling CF or Abreu lumbering in RF
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) May 16, 2014
Collins' reason for why Lagares started just one of the four Subway Series games -- and why he's riding the pine again -- is that his center fielder is slumping and the offense needs a boost, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.
There are no indications that he's hurt. He pinch-ran on Thursday night and then came into the game to play center field.
Lagares is not hurt. He played last night. TC said he was the everyday center fielder. He's gone back on that, clearly.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) May 16, 2014
According to ESPN.com, Lagares will start on Saturday.
Mets fans aren't at all happy with Collins' decision to sit arguably the most exciting position player on the team.
It's gotten so bad that #FreeLagares is trending on Twitter.
In 98 at-bats this season, the second-year player -- who plays exceptional defense -- is batting .296 with a homer and 11 RBIs. He's also hit nine doubles and a triple.
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