We keep saying that if enough things go right with the New York Mets, they could make the playoffs. Once there, they have a strong enough roster to advance a round or two. Why not shoot for the Fall Classic? Anything can happen in October baseball.
There are plenty of things that need to “go right.†Edwin Diaz needs to improve in the ninth inning, Seth Lugo needs to keep up the good work, at least one of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha needs to have a bounceback season, and so on.
However, Robinson Cano keeps being ignored. Why? The industry, after a bad 2019 (.256/.307/.428 with a 93 wRC+) considers him a declining veteran and a below-average performer. The first statement may be true, given that he is 37. But he can still be an important contributor for the Mets.
The Mets’ X-factor?
The sweet-swinging second baseman had a productive half-season in 2018. That year, he hit .303/.374/.471 with a 135 wRC+. It’s not like he forgot how to hit.
He had ongoing muscular problems in his left leg in 2019. Cano visited the injured list three times with left quad and left hamstring issues. We don’t need to tell you how important legs are for batting.
Despite his underwhelming 2019 stats, Cano can still help the Mets. He was in the 87th percentile in hard-hit rate with 46.0. His 90.8 mph average exit velocity ranked well above the league average, which was 87.5 mph.
His wOBA was .309, but his xwOBA, an expected stat that assesses a player’s offensive contributions while considering average exit velocity, launch angle, plate discipline and other factors, was .328. Not good, but also not terribly bad. In 2018, his xwOBA was .381, in the 93rd percentile. A bounceback season is in the cards for Cano if he can stay healthy.
He needs to work in strengthening his legs muscles, among other things. However, if the New York Mets can have a healthy Cano, good things are in store.
After all, we are talking about a player with a career 125 wRC+ and a .302/.352/.490 line. He has 324 homers and one of the sweetest swings you will ever see. He may not go down easily.