May 4, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader (44) looks on after he strikes out during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
(Queens, NY) – Harrison Bader isn’t playing as often as he’d like. That’s the admission from the first-year Mets center fielder and New York native.
After spending parts of last season with the Yankees and Reds, Bader inked a one-year $10 million contract to join the Amazins’ this past offseason.
And while the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on Tuesday night – the club that drafted Bader – he was not in the starting lineup. It marked the fourth time in eight games that Bader didn’t start.
“I don’t handle it well, I can tell you that,” Bader admitted prior to the game. “But I certainly don’t let it affect the way I prepare, the way I keep focused when I do get an opportunity to go in there and play, even if it’s later in the game. If anything it lights more of a fire under my ass. I’m bothered by it for sure.”
In fact, the Mets post the starting lineup for the team the night before, but Bader doesn’t check it. He knows that if he’s not listed it will negatively affect his sleep.
“It certainly has been a challenge, not what I expected, but that is what life is about,” Bader said in sharing his thoughts about not playing everyday. “But adjustability is availability — that is what I was always taught. So I’m just staying in the pocket and waiting for any given opportunity to do something good for my teammates. That is what I care about.”
Team president David Stearns put an increased emphasis on speed and defense this offseason, making a player like Bader a clear fit. And while he said he respects the front offices’ decisions and thought process, it’s still not easy to sit.
“I want to win, but I want to play. We all want to play, but it’s hard,” Bader said. “We have got a lot of guys and I respect the position that everyone is in. … I don’t know who makes the lineup, but whatever we have got going on I respect that position.”
What was Bader told by Mets’ team brass as to how much playing time he should expect? “Those details were between me and my agents,” Bader offered. “[The Mets] went after me because they wanted me to play and they wanted me to play center field. We’ll see how it shakes out. It’s a long year and I’m built for it.”
Bader’s last point is well founded. Injuries always happen, and that has a knack for impacting playing time. In fact, Bader has sometimes struggled to stay on the field and has dealth with nagging injuries. Maybe cutting back on his playing time will lead to a more healthy 162-game campaign.
