Photo: Sporting News
Won’t you come see about me?
This is the opening line to the Simple Minds 1985 smash hit, “Don’t You Forget About Me”. Of course, we all remember it as the main theme song from the motion picture, The Breakfast Club, However, it could also be a declarative statement made by New York Mets outfielder, Michael Conforto. You see, New York, if not Major League Baseball in general, is in a tizzy over young New York Yankees stars, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. As for Conforto…not so much.
Sure the Baby Bronx Bombers both are off to super 2017 starts. The Sanchise has missed a lot of time due to injury, but he does have 4 HR’s and 11 RBI’s in just 75 at-bats. Once the weather heats up and he gets a few more games under his belt, look out! Aaron, however, has been Judge, jury, and executioner of baseballs (.315, 15 HR, 30 RBI’s) through the first 43 games. He has been so good that the Yankees unveiled “The Judge’s Chambers,” a unique cheering section in the the right field stands just behind where he patrols. The sectioned-off seats even have cheesy fake wood around them. You know you have arrived when you get that kind of treatment.
Photo: USA Today
Will it be long before the Metropolitans brass see fit to building a “Fort” in the left field bleachers for Michael Conforto? The Oregon State alum seemed destined for the minors at the start of the year as the odd man out of the outfield rotation. However, he took advantage of his opportunity to play early and has been very hard to get out by opposing pitchers. I mean where would the Mets be without his amazing output to date. Following Tuesday night’s three hit, two home run, career high four RBI effort, he leads the club in EVERY major offensive category (Average – .333, HR’s – 13, RBI’s – 31, OBP – .425, and hits – 43). In fact, Conforto ranks in the top 10 in the National League in Average, Home runs, OBP, OPS, and Slugging %. Wow!
Let’s give the 24 year-old credit. After bursting on the scene in 2015 helping the club reach the World Series, then having an awful 2016 (spending much of it back in the minors), he is flat out mashing in 2017. But, unless you are a Mets fan, you would have no idea.
I say it is about time Michael Conforto started getting some pub, because he has certainly earned it.
And that is My 2 sense for this week.
