Chen the season is about to reach five weeks, The New York Mets have decided to make major changes: batting coach fired monday night Chili Davis and his deputy, Tom Slater, after the visitors’ 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that left them con mark of 11-12.
New York has had problems with runners in scoring position (a .207 batting average and .582 on-base percentage), also a troublesome aspect last season when the popular Davis telecast from his home in Arizona due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Several accomplished hitters have gotten off to a slow start, including the Puerto Rican newcomer Francisco Lindor, who has a batting average of .163 and going through a bad time of 0 out of 21. He has two extra-base hits, three RBIs and a low on-base percentage of .494.
The team has also had lack of power at the plate, a huge surprise for a lineup that includes Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith. The Mets are last in the majors in runs and home runs, ranking 27th in batting percentage.
“It was a difficult decision”said interim general manager Zack Scott. “It is not about the results of 23 games. We think the players needed a different level of support and maybe add some different skills to the team. “
The minor league batting development director Hugh Quattlebaum was named as the new hitting coach, and the director of player development Kevin Howard to be assistant hitting coach under the direction of the pilot Luis Rojas who is in his second year.
Scott noted that Quattlebaum and Howard were named for the remainder of the season and then the team will do an evaluation. Both will be in St. Louis Tuesday, the Mets said.