Early BP pays off

Yesterday, I wrote about how the Mets were taking early batting practice on a more regular schedule. Last night, the batting practice paid off to the tune of 15 hits and seven runs.

Jeremy Cothran fills us in on Jerry Manuel's new approach:

The Mets normally go with four shifts of eight swings each, and then rotate groups. Manuel has chopped those in half after noticing a lot of tired swings in games.

"Pitches that we normally put in play or put in play with authority, we're popping up and doing those types of things."

So true. Without looking at statistics, and just going on info from recent memory, almost every game seems to go the exact same way.

• Mets score runs early. They look good, and show no signs of stopping through the first three innings.
• The fourth inning comes and now they can't hit.
• Mets pitchers can only do so much, and the early lead begins to shrink.
• The lead is gone, and the Mets bats are completely asleep.

Tired bats could definitely be to blame. With this new approach, the Mets might be able to keep their bats going past the first few innings.

I always remember the story about how in the minors, they would have to stop David Wright from working out too much, because he would wear himself down just by training and working out. Of course, he's at all the early batting practice session.

I like the way this team is going.

So far, so good with the new manager. These next five games can change the season.