How Francisco Alvarez helped Mets save doomed season

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post expanded on how the return of young catcher Francisco Alvarez to the New York Mets' lineup on June 11 helped save what seemed earlier this month to be a doomed season.

"He homered and had three hits against the [New York Yankees] on Wednesday, lifting his average to .313 and his OPS to .904," Vaccaro said about Alvarez. "After a 2-for-14 scuffle immediately off the injured list, he’s been raging hot. His last eight games, he’s had three home runs, nine RBI, seven extra-base hits and he’s slashing .556/.647/1.037. That’s a 1.684 OPS."

The Mets improved to 11-8 on the season the same day that Alvarez suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb near the end of April. That injury left the 22-year-old needing surgery and the Mets without a vital figure both in the lineup and in the clubhouse.

The Mets dropped to 28-37 on June 11. They've since improved to 39-39 ahead of Friday's home game versus the 40-40 Houston Astros, with Vaccaro noted that the Amazins are 22-3 in the last 25 games Alvarez has played in.

"[Mets pitchers] have a 2.71 ERA throwing to [Alvarez] and are well over 4.00 throwing to everyone else," Vaccaro continued. "That’s not just coincidence. And neither is the fact that the Mets seem looser and happier in the same lineup as Alvarez, who seems to be having a hell of a good time even when he takes a foul ball off his mask."

It seemed a given earlier this month when the Mets were floundering that they would become sellers ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Thanks in part to what Alvarez has offered the club since his return, New York began Friday's MLB action a single game back in the battle for the National League's third wild-card playoff spot.

"He cares, and that’s what we’re seeing," first-year manager Carlos Mendoza said this week about Alvarez's contributions. "They’re feeding off of each other, and Alvy’s right there in the thick of it."

As much as fans are embracing McDonald's mascot Grimace as a good-luck charm, Alvarez deserves credit for emerging as the Mets' most valuable player.