Mets 7 – Marlins 7
VIERA, Fla. – Whatever the status of Gary Matthews Jr. is this spring, it can’t be bleaker than his situation a year ago.
The 27-year-old outfielder continues to intrigue the Mets despite failing to get on track offensively, meaning it’s probable he’ll make the team when camp breaks in less than two weeks.
It’s a far cry from his situation with the Cubs last spring, when Matthews was a non-roster invitee who stole the thunder from two minor-league prospects and eventually supplanted the starting center fielder.
“After going through that and making the team last year, I realize I can go through anything and still come out on top,” Matthews said. “Everything always has a way of working itself out.”
Matthews is on his third team in eight months, and the question remains the same: Will he ever hit enough to be a productive every-day player?
The offseason buzz was that he would challenge Jay Payton for the starting center-field job, but while Payton raised his spring average to .237 by belting a homer and going 2-for-3 yesterday, Matthews was 0-for-4 in the 7-7 tie with the Marlins. The switch-hitter, who has a .217 lifetime average, is now hitting .159 (7-for-44), the lowest of anyone in camp.
“I think Gary has the potential to be a complete hitter, where he can drive in runs and hit for power and table-set,” Mets hitting coach Dave Engle said. “He’s got a lot of talent in a lot of areas. He’s capable of doing a lot of things with a bat in his hand.”
Last year, Matthews clawed his way onto the Cubs’ roster. Minor- league outfielders Corey Patterson and Roosevelt Brown were touted and Damon Buford was slated to be the starting center fielder.
Cubs general manager Andy MacPhail projected Matthews as a defensive specialist. That changed when Matthews showed spurts of offensive prowess, and he made 65 outfield starts in 109 appearances with the Cubs.
“He’s a great athlete, he can run and throw, he has broad power and is a good worker and a good teammate,” MacPhail said.
The Cubs put Matthews on waivers in early August because they needed to carry 12 pitchers due to injuries, and he was claimed by Pittsburgh on Aug. 10. The Pirates sold him to the Mets in the offseason.
“At the very least, he’ll win games with his glove and legs,” MacPhail said, “and if the bat comes, that’s an added bonus.”
Although Matthews is nine days younger than left fielder Roger Cedeno, he’s played in 416 fewer major league games. Nobody doubts Matthews’ physical tools, but even he admits he hasn’t hit his stride yet.
“You look at a lot of the guys in the league now hitting their offensive primes at 30-35,” Matthews said. “Your prime used to be 25-30, and now that’s not the case.
“You have guys like Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley. It just goes to show how psychological this game is. It’s really more mental than it is physical when you get to this level.”
Engle will not prejudge Matthews on a slow start or past numbers.
“I want to see him have 100 real good at-bats and 100 not-so-good at-bats, so I can take what I see with my own eyes,” Engle said. “We know what he’s capable of, because it’s there.”
