Brandon Nimmo believes only a certain player can thrive in New York. Others, he believes, just don’t work out.
The Rangers outfielder and ex-Met — in town to face the Yankees on Tuesday night in The Bronx to start a three-game series — fielded questions in the third-base dugout about his Queens exit and discussed some of the intangibles he believes make a good ballplayer in New York City.
“[Agent Scott] Boras and I talked about it, and we talked about it with [Mets owner] Steve [Cohen], and we talked about it with [Mets president of baseball operations] David [Stearns],” Nimmo told reporters. “There is this factor that I’m not sure you can measure it until somebody gets in New York, but there is a factor of people who seem to be comfortable here and succeed here. And some guys it doesn’t translate as well. I think it’s like one of those things, like chemistry, that’s harder to measure but it’s 100 percent a real thing.”
Nimmo didn’t specify anyone during his days in Queens or on the current iteration of the Mets that fits the latter, struggling player descriptor, but the Amazin’s have been one of the worst teams in baseball this season with a 13-22 record, in large part due to new pieces that have struggled out of the gate.
Marcus Semien, who came from Texas in the trade that sent Nimmo to the Rangers, has hit .208 with a 52 OPS+, which is 48 points under league average. Fellow newcomer Bo Bichette has also struggled at this dish with a .236/.273/.313 slash line.
Nimmo played his first 10 big league seasons in New York and said he now has a different perspective. He said things are “easier” and more “laid back” in Texas. He also reiterated, as he told noti.group’s Joel Sherman in February, that he believes the trade was made for baseball reasons and not anything to do about any rumored Mets chemistry issues.
“There is a certain type of player and type of person that it takes in order to be in New York and I understand that better now,” Nimmo said.
Nimmo has been a revelation for Texas with a .300 average and an .836 OPS. He told noti.group’s Greg Joyce last week he believes that the reeling Mets — who have now won two games in a row — can right the ship.
On Tuesday, he said he hopes his old club can have better fortunes the rest of the way, but his ultimate priorities are elsewhere now.
“I want them to do well,” Nimmo added. “I’ve played here before when things aren’t going well, and it’s not fun. I wish the best for them, but also I’m trying to take care of things here and make sure we’re trying to play good baseball here.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
