Josh Satin singled home two runs in the ninth inning to lift the Mets to a 5-4 win on Wednesday night. It was Satin’s first career walk-off hit and the Mets’ 10th walk-off win this season.
Satin drove in a career-best three runs and finished with two hits and is now batting .301 (46-153) as a starter this season.
“That’s one of the moments you kind of dream about, especially me, a guy that’s been in the minor leagues for most of the last five years,” Satin said after the game.
“When you’re hitting batting practice in the off-season and you’re trying to take a good swing, you say, ‘Bases loaded, two outs, in the ninth inning, down by one.’ So coming through like that, it’s an incredible feeling.”
He is so right about that, I remember saying those exact words either to myself or out loud when I was in the cage or at bating practice when I was in high school. Heck, I even said it playing stick ball at the schoolyard at P.S. 204 in Brooklyn.
Terry Collins later said the ninth inning comeback was what the Mets hitting approach is all about – stringing together good at-bats.
“If there’s ever gonna be an inning, that typifies what we’re trying to do here and what we’re trying to preach here offensively, it was the ninth inning,” Terry Collins said. “We just put one good at-bat after another after another, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”
It’s great to see Satin performing as he has this season and taking advantage of every start and pinch-hitting appearance he gets.
I love that he’s showing that he’s not a dead out against right-handed pitching and does deserve more playing time to see exactly what we have here. He already deserves to play against all left-handed pitchers next season as part of a platoon at first. There’s talk that Satin will play some left field either in Winter Ball or in Spring Training which will open up more opportunities to play.
I always looked at Satin as one of the best performing hitters in the Mets system over the last three years and it’s unfortunate he was blocked by both David Wright and Ike Davis. He wouldn’t get his chance until his age 28 season, but he holds no grudges and told us he was just happy to be here when we spoke to him.
Satin has put up some eye-popping numbers during his six years in the minors that included a career .399 on-base and .863 OPS.
His .465 slugging shows that his OPS wasn’t all just walks as Satin had what I call Keith Hernandez power and in a full season could hit 10-15 homers and 30+ doubles while batting .300.
He’s not a late bloomer… Just a good soldier who did his job and kept his mouth shut and waited for his golden opportunity. Last night was a great reward for his patience.
Hail Satin!
Thoughts from Matt M.
I totally agree on this, Joe. It’s a shame Satin’s path to the big leagues has been blocked as long as it has, but it’s great to see him taking advantage of the opportunity he was given this season following the struggles of Ike Davis and the hole created at third base due to Wright’s injury. I’m interested to see how Satin takes to playing the outfield. After all, Marlon Byrd did tell Josh that he’d help teach him this winter. So, we’ll see what happens, I suppose.
We’ve said it plenty of times, but if someone proves they can hit at the big league level, a team will find a place for him on their roster. Satin is doing everything he can to prove he deserves a spot on the Mets’ 2014 opening day roster, and he’s doing a hell of a good job to prove his case.
I forgot about that Matt. I wouldn’t mind bringing Byrd back if the price was right. I loved the atmosphere in the clubhouse when he was here. He was an excellent role model for the younger players and had a never-ending supply of enthusiasm.
Two comments: Josh Satin is getting a late start to his major league career, and of course all of us are trained (rightly so) to discount the abilities and prospects of players who can’t make it to the majors at a early age. To my view this should be modified slightly in cases such as Satin, a fellow who actually stayed in college and got a degree. It’s hard to arrive early when you’re 23 1/2 on the day you sign your first contract.
Second, and intended as an “oddity” observation rather than an “ethnic” one: is this the first time a Jewish major leaguer is in danger of losing his job to another Jewish player? Meaning Ike Davis and Satin of course.
Hey DD, you’re very right with regard to Satin getting a “late” start. The fact that he got his degree certainly pushed back his time to get a chance in the big leagues. Even so, when he performed with the stick at each minor league level, he kept getting pushed off to the side. If he was rewarded the way he should have been for his performance, I think he would’ve spent significantly less time in the minors.
As for your oddity question, I’m not too sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was indeed at the first time that happened.
I agree — he was awesome in the clubhouse. I have a feeling he’ll end up in the same position as Scott Hairston this winter. Not that the Mets view him as a platoon guy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted a two-year deal, and New York would rather not. We’ll see what happens though. Byrd is still the word, in my mind.