It was important for Travis d’Arnaud to get off to a quick start this year, and pick up where he left off with his outstanding second half last season.
He has done exactly that.
Through the first four games of the season, d’Arnaud has hit in every one of them, recording two multiple-hit games in the process. He’s 6-for-15 with a triple and four RBI and two strikeouts so far this season.
“I feel the same, just waiting for a good pitch to hit and getting into good hitter’s counts,” he told Newsday earlier this week. “And that’s all I can do.”
His .400 batting average is the 10th-highest in the NL and he is tied for eighth in the NL in RBI. In addition, d’Arnaud has a six-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
Travis has been particularly quick on pitches inside. He’s incredibly strong, and that’s helped him muscle a couple of balls for bloop hits, but he’s also hitting the ball with authority to center and left with regularity.
It’s really a continuation from what he did when he was recalled from Las Vegas last June. There was some concern because the quick hands really didn’t show themselves during camp, and he was making a lot of lazy contact in the process. It just goes to show how much spring training matters.
If there’s one knock on his early season performance, it’s been his throwing from behind the plate.
He’s done a good job catching and framing, but his throwing hasn’t been good so far this season. He’s bounced pretty much everything to second base, although he’s 1-for-3 in throwing out baserunners. That was a problem during camp as well, and until he can establish himself, it can be expected the opposition will run freely against him.
It would behoove the pitchers to keep those baserunners as honest as possible and hold them on better, but ultimately Travis has to be a competent thrower from behind the plate.
Just Mets 