There still is a place for the basic logic applied Friday by the Mets among all the analytical thinking and new rules permeating baseball.
Brett Baty hit No. 6 in the lineup for the first time in his young career during the Mets’ 1-0 homestand-opening win against the Rockies.
Manager Buck Showalter indicated his decision was the confluence of about a dozen different variables, but a simpler explanation could be that moving up a hot hitter gets him more at-bats and run-producers should bat in the middle-third.
Baty seemed unfazed by earning a bigger slice of responsibility at a time when the slumping Mets (.227 team average over the last 10 games) needed a spark.
He hadn’t even seen the lineup before he was informed of the change by media.
“I’m just going to try to have competitive at-bats, swing at great pitches and hit the ball hard,” Baty told The Post at his locker. “If runners are on base, I’m going to try to drive them in. I’m sure everybody in here would say that it doesn’t really matter where you hit. We’re really just trying to contribute and win a game.”
The rookie, who went 1-for-2 with a walk on Friday night, entered the homestand with 13 hits in his last 40 at-bats (.325), accounting for five runs, four walks, two doubles, two home runs and three RBIs in that span.
He hit either No. 7 or No. 8 in each of his first 23 MLB starts (12 this season), but the Mets need to provide better protection for Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil.
“This game is so up and down that you can … try to do too much,” Baty said of his keeping his approach simple.
The left-handed Baty, who had five home runs in 42 at-bats at Triple-A to start the season, got the chance with .222 Mark Canha on the bench against right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela.
“He’s doing well, but there are a lot of different things we look at every day,” Showalter said. “I think [elevating Baty] works best for the starter for them, the bullpen [availability] and things we can potentially do as the game goes.”
Even as he settles in as the every-day third baseman over veteran Eduardo Escobar, Baty still has his foot pressed on the gas.
“I’ve realized up here is different than the minor-leagues in the fact that there really aren’t any off days,” Baty said. “Even if your name might not be in the lineup, you are probably going to pinch hit at some point. I try to treat every day like I’m playing. I like that aspect. I’m always going to be locked in.”
Amidst fan-base outcry for the Mets to call up prospects Mark Vientos and Ronnie Mauricio, general manager Billy Eppler said Friday that the Mets have special assistant Carlos Beltran at Triple-A for evaluations.
How Baty handles the pressure of a bigger role with a struggling team with World Series expectations could be the blueprint.
“I think those guys who come up — whoever it may be and whenever — are going to do great with it because of the guys in this clubhouse,” Baty said. “They really understand how to be a good teammate. I’ve felt that. [Escobar] welcomed me with open arms. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”