Mets manager praises slumping A.J. Ewing for many good at-bats

A.J.Ewing’s results have lagged, but Mets officials do not seem alarmed by his drop-off in production this month.The rookie outfielder entered Friday with a .165/.240/.209 slash line for August that had dropped his OPS for the season to .667 before going 0-for-4 in the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Astros at Citi Field.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.And yet, interim manager Andy Green has accentuated the positives.Green said he approached Ewing during Thursday’s game to compliment him on his at-bats, despite the fact his hits weren’t accumulating.

Green cited the bad luck into which Ewing was hitting.“If you are watching the at-bat quality, he’s kind of returning to what he has done for us the first part of the season,” Green said before the Mets’ loss.“We have got to acknowledge those things when they’re happening, rather than just because the box score doesn’t acknowledge that sometimes, because this is a cruel game at times.

It was right for us to acknowledge he’s had a number of really good at-bats here recently.”Entering play Ewing’s last multihit game was Aug.7.Jorge Polanco underwent ankle surgery Wednesday, according to Green, and is expected to begin spring training in normal baseball progression.

Polanco appeared in just 37 games this season as he battled bursitis in his left ankle.Green compared Yordan Alvarez (who is the American League MVP front-runner) to Barry Bonds for his ability to scare an opponent.Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! “[Alvarez] is right up there with Juan [Soto] as the best hitter in baseball and he has been the best hitter in baseball this year,” Green said.

“He’s no...