In a recent interview with MLBbro.com at Yankee Stadium, Mets second baseman Marcus Semien answered a wide range of topics from his disappointing season in the batter’s box to the Mets’ turnaround during the second half of the season.
MLBbro.com: The Mets are 21-13 after the MLB Trade Deadline and 29-22 after the All-Star Break. What turned the season around after the bad first half?
Marcus Semien: I think we are basically playing free and having a little bit more fun. We had a good stretch, a good week and regained confidence. It definitely happened after the All Star break. I think we came out of the break against the Phillies and had a tough series. Then we found our footing. Offensively, we have been rolling. Most of our bullpen (that they added after the trade deadline) have been doing great. That has been a big help, too.
MLBbro: Do you wonder why the team couldn’t win before the All-Star break?
Semien: Well, health has also been key, too. We are getting our leaders – Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto – back. Playing a long stretch with them healthy has been helpful. Some of the new guys have been getting more comfortable in New York and getting better. The offense has definitely come together.
MLBbro: Talk about the young players on the team. How much energy have they brought to this team?
Semien: Look at the talent. The talent is there. The young guys have a lot of energy, are athletic and they play good defense. They run the bases the right way. They have power. They are doing all these things. You play more and more Major League Baseball, you are going to get better.
MLBbro: Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Nolan McLean. What has impressed you the most about them?
Semien: They are very poised. The talent is top notch. You are talking about playing in New York at the highest level – staying as poised as they have. It’s pretty impressive. The sky is the limit for those guys.
MLBbro: Talk about the job Andy Green has done since he took over as manager in late June.
Semien: It has been fun. He just wants us to be the best version of ourselves – whatever that is. Sometimes, you have to approach a player in a different way than another player so you can get the best out of them. He understands that. It’s not an easy thing for him to do – come midseason when most of his relationships that he built are with the Minor Leagues guys. We also have guys he doesn’t know. He built relationships there, too.
MLBbro: I understand that Green has been a straight shooter with everybody.
Semien: Yes, for sure. He is honest. He loves the game of baseball and he knows what he wants from us on the field. He wants us to play hard.
MLBbro: Green said he is going back to the front office after the season, but he has done one hell of a job as manager of the team.
Semien: Yes. We have been playing some of the best baseball in the league (lately) and everybody wants to continue that way. He is a big reason we are playing so well.
MLBbro: You are having a year you are not happy with. What happened this year?
Semien: I want to be better at hitting pitches that I could drive out of the ballpark. It hasn’t happened as much this year. I’ve been constantly making adjustments and trying to do well out here. There have been good stretches. During the first half I was dealing with some injuries. I missed about three weeks before the break, but I’m still having fun playing baseball and I feel blessed.
MLBbro: Who helped you get through this tough season?
Semien: I lean on the man (God) upstairs, No. 1. My family, I also lean on them. My wife, Tarah, my parents and my five children. No matter how the day goes at the ballpark, I have a great time with them.
MLBbro: You are known for your defense and, according to the Fielding Bible, your stats are down. You are -2 in defensive runs saved entering Saturday’s game against the Yankees.
Semien: The analytics haven’t been my friend this year. I’m working hard every day out there. I’m fundamentally sound. I had a bad first half. I wasn’t healthy, but since I’ve been healthy, I feel like I’ve been better.
MLBbro: When you weren’t healthy, what was the problem?
Semien: I had a grade 3 left hip flexor strain. I played through it a little bit. I eventually became better after the All Star break
MLBbro: Imagine what your first half could have been like if you stayed healthy.
Semien: Yeah. Ultimately, you come to a new team you want to get comfortable with. It took a little while for me. Now I feel like this is home. This is a place I’ll be playing. Like I said, it took all the new guys to get acclimated. That’s what the first half of the season was. It was a tough first half. I feel a lot more comfortable now.
MLBbro: What are your plans during the offseason? Are you doing anything differently to get ready for the 2027 season?
Semien: I’m still working through those things. Right now, I’m focusing on finishing the season strong. Technically, we are not out of (playoff race). We want to win as many games as we possibly can. Then we’ll get into the lab and figure out what I need to do.
MLBbro: You are going to be 36 next week. How much do you have in the tank?
Semien: I work hard to make sure the tank is full. Obviously, this is year 14 in the Major League level. The experience and wisdom is all there. In terms of power and those things, it may not be as good as it was in my late 20s and early 30s, but in my mind, I’m going to work hard to still be that guy.
