Lately, when the Mets have needed a pinch hitter or someone to double switch into a game, Terry Collins first choice off the bench has been Alejandro De Aza. What follows is much hand wringing and consternation from Mets fans. It leaves fans questioning why he didn’t go with Kelly Johnson or Wilmer Flores. They question whether Collins knows what he’s doing.

It turns out that Collins just might know what he’s doing.

Since June 30th, De Aza is hitting .286/.444/.429 with a homer and six RBI in 27 plate appearances stretch across 17 games.  For sure, this is a small sample size, and it shouldn’t distract from the fact that De Aza has not been good all year.  His .181/.258/.267 batting line will attest to that.  However, what it is is a start for De Aza.  It is him finally taking advantage of the opportunities Collins has given him.  De Aza is back to being a useful player on the bench for the Mets.

It may not be that surprising.  Looking over his career, De Aza is typically a slow starter, who usually begins playing better in June.  However, given his relative lack of playing time, De Aza has found his stride later in the season than he usually does.  If his career patters hold true, De Aza is bound to have a good finish to the season.  In his career, the final month of the season is his best as he hits .274/.352/.425.  That is his highest OBP and SLG in any month of the season for his career.  Last year, De Aza hit .262/.388/.361 in the final month of the season for a San Francisco Giants team that was within striking distance of the National League West as the month began.

De Aza is back in a pennant race, and he is performing like it at a time when the Mets need him.  Yoenis Cespedes‘ quad has left him hobbled, and it may require him to take the occasional day off.  This has forced Michael Conforto into center field in order to keep his bat in the lineup.  With that said, the Mets need to play musical chairs late in the game to get their best defensive outfield into the game, which usually requires the Mets holding back Juan Lagares.  This means the team needs De Aza to step in as a pinch hitter, pinch runner, or a defensive replacement himself.  As strange as it may sound after his terrible start, the Mets need De Aza now.  Fortunately, he is finally producing.

For most of the year, Mets fans wanted De Aza off of the team, but Terry Collins and the Mets front office has stuck by him.  It is starting to look like De Aza is starting to reward the Mets faith in him.  They deserve credit for seeing through the early season struggles and allowing him to get back to form and put him in position to have a strong finish to the season like he typically does.