Since baseball is a game of failure, it’s imperative for players to remain confident when they’re not successful. It’s even more imperative for those playing in large media markets to not be fazed by the fans and reporters who monitor their every move.

Understandably so, playing in a big city isn’t for everybody, but New York Mets outfielderYoenis Cespedes appears to thrive on it more than anything else.

When he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers minutes before the non-waiver trade deadline last summer, he was expected to immediately become “the man” in New York’s lineup. Mets fans know how often players live up to those kinds of expectations upon landing in Flushing.

So, the fact that he’s lived up to them by hitting .290/.353/.584 with 42 home runs and 108 RBI in 154 games since joining the Mets is shocking. It’s also why fans hope Cespedes either decides against using his opt-out clause after this season, or New York finds a way to keep him with the organization via another contract.

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