His ringing double off the base of the outfield wall in the deepest part of the ballpark during the Mets' comeback from 7-1 down in the 9th against the Phillies is guaranteed to be a highlight of the 2022 Mets highlight film. He also started that inning by legging out an infield single.

His stolen base percentage is down this year, which Howie attributed to the cut of the infield grass when the Mets play at home. I'm thinking it might be the necklace. You see, I read on Mets.com that Starling's girlfriend gave him a Mickey Mouse necklace before the year, and he wears it every game. I haven't seen it, but I imagine it might be heavy enough to affect his success at stealing bases. Yet, I say, keep the necklace. He's doing great otherwise, my dad liked Mickey Mouse too, and you know, when you give someone a Mickey Mouse necklace, that's real love.

I will say, he does carry himself with a sort of style and cool that fits well in New York. Not gaudy and ostentatious (ahem, Lindor) but he carries himself well.

I've written him three autograph requests in my day, once in 2012 through the Indianapolis Indians, once in 2018 through the Pirates and once this year through the Mets spring training, but he has yet to respond.