As the Mets took batting practice recently, a man named Jonathan Fader walked over to the cage, chatted with a few players and found a spot behind the batter, an area typically reserved for team dignitaries — veterans, coaches, executives and owners.
The Mets had just endured an emotionally draining loss to the Yankees, and if anyone wanted to talk, Fader was there to listen. He is the Mets’ team psychologist.
“He’s a resource,” said John Ricco, the assistant general manager. “You make that resource available to the players the same way you make a pitching coach and hitting coach available.