Buck Showalter’s direct message to the Mets regarding Marcus Stroman’s antics

CHICAGO – Play better.

Buck Showalter’s reaction Thursday when asked about Marcus Stroman’s chest pounding and screaming in the Mets dugout the night before was a reminder that his team could have stopped it.

“That hardly surprises anyone, does it?” Showalter spoke about Stroman’s celebration. “It’s kind of his MO, isn’t it? If you don’t like it, do something about it. Play better.

Stroman, who signed with the Cubs before last season after pitching for the Mets, allowed two runs in eight innings for the win.

Before leaving the mound, he shouted into the Mets dugout.

A Mets player who witnessed the scene later told the Post, “Show respect. Be a professional. It’s not all up to you.

Showalter stayed with Daniel Vogelbach Thursday on other options at DH (including rookie Mark Vientos, who hit in the ninth inning). Vogelbach – who was 1-for-3 with a run scored on Thursday – entered the game with a slash of 0.188/0.316/0.292 in May and was down 1-for-14 (0.071) in his previous seven games.

“He hit a few hard balls, but I’d like to think he’s close,” Showalter said ahead of the Mets’ blowout 10-1 win Thursday night. “We know what he is capable of, it hasn’t happened consistently for him yet. But he hit balls hard that they caught, especially on the ground. He’s able to put the ball in a bit the air. He hit a ball the other night when we thought he had a chance.

Showalter said a big part of his decision to play Vogelbach or Vientos was based on projections.

“I get a lot of great ideas and take it all in,” Showalter said. “A lot of work goes into it.”

Showalter cited Vogelbach’s track record in offensive production as a factor he considers.

“It hasn’t happened as consistently as it has in the past, but there’s only one way to turn it back,” Showalter said. “He and Mark [Canha] both are doing a great job and it was a bit of a challenge for them at the start of the year. Pitchers threw a lot of good pitches at them to get ahead in the count early and that’s usually not the case with these two guys.