Category: Baseball
Potential outside first base options for the Mets
The Mets currently plan to ride with a combination of Wilmer Flores and Eric Campbell at first base in place of the injured Lucas Duda. If things don’t go according to plan, the team may be forced to explore external options. I don’t believe if the Mets made a move it would be a franchise-altering move such as trading for Freddy Freeman or taking on a player with a big salary. I believe they would explore a cheap stop-gap option to fill the role until Duda is healthy, and would allow Flores to return to his super-utility role. A few external options are provided below as to who may interest the Mets in helping replace Duda’s bat in the lineup. Continue reading
Noah Syndergaard named NL Player of the Week
Noah Syndergaard was named today the National League Player of the Week for the week of May 16-22. Syndergaard went 2-0 and didn’t allow an earned run over 14 innings, didn’t issue a walk and struck out 21 in two starts.
Syndergaard is just the fourth major leaguer to have consecutive starts without allowing an earned run or a walk and record double-digit strikeouts. The others to accomplish that feat are Nolan Ryan (1987), Jose Fernandez (2014) and Clayton Kershaw (2015). The only other Met to have consecutive double-digit strikeout games without a walk was Dwight Gooden (September 12 & 17, 1984) and he struck out 32.
Syndergaard has 76 strikeouts through his first nine starts, which are the third-most in team history. Only the legendary Tom Seaver had more through his first nine starts (88 in 1970 and 77 in 1971).
This was Syndergaard’s second Player of the Week Award in his career, as he had previously been named back on July 27-August 2, 2015. Syndergaard’s historic pace is garnering attention around the league, and he seems to be entering elite status right before our very eyes.
Syndergaard is not the first Met to win the award this season, as back on May 9th Bartolo Colon was named co-NL Player of the Week, after his great week of May 2nd-8th. During that week he slugged his first career home run and passed Pedro Martinez on the all-time Dominican pitchers win list.
Lucas Duda diagnosed with stress fracture
Awful news for the New York Mets this afternoon as starting first baseman Lucas Duda has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back and been placed on the 15-day disabled list. Continue reading
Lineups & Game Notes: Mets vs. Nationals 7:05 pm et.
New York Mets (25-18):
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. Juan Lagares (R) CF
3. David Wright (R) 3B
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
7. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (3-3, 3.75 ERA)
Washington Nationals (27-17):
1. Ben Revere (L) CF
2. Jayson Werth (R) LF
3. Bryce Harper (L) RF
4. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
5. Ryan Zimmerman (R) 1B
6. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
7. Wilson Ramos (R) C
8. Danny Espinosa (S) SS
9. Gio Gonzalez (R) P
SP: Gio Gonzalez LHP (3-1, 1.86 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Game Notes:
METS-NATIONALS NOTES: New York is 56-44 in Washington all-time…New York dropped two of three to the Nats at Citi FIeld, May 17-19.
METS IN THE NATIONS CAPITAL: The Mets have won three in a row in Washington and went 6-3 in D.C. in 2015.
HIT EM’ DON’T ALLOW EM’: The Mets have hit 60 homers and allowed 27…The +33 home run differential is the best in the majors.
FAMILIA SUCCESS: Jeurys Famiia is 15-for-15 in save opportunities and is second in the majors in saves…Familia has 31 consecutive saves in the regular season dating to August 1, 2015, which is tied with Billy Wagner (8/2/06-5/13/07) for the longest streak in team history.
SHARP PEN: The Mets pen has tossed 14.1 scoreless innings over its last four games…The Mets pen leads the majors with a 2.33 ERA…The pen is also first with a 1.86 ERA in May.
TOP FLIGHT PITCHING: The Mets rank third in the majors with a 3.10 team ERA…New York has allowed 27 homers, the fewest in the majors…The staff leads the majors with a 3.83 strikeout-to-walk rate.
CLUTCH CABRERA: Is 5-for-his-last-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position dating to May 8, including delivering the go- ahead two-run single yesterday.
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: David Wright is a .290 (71-245) career hitter at Nationals Park in 60 games… Has 15 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 32 RBI’s in those games…Is a .321 (25-78) hitter in his career at Nationals Park (22 games)… Juan Lagares has four doubles, one home run, seven RBI’s and 11 runs scored in 22 games at Nationals Park…Yoenis Cespedes is batting .429 (6-14) in three career games at Nationals Park…Has two homers, three doubles and seven RBI’s in those three games.
NO WALKING PERMITTED: Yesterday was the Mets major league-leading 10th time that they did not walk a batter…The White Sox are second with eight such games.
COLON VS.NATS: Picked up his second straight loss, third of the season, in the Mets’ 7-1 defeat against the Washington Nationals on May 18 at Citi Field…Pitched 4.2 innings and gave up three runs, while striking out four and walking five in the 107-pitch effort..Is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts at Nationals Park.
METS VS. GONZALEZ: Gio Gonzalez is 10-4 with a 2.59 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets…His 10 wins against Mets are his most against any opponent and the most among active pitchers over the Mets…Tossed 6.1 innings on May 18 at Citi Field against the Mets and allowed one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts and just one walk… Is 3-3, 5.23 ERA in six game’s started against the Mets at Nationals Park…Notable Mets numbers against Gonzalez are provided below…
- Yoenis Cespedes: .571 (4-7), 1 HR, 1 RBI
- Juan Lagares: .379 (11-29), 3 2B, 1 HR
- Curtis Granderson: .121 (4-33), 1 2B, 1 HR
- David Wright: .250 (6-24), 1 HR, 4 RBI
- Neil Walker: .125 (1-8), 1 BB, 1 K
- Asdrubal Cabrera: .150 (3-20), 1 BB, 1 K
- Eric Campbell: .167 (3-18), 2 RBI, 2 BB
Final Recap: Mets 3 – Brewers 1
New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera (44) congratulates New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) after Familia closed out a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, May 22, 2016, in New York. Familia earned the save as Mets defeated the Brewers 3-1. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The New York Mets (25-18) completed the three game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers (18-26) this afternoon by the final score of 3-1. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Noah Syndergaard was electric pitching 7 innings allowing 1 run (0 ER) on 6 hits, while striking out 11. He walked none.
- Michael Conforto was 1-3 with a solo HR.
- Asdrubal Cabrera was 1-4 with a 2-run single.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 1-3 with a double.
- Jeurys Familia received his 15th save of the season with a scoreless 9th. He is now 15-15 in save opportunities this season.
How sweep it is for the Mets to take all three ball games from the Brewers, after a brutal final two games played against the Nationals earlier in the week. This was the Mets first sweep of the Brewers in New York since April 26-28, 2002. The Brewers came into the series playing some of the best baseball they have played all season after taking two of the three from the Chicago Cubs. The Mets met every challenge they faced in this series including battling back from a three run deficit yesterday afternoon. It was pertinent that the Mets bounced back in this series and carry some momentum into Washington tomorrow, as they are scheduled for another three round heavyweight fight against the Nationals. The Mets wrapped up their home stand with a 4-2 record, and while you would’ve liked to see them take two of three from Washington this past week, they have a chance to make up for it in the next three games on the road.
As far as today’s game goes Michael Conforto showed off his strength with his solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Conforto hit the longest home run recorded at Citi Field this season with a 448 foot blast to right-center field. Conforto is considered the future All-Star of the Mets lineup and it’s nice to see him work out of his recent struggles in this series against the Brewers. Noah Syndergaard simply overmatched the Brewers lineup for the better part of the afternoon. Syndergaard side-stepped out of trouble in the top of the seventh with runners on 1st and 3rd base and no outs. A throw from Rene Rivera to catch a stealing Alex Presley at second base, a Ramon Flores strikeout, and a groundout from Aaron Hill got Syndergaard out of the jam, which concluded his successful afternoon. Syndergaard’s ERA sits at 1.94 and with the way he has pitched so far, you can expect that number to possibly keep dropping as he makes his case for Cy Young Award consideration.
The Mets are in for another big series heading into Washington tomorrow with a few questions surrounding the team. Lucas Duda’s MRI on his back will be reviewed by Dr. Altcheck tomorrow and a further course of action surrounding Duda will be known. I can only expect at this point for Duda to hit the disabled list with the way team officials have spoke about his injury. Also will we see a different Matt Harvey against the Nationals less than a week after he was lit up against the very same team? And will the Mets bats wake up this time around against Washington and help ease some pressure off of the pitching staff? My eyes will be glued to the TV this upcoming series and I hope we can make up some ground that we lost last week against the Nats.
- Tomorrow night the Mets open up their quick three game road trip in Washington at 7:05 pm et. You can watch tomorrow night’s game on SNY.
- Bartolo Colon (3-3, 3.75 ERA) will face the same opponent and same pitcher he faced less than a week ago as he goes head to head again, with southpaw Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 1.86 ERA).
A Look Ahead…
After the Mets wrap up a successful series against the Brewers, the Mets schedule takes a tough turn before they play Milwaukee again in Wisconsin, in three and a half weeks. Continue reading
Lineups & Game Notes: Brewers vs. Mets 1:10 pm et.
Milwaukee Brewers (18-25):
1. Jonathan Villar (S) SS
2. Scooter Gennett (L) 2B
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Jonathan Lucroy (R) C
5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (L) CF
6. Hernan Perez (R) 3B
7. Alex Presley (L) RF
8. Ramon Flores (L) 1B
9. Chase Anderson (R) P
SP: Chase Anderson RHP (2-5, 5.32 ERA)
New York Mets (24-18):
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Michael Conforto (L) LF
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
7. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (4-2, 2.19 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on WPIX.
Game Notes:
BREWERS-METS NOTES: The Mets are 10-14 vs. Milwaukee at Citi Field…New York has outscored the Brewers 27-8 in their last four contests at Citi Field…After winning the first two games, the Mets will look for their first three-game sweep vs. the Brewers since September 1-3, 2008 at Milwaukee…The last time the Mets swept the Brewers in New York was April 26-28, 2002.
METS LOVE DAY BASEBALL: New York is 9-4 in day games this year, including 5-2 at home.
SHARP PEN: The Mets bullpen has tossed 12.1 scoreless innings over its last three games…The Mets pen leads the majors with a 2.36 ERA (33 earned runs/125.2 innings)…The pen is also first with a 1.93 ERA (12 ER/56.0 IP) in May.
SYN-CITI: Noah Syndergaard is 8-3 with a 2.53 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 16 career starts at Citi Field.
FLAME THROWER: According to FanGraphs, Syndergaard averages the fastest fastball (98.0), slider (91.6) and change-up (90.0) this year.
THOR VS. MILWAUKEE: Has made one career start against Milwaukee…Earned the first win of his career in the Mets’ 5-1 victory at Citi Field…It was Syndergaard’s second career start and his first career start at home…Pitched 6.0 innings, allowing one run, earned, on three hits…Struck out five and walked one in the 95-pitch effort.
GRAND START: Curtis Granderson hit his fourth leadoff homer of the year yesterday…It was his 39th career leadoff blast, trailing only Jimmy Rollins (46) among active players…Granderson has 15 leadoff homers with the Mets, one behind Jose Reyes, who has the franchise record with 16…Granderson’s 15 leadoff homers since 2014 lead the major leagues in that span.
- Neil Walker: .250 (1-4), 1 BB, 1 K
- Curtis Granderson: .200 (1-5), 1 BB, 2 K
- Eric Campbell: .500 (1-2)
- Asdrubal Cabrera: .000 (0-2), 1 RBI, 1 BB
- Juan Lagares: .600 (3-5), 1 HR, 1 RB
Matt Harvey throws simulated game
Matt Harvey threw a simulated game this afternoon prior to the Mets and Brewers scheduled contest. Infielder Matt Reynolds and first base coach Tom Goodwin stood in the box to face Harvey while pitching coach Dan Warthen was on the side observing.
It has now been determined by the Mets that Harvey will indeed make his next scheduled start on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals. Harvey was lit up for nine runs (six earned) in one of the worst starts of his career on Thursday night against Washington. Harvey also threw a career-low 2 2/3 innings and only 61 pitches against the Nationals. He has had a rough go of it posting 3-6 record and a 5.77 ERA in nine starts this season.
I believe it is the right move for the Mets, as I previously stated the only way that Harvey is going to work out of this funk is to continue pitching on regular rest unless he is injured. Let’s hope for better results on Tuesday night for the Dark Knight in Washington!
Final Recap: Mets 5 – Brewers 4
The New York Mets (24-18) had their first walk-off victory of the season by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers (18-25) this afternoon by the final score of 5-4. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- David Wright played hero knocking in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning with an RBI single. He finished the day 1-5.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 2-4 with a 2-run home run.
- Eric Campbell was 2-4 and scored the game-winning run.
- Curtis Granderson was 1-3 with a leadoff home run.
- Jacob deGrom didn’t have his best stuff going 5 innings while allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 3. He also struck out 7 batters.
- The Mets bullpen accounted for 4 scoreless innings only allowing 2 hits and striking out 6.
Cue the heroics for the Captain! David Wright played hero as he hit an RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th. It was Wright’s eight career walk-off hit in a Mets uniform which now sits as the franchise record. Surprisingly Wright swung on a 3-0 pitch from a wild Michael Blazek but it ultimately paid off. This was a great comeback for the Mets as they were down 4-1 at one point in the game but chipped away and came out with a well-deservred victory. Maybe this is the hit that gets Wright’s season going back in the right direction as he has been in a bit of a tailspin lately and striking out at an alarming rate. As for today you can’t help but feel good for him as he has had a rough go of it lately and watching him get swarmed by his teammates with the wide smile on his face was one of the best moments this season so far.
Yoenis Cespedes is simply on another planet and he continues to feast on opposing pitchers at a rapid rate. I don’t like to imagine where the Mets would be without him in the lineup, and I’m glad I don’t have to live that nightmare, as Cespedes is a clear front-runner for NL MVP at this point in the season. I’ll take Cespedes over many of the top hitters in baseball today, as he has been a clutch player for the Mets since coming over in the trade last season. He always gives them a chance to win every night he is in the lineup with both his hitting prowess and his presence sometimes alone. In 95 games since joining the Mets, Cespedes has hit 31 home runs with 88 RBI’s. What a great investment the front office made with this “amazin” player.
Jacob deGrom had a rough go of it on the mound today as he labored and threw 100 pitches in five innings. He couldn’t seem to get into any kind of groove today, and he allowed a 2-run home run to the Brewers 8th hitter Ramon Flores who came into the game hitting .190. His fastball velocity seemed to be inconsistent and he put too many Brewers on base today. But hey these things happen in baseball, and it was great to see the Mets back up their ace and not hang him with a loss today.
- The Mets will look to go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm et. You can watch tomorrow’s game on WPIX.
- Noah Syndergaard (4-2, 2.19 ERA) will look to continue his dominance for the Mets and oppose Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson (2-5, 5.32 ERA) who carried a no-hitter against the Cubs into the 7th inning in his last start.
Down on the Farm:
The Mets have a couple of players who are absolutely lighting their respective league’s on fire down on the farm. Those players are left-handed pitcher P.J. Conlon and utility player Ty Kelly. Follow the jump to see what all the buzz is about! Continue reading
Above The Mendoza 