Tagged: Major League Baseball
Mets Eye Return To Citi Field On Final Road Trip Of The Season.
The New York Mets absolutely clobbered the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday afternoon by seventeen runs, in the biggest shutout in franchise history. It was more than a fitting end to the regular season finale at Citi Field and a strong statement by the team after the three previous games were filled with many peaks and valleys. The Mets finished their final ten-game homestand with a 6-4 record, and now hit the road to play their final six games of the season. There are expectations of a return to Citi Field however for at least one more game next week if the Mets play their cards right.
Both the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants lost their respective games giving the Mets a full game lead over the Giants for the first NL Wild Card spot. The Cardinals trail the Mets by a 1.5 games heading into the final week of the season. The Mets will head into Miami for three games while sending their three best rotation options to the mound (Colon, Syndergaard, Lugo), with the opportunity to seal a Wild Card birth, as well as home field for the play-in game. The Mets current magic number to clinch is five.
There will be much uncertantity however with how the Miami Marlins will look on the field over the next three games with the recent tragic passing of ace pitcher Jose Fernandez. Fernandez was scheduled to face the Mets tonight which makes the situation even more somber. In a fitting move, the Mets plan to honor Fernandez this series and hang a Fernandez jersey in the visiting dugout similar to yesterday’s game.
The Mets will enter the final week of the season on a roll after taking three of four from the Phillies in impressive fashion. They now face an opponent going through something unimaginable, followed by a Phillies team who showed fight against the Mets the first three games over the weekend. The odds are in the Mets favor based on their opponents record, but as we’ve seen with the Braves we can take nothing for granted over these final six games. I have all the confidence in the world this team will bring us at least one more game to Citi Field. One game at a time boys. Let’s go Mets!
Rest In Peace Jose Fernandez
The baseball world is mourning the loss of the Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez who tragically passed away in a boating accident off the coast of Miami Beach early this morning. The 24-year old Fernandez was regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball and many of us Mets fans experienced that firsthand, as he had dominant numbers throughout his young career against the Mets. Fernandez was scheduled to start tomorrow night against the Mets.
Fernandez had announced recently that both he and his girlfriend were expecting their first child together. It’s a true testament as to how short life is and how precious every moment in life is as well. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Marlins organization through this incredibly difficult time. There was not a star bigger or nor a smile bigger in Miami currently than Jose’s, and the entire baseball community will proceed with heavy hearts through the rest of the season. Rest in peace Jose.
Lineups: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets 1:10 pm et.
Philadelphia Phillies (70-85):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cody Asche (L) LF
7. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
8. Jorge Alfaro (R) C
9. Jake Thompson (R) P
SP: Jake Thompson RHP (3-5, 5.62 ERA)
New York Mets (82-73):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. Jay Bruce (L) RF
6. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
7. James Loney (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Robert Gsellman (R) P
SP: Robert Gsellman RHP (2-2, 3.13 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on SNY.
Lineups: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets 7:10 pm et.
Philadelphia Phillies (69-84):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Roman Quinn (S) RF
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
8. Cody Asche (L) LF
9. Jeremy Hellickson (R) P
SP: Jeremy Hellickson RHP (12-9, 3.57 ERA)
New York Mets (81-72):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) RF
7. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
8. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Gabriel Ynoa (R) P
SP: Gabriel Ynoa RHP (1-0, 9.00 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Asdrubal Cabrera Saves The Mets Season!
It took the Mets eleven innings in a true test of resiliency to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, as they were down two runs twice in their final turn at-bat’s. Both in the bottom of the ninth and the bottom of the eleventh innings, the Mets were staring down a fourth consecutive loss to a underwhelming opponent. The Phillies seemed to have an answer for everything the Mets brought tonight, but a Jose Reyes two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at six, and ultimately a three-run walk-off home run by Asdrubal Cabrera in the bottom of the eleventh, would propel this team to their biggest win of the season.
The Mets received their first victory of the season tonight when trailing after nine innings, which astonishingly pushed their record to 1-63. In what truly could go down as the craziest and greatest game of the 2016 season, the Mets very well may have just saved their own season with tonight’s victory. The Mets were two outs away in the bottom of the eleventh from headlines in the morning reading of another possible late September collapse, had they lost in heartbreaking fashion for the second night in a row. But a hanging slider by Phillies reliever Edubray Ramos to Cabrera, which sent a no-doubter into right field to send Citi Field into a frenzy was the difference between those stories being written tonight. Instead the stories being written, will be about another obstacle this 2016 team has overcome when the odds have been stacked against them.
I’m truly speechless as to what I just witnessed, as I have been on an emotional roller coaster over the past four hours watching the game. Sure there is plenty to be said about other factors of tonight’s game, but I’m just going to leave you with the video of Cabrera’s heroics below because quite frankly that’s all that matters tonight.
Lineups: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets 7:10 pm et.
Philadelphia Phillies (69-83):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Roman Quinn (S) LF
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
8. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
9. Adam Morgan (L) P
SP: Adam Morgan LHP (2-10, 5.57 ERA)
New York Mets (80-72):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
5. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
6. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
7. Rene Rivera (R) C
8. Alejandro De Aza (L) CF
9. Seth Lugo (R) P
SP: Seth Lugo RHP (4-2, 2.35 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Steven Matz No Longer Pitching Tomorrow.
Steven Matz threw a 20-pitch bullpen session yesterday, and the expectation was he would take the mound for tomorrow evening’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. That no longer will be the case as Matz reportedly had told trainers earlier today that his shoulder was sore, and was immediately scratched from his scheduled start.
At this point there is no timetable on when or if Matz will take the mound again for the Mets this season. Matz has not pitched since August 14 due to a shoulder strain and he has had difficulty making it back to the starting rotation. The 25-year old lefty is also dealing with a bone chip in his throwing elbow.
It may be in the Mets best interest to just shut Matz down for the rest of the season. He is already dealing with two injuries and there is no point in rushing him back if he is not healthy enough to pitch. The risk heavily outweighs the reward, especially this season with the way injuries have dismantled this team.The Mets were only counting on the rookie left-hander to throw around 50 pitches tomorrow night, which means he may be limited to a low pitch count if and when he returns. Collins has also already deemed Matz shoulder situation delicate, and there is no need to take any chances with him at this point in the season. Collins also stated that an arm strengthening program is needed this offseason for the young lefty.
Gabriel Ynoa will fill in as the starter for tomorrow night’s game after displaying a promising effort on Sunday afternoon in his first career start against the Minnesota Twins. I think the Mets and fans alike have already accepted the fact that the team will roll with the “Metsfits” (Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman) if they make it to the NLDS. We may be looking at the second coming of the “Miracle Mets” if this team is able to put together any kind of postseason run.
Terry Collins Can’t Afford To Overmanage These Final Ten Games.
Last night the New York Mets were swept by the Atlanta Braves in heartbreaking fashion by way of Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte robbing Yoenis Cespedes of a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth. If the Mets are to miss the postseason, that catch will be played over and over in Mets fans minds all offseason. What also will be replayed through our minds will be the way Terry Collins mismanaged the eighth inning of that ballgame, as the Mets held a 3-2 lead over the Braves. Continue reading
Lineups: Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets 7:10 pm et.
Atlanta Braves (60-91):
1. Ender Inciarte (L) CF
2. Adonis Garcia (R) 3B
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Matt Kemp (R) LF
5. Nick Markakis (L) RF
6. Anthony Recker (R) C
7. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
8. Dansby Swanson (R) SS
9. Ryan Weber (R) P
SP: Ryan Weber RHP (1-1, 5.46 ERA)
New York Mets (80-71):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
5. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
6. Alejandro De Aza (L) CF
7. James Loney (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (14-7, 3.14 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Mets fall to Braves for second straight night in a row
The New York Mets (80-71) fell to the Atlanta Braves (60-91) for the second night in a row by the final score of 5-4. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
http://m.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2016/09/20/449117?#game=449117,game_state=final,game_tab=box
Game Notes:
- Robert Gsellman was solid despite picking up tonight’s loss going 5.1 innings and giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 6.
- Relievers Fernando Salas and Jerry Blevins combined to allow 3 runs on 4 hits in 1.1 innings of work.
- Asdrubal Cabrera was 3-3 with a double, 2 walks, a run scored and an RBI single.
- Curtis Granderson was 1-4 with an RBI double.
- T.J. Rivera was 1-3 with a sacrifice fly.
- Eric Campbell was 1-1 with a pinch-hit RBI single.
Well after the last two days we can assume nothing is going to be easy with the Mets, and we should brace ourselves for a race down to the wire. The Mets have far and away the easiest schedule of the three teams battling for the NL Wild Card, and the Braves have taken it to the Mets the last two nights. It is very possible there is a three-way tie after tonight’s play with the Mets loss tonight, and victories by both the Cardinals and Giants. It is certainly frustrating to see the Mets not carrying the momentum built from over the weekend into this week’s series against the Braves. The Braves have historically given the Mets fits and put a damper on their postseason dreams in the past which makes it all the more frustrating. The Mets will have a chance tomorrow to salvage a game from the series tomorrow evening against the Braves, but I’m sure many Mets fans at this point may be internally freaking out about the way the team has looked the past two nights.
I am currently not freaking out about the Mets chances just yet, but I am very concerned with the play of Jay Bruce. Bruce went 0-3 on the evening before Terry Collins pinch-hit for the former Reds slugger with Eric Campbell (yes you read that correctly), in the middle of the Mets three-run inning in the bottom of the eighth. Bruce also had the miscommunication in the top of the sixth in the outfield with Curtis Granderson which allowed the Braves to plate their first run of the game. I’m not sure where the Mets go from here with Bruce as he’s clearly been struggling on the field for the Mets, and they certainly haven’t gotten nothing close to the return on investment they were expecting when they made the trade. Collins has stressed that if you hit you will play, as Michael Conforto was in the lineup over Bruce both on Sunday and Monday. It will be interesting to see if Bruce, who has hit .176 since joining the Mets, will be in tomorrow’s lineup for the Mets or if they go in another direction yet again.
The Mets will need to regroup and put together another winning streak if they want a chance to reach the postseason, as they have suffered back-to-back critical losses. I will not doubt this team yet as they have overcome multiple hurdles this season but time is of the essence and victories are the only thing that will matter over this final week and a half of the season.
- The Mets will look to avoid the sweep against the Braves tomorrow evening with a 7:10 pm et. scheduled first pitch. You can catch tomorrow night’s game on SNY.
- Bartolo Colon (14-7, 3.14 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Mets and face Braves right-hander Ryan Weber (0-1, 6.00 ERA).
Above The Mendoza 