Tagged: Sports News
Welcome Back Jose. Goodbye Again Jon.
Ahh the offseason. As the MLB Playoffs near their end, the hot stove is beginning to warm up. The Mets will have several questions to answer this offseason and none bigger than the multi million dollar question in left field. However in their first move of the offseason in regards to the big league roster, the Mets have announced they will be bringing back shortstop turned third baseman Jose Reyes. Extending the four-time All Star will only cost the Mets the league minimum of $507,500, as the Colorado Rockies are still on the hook for $22 million.
It’s a move many Mets fans will not oppose to after Reyes provided the club with unmeasurable energy and leadership down the stretch of the season. He proved many doubters wrong including a portion of the Mets fan base who were originally opposed to his return to Queens. There were obvious reasons as to why a portion of the fanbase did not want Reyes back, including his domestic violence arrest and his declining play a season ago. However Reyes proved to be the ultimate professional during his time last season with the Mets and proved he still has plenty of baseball left in the tank. The 33-year old third baseman hit .267 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 60 games. He also accumulated nine stolen bases and 45 runs scored during that timeframe.
Reyes is expected to split time with David Wright next season at the hot corner. There is no guarantee as to how Wright will look coming off another serious season-ending injury, but either way Reyes provides the club with insurance at third base. Reyes could even be viewed as the Opening Day third baseman at this point with many questions surrounding the health of David Wright.
In another move the Mets have declined the $10 million option on Jon Niese’s contract and instead will buy him out for $500,00. This move was all but expected after Niese struggled in his return to New York after the Trade Deadline, and then ultimately had a knee injury end his season early. I think it’s safe to say, I don’t believe we will see Niese back with the Mets a third time around.
Mets Wild Card Postseason Roster
The Mets released their Wild Card Postseason Roster for tonight’s game. The roster can be seen below. A couple of notable names left off the roster include first baseman Lucas Duda and starting pitcher Seth Lugo.
Pitchers (9)
Jerry Blevins
Bartolo Colon
Josh Edgin
Jeurys Familia
Robert Gsellman
Addison Reed
Hansel Robles
Fernando Salas
Noah Syndergaard (Starting Pitcher)
Catchers (3)
Travis d’Arnaud
Kevin Plawecki
Rene Rivera
Infielders (7)
Asdrubal Cabrera
Eric Campbell
Kelly Johnson
Ty Kelly
James Loney
Jose Reyes
T.J. Rivera
Outfielders (6)
Jay Bruce
Yoenis Cespedes
Michael Conforto
Alejandro De Aza
Curtis Granderson
Juan Lagares
Resiliency Is Why The Mets Are Postseason Bound
What an incredible run it has been the past two seasons for the New York Mets. Last season this team behind strong starting pitching went on to shock the world and make it all the way to the World Series. This season the Mets had an even more remarkable run to October, as they fought their way through every possible injury imaginable to have a seat at the table to defend their National League crown. I have never seen a team in all of my years watching the Mets as resilient as this season’s team. Names such as Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, James Loney, T.J. Rivera, among others have replicated the production of who they were replacing in the starting lineup or starting rotation this season. This is only the second time in franchise history they have made the playoffs in back to back seasons, and Manager Terry Collins should be commended for the job he has done in keeping this team together through all the adversity they faced this season.
You can’t help but also be happy for our very own homegrown third baseman Jose Reyes, who is getting another shot at the postseason for the first time since 2006. Since the Mets acquired Reyes, he has changed the dynamic of this team with his presence at the top of the lineup, as well with the leadership and energy he has brought along with him. Many people left Reyes out to dry including his former team the Colorado Rockies after his off the field incident, but I have never seen an athlete in that unimaginable position handle his situation with such class. His acquisition has been one of the reasons the Mets will be playing Wednesday night.
Jay Bruce has also gotten red-hot at the right time for the Mets. We have seen him carry the Cincinnati Reds before, and his recent revival will be huge if the Mets want to make a deep run. Bruce has homered four times in his last seven games while driving in eight, and hitting .478 during that stretch. This is the Jay Bruce we all thought we were getting when we acquired him at the Trade Deadline, and there is no underestimating the impact he can provide with Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of the lineup.
The Mets will send Noah Syndergaard to the mound Wednesday night at Citi Field to face either the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets will certainly be scoreboard watching this afternoon to determine if they will be facing Madison Bumgarner or Carlos Martinez on the mound. Regardless of who they face, you always want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the season and the Mets are certainly doing that. Since August 20 the Mets have the best winning percentage (.692) in baseball while posting a 27-12 record. The Mets 43 road victories this season are also the most since 2011, which proves this team can go on the road and win if they need to. The Mets have also won at least one postseason series in each of the last four years they have qualified for the playoffs (2015, 2006, 2000 and 1999), which bodes well for their postseason history.
We can no longer look the other way at this team’s will to win. The Mets will have plenty of postseason experience behind them after last season’s run, and they believe they have unfinished business to take care of. It’s been an us against the world mentality all season since Opening Night in Kansas City and the Mets will have another chance on the big stage to get the job done. Our journey begins Wednesday night and we know this season’s theme has been all 25 men hands on deck. This team has won collectively as a team in the regular season utilizing every player on the roster, and that theme will look to continue Wednesday night. Let’s go Mets and lets go out there and shock the world!
Lineups: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets 1:05 pm et.
New York Mets (86-74):
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. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (14-8, 3.42 ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies (70-90):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Andres Blanco (S) SS
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Jimmy Paredes (S) LF
8. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
9. Phil Klein (R) P
SP: Phil Klein RHP (0-1, 8.22 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on FOX.
The Finish Line Is In Sight
Here we go Mets fans! The Mets will know by the end of this final weekend of the baseball season if they have clinched a Wild Card birth, and if they will be playing that Wild Card game at home. What is still unknown is how the Mets pitching staff will shape up for Sunday and beyond, and whether or not the Mets actually clinch a postseason birth as there is still plenty of baseball left to be played.
Back on August 19 the Mets were 5.5 games behind four teams in the Wild Card race and were a disappointing 60-62. But if I would’ve told Terry Collins that day that he would lose both Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz down the stretch, as well as sign Tim Tebow to a baseball contract, but he still controls his own postseason destiny the last week of the season, he would take it. The Mets were also given a boost to their lineup with the return of both Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera and they took absolutely took off as they have gone 25-12 since that day. Their .676 winning percentage is best in the Majors since August 19th. They now hold the top Wild Card seed and will control their own destiny this weekend as they battle the Phillies.
The Mets are eleven games over .500 and it is tied for their best mark of the season, as they have not been twelve games over since the last game of last season when they finished 90-72. There is no better opponent however for the Mets to be playing to put themselves in the postseason, and match last season’s twelve games over .500 mark. The Mets have taken 13 of their past 15 series against the Phillies and hold a dominant 24-11 record since the beginning of last season against their division rival.
The Mets have already also set the franchise record for home runs in a season with 216 and there is still three games to go against a team they love hitting them against. The Mets have hit 35 home runs in their last 16 games in Philadelphia. One of the biggest contributors has been Yoenis Cespedes, as he has slugged five of them in his ten career games at Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Mets also hold a 14-2 record after an off-day this season, which is another number trending in their favor heading into this series.
But once again there is still the game to be played in between the lines and anything can happen at any given moment. We’ve learned not to take anything for granted as fans of the Mets, but I can assure you this isn’t the same ol’ Mets we have been accustomed to. This is one of the most resilient teams I have ever watched, and they have all the momentum in the world to make a legitimate run at the postseason. I will be rooting hard all weekend for our club to have the opportunity to play Wednesday night for a spot in the NLDS. After the season long marathon we can all finally see the finish line, but let’s keep our pace up to see how much farther past the finish line it can take us.
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies 7:05 pm et.
New York Mets (85-74):
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. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Robert Gsellman (R) P
SP: Robert Gsellman RHP (3-2, 2.56 ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies (70-89):
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. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Jimmy Paredes (S) LF
8. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
9. Alec Asher (R) P
SP: Alec Asher RHP (2-0, 1.66 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins 7:10 pm et.
New York Mets (83-74):
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. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (13-9, 2.63 ERA)
Miami Marlins (78-78):
1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Marcell Ozuna (R) LF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Christian Yelich (L) CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
6. Justin Bour (L) 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Tom Koehler (R) P
SP: Tom Koehler RHP (9-12, 4.02 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Last Night Was Bigger Than Baseball
I’ll forgive you if you don’t remember the score of last night’s game, as despite the Mets being in the middle of a postseason race, last night was much bigger than the game of baseball. I’ll admit I did not pay much attention to the score after Dee Gordon’s lead-off home run. It was almost the first time as a Mets fan in my life that I did not mind if they won or lost because there was a bigger picture in play. You could not help but get emotional watching the pregame ceremony tribute to the late Jose Fernandez, or shed a tear watching Gordon’s lead-off home run. Even the Mets were choked up by last night’s events as catcher Travis d’Arnaud admitted to shedding a tear during Gordon’s inspiring home run.
The Mets were in one of the toughest situations any opposing team could be in and they handled it with as much class as possible. Dee Gordon even praised the Mets after the game as a “first class organization” for the way they handled last night’s game. Our team is currently in the thick of a Wild Card race with their own agenda, but humanity took over last night and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on a baseball field.
Jose Fernandez tragic death has resonated with everyone associated with the game of baseball as he was one of the biggest star’s on and off the field in the world of sports. It’s going to be a tough final week for the Marlins and an even tougher offseason for the organization in trying to pick up the pieces of what occurred. However last night, I was proud to be a Mets fan win or lose because of the humanity, emotion, and class they displayed in one of the most, if not the most tragic event in baseball history.
The Mets and Marlins have two games remaining in this series and it certainly will still be tough on everyone involved to play. But Jose Fernandez played the game the right way with intensity and would expect nothing less from both teams. The Mets were fortunate to have the Cardinals get pummeled last night, and hopefully our team can get back on track as a Wild Card birth hangs in the balance. It still will not be any easier, but hopefully last night both teams found some sort of peace with being on the field and playing the game they love. With five games remaining the Mets will somehow have to put their foot on the gas beginning tonight if they want to return to October.
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins 7:10 pm et.
New York Mets (83-73):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
6. Jay Bruce (L) RF
7. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
8. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (14-7, 3.12 ERA)
Miami Marlins (77-78):
1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Marcell Ozuna (R) LF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Christian Yelich (L) CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
6. Justin Bour (L) 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Adam Conley (L) P
SP: Adam Conley LHP (8-6, 3.94 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network.
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!
Above The Mendoza 