213 Miles From Shea

Today’s picture of the day is Carl Stajduhar, an infielder drafted in the 16th round (2017) out of New Mexico, playing for Brooklyn in Mahoney Valley. Picture from 7/11/17.

The day after the Mets allowed 17 runs against the Cubs, the Mets did slightly better allowing only 14 runs. It was a frustrating game for the Mets, who were officially eliminated from the Wild Card last night, as Lugo imploded having his worst start of the season and Rosario/d’Arnaud suffered injuries. It just doesn’t stop.

Speaking of things that don’t stop. I have a new love for Montero. I’m hoping that Rafael Montero saves me and keeps me hopeful in these dark nights as he takes the mound. On the season he is 5-9 over 30 games and 15 starts in 101.2 innings with a 5.05 ERA, 4.26 FIP and 1.692 WHIP. In his last start he allowed only 1 run over 5.0 innings with 4 hits and 9 walks. He had one bad start stretching all the way back to August 14th. He has pitched only 1.2 innings against the Braves this season where he allowed 2 runs from 3 hits and 3 walks. The Braves have the following numbers against Montero:

• Kemp 3-4, 2 2B, BB
• Flowers 0-2
• Peterson 0-2
• Swanson 0-2
• Freeman 0-0, BB

The Mets bats will take a look at Sean Newcomb who is 2-8 over 16 starts and 84.1 innings with a 4.38 ERA, 4.60 FIP and 1.613 WHIP. In his last three starts he has tossed 14.2 innings allowing 10 hits and 8 walks leading to a 5.52 ERA and an opponent OBP of .419. He hasn’t faced the Mets since his major league debut this season where he allowed 1 run, not earned, over 6.1 innings with 4 hits and 2 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Sean:

• Cabrera 1-3
• Flores 2-3
• Lagares 0-3
• Reyes 0-3
• Gsellman 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

I tried to see the Mets on 7/5/17 but the weather wouldn’t have it. After about an hour and 45 minutes, the grounds crew tried push the water off the tarp but it was still raining and they had about half the people they needed to accomplish the task.

Last night was a night to forget for Mets pitching who gave up 17 runs against the Cubs. Harvey allowed 5 runs over 3.1 innings, then Bradford allowed 4 runs in 1.0 inning, then Rhame allowed 5 runs in 0.1 innings and finally Callahan allowed 2 runs in 0.2 innings. Just not a good night. The Mets will turn to Seth Lugo for stability tonight.

Seth Lugo is 6-4 over 15 games and 14 starts with 83.1 innings of work. He has posted a 4.64 ERA, 4.00 FIP and 1.392 WHIP. Last start was his first start all season where he shut an opponent out, going 6.0 scoreless innings against the Reds allowing 4 hits and a walk. The last time he faced the Cubs was in 2016 where he made his major league debut in relief against them and pitched against them again 2.5 weeks later. In those two outings he allowed 2 hits over 4.0 innings with no runs. The Cubs have the following numbers against him:

• Almora 0-2
• Baez 1-2
• Bryant 0-2
• Martin 1-2, HR
• Rizzo 0-2
• Contreras 0-1
• Heyward 1-1

The Mets bats will face the minor league pitcher of the year for the Cubs, Jen-Ho Tseng, in his major league debut. The almost 23 year old from Taipei made his professional debut in the Midwest league at age 19. This season he is 13-4 over 24 games with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.135 WHIP over 145.1 innings from AAA and AA. He dominated at AAA going 6-1 over 9 starts with a 2.45 ERA. This looks even better when compared to his 2016 season where he posted a 4.29 ERA / 5.32 RAvg in AA.

Let’s Go Mets!

Today’s picture of the day is infielder Jeremy Vasquez playing for the Kingsport Mets in Bristol on 7/6/17. Vasquez was drafted by the Mets in the 28th round in 2017 out of Nova Southeastern.

The Mets and Cubs play game two tonight in Chicago. The Mets lost last night and tonight they turn to the Dark Knight as fans continue to look at the product the Mets will put on the field next year. Which Harvey will we get? On the season he is 5-4 over 15 starts and 77.1 innings with a 5.82 ERA, 6.10 FIP, and 1.500 WHIP. His first start back in September was a mess as he allowed 7 runs over 2.0 innings off 8 hits. Last time out against the Reds wasn’t as bad as he allowed 2 runs over 5 hits and a walk in 5.0 innings. The Cubs was the team he faced this year right before his extended DL stint. He allowed 4 runs over 4.0 inning from 4 hits and a walk (3 homers) at Citi Field. Harvey will love to do better than that tonight. Mets fans would love for him to do better than that tonight. The Cubs have the following numbers against him:

• Jay 3-10, 2B
• Rizzo 2-7, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Heyward 2-9, HR
• Bryant 1-8
• Zobrist 2-7, 2B
• Schwarber 2-6, 2 HR
• Baez 1-5

The Mets bats draw Jon Lester who is 10-7  over 28 starts and 159.1 innings this season posting a 4.35 ERA, 3.99 FIP and 1.299 WHIP. From August through the beginning of September, all of his starts were either average (defined as 3 runs around 6 innings), bad or terrible. In his last start he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 4 walks against the Pirates. Against the Mets in June he allowed 1 run over 7.0 innings while holding the Mets to 5 hits and walk with 10 K’s. The Mets have the following numbers against Jon:

• Cabrera 7-30, 2 2B, BB
• Reyes 5-32, 2 BB
• Flores 6-16, 3 HR, BB
• Lagares 5-15, 2 2B, BB
• Aoki 5-14, BB
• d’Arnaud 3-8, 2B, HR
• Plawecki 2-6

Let’s Go Mets!

Jim Breuer on 7/8/17 right before the Cardinals gave him a between inning quiz during The 7 Line game in St. Louis.

The Mets head to Chicago looking to build on their last week. Despite losing on Sunday, the Mets did win 4 in a row, including the first 3 against the Reds. They were going for their first 5 game winning streak in 2017 but Sunday happened, and you know how the Mets are on Sundays. The Reds took an early 2 run lead but deGrom gained control for the rest of his outing, leaving with a 3-2 lead in a game the Mets eventually led 5-2. The bullpen then melted down between Sewald, Familia and Robles and the Reds won 10-5. On an unrelated note, we may get to see Rene Rivera.

Robert Gsellman gets the start for the Mets. He’s 6-6 over 21 games and 18 starts over 97.2 innings with a 5.44 ERA, 4.97 FIP and 1.567 WHIP. He’s coming off a good start where he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and one walk. It also was a complete game as there was quite a bit of rain. This is his third good start in his last 4. This will be Robert’s first time against the Cubs and he has not faced any members of the Cubs while they were with other teams.

The Mets bats will get to see Jose Quitana who was traded across town mid-season. Overall he is 9-11 over 28 starts and 162.1 innings with a 4.32 ERA, 3.93 FIP and 1.275 WHIP. With the Cubs he is 5-3 over 10 games and 58.0 innings with a 4.03 ERA, 3.78 FIP and 1.190 WHIP. He is coming off a great start where he held the Pirates scoreless over 6.0 innings allowing six hits and 1 walk. The Mets have the following numbers against Jose:

• Cabrera 3-22, BB
• Aoki 7-17, 2 2B, BB
• Reyes 3-7, 2B
• Lagares 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Matz throwing in St. Louis on 7/9/17, bad day for him, but still a good day for baseball.

Jose Miguel Medina, Cyclones, taking an At Bat in Mahoning Valley.

Jose Medina of the @BKCyclones striking out against Danny Salazar (this was strike 2) pic.twitter.com/qJYNkDWesr

— 213 Miles From Shea (@213MFS) July 12, 2017