213 Miles From Shea

The Mets had a forgettable weekend against the Marlins after a forgettable week against the Yankees and look to the Diamondbacks tonight. Yesterday things were going ok until the 7th inning where the floodgates opened and the Marlins were able to take a 6-1 lead that the Mets just couldn’t overcome.

Robert Gsellman gets the start for the Mets. He is 5-5 over 18 games and 15 starts in 81.1 innings with a 5.98 ERA, 5.18 FIP and 1.598 WHIP. His last start against the Yankees wasn’t terrible as he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over 5.1 innings off 4 hits and 3 walks. It was his best start since June 10th. Back on May 17th he faced the Diamondbacks allowing 1 run off 1 hit and a walk in one inning of relief (blown save). The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against him:

• Drury 0-1
• Goldschmidt 0-0, BB
• Lamb 0-1

The Mets get a look at Taijuan Walker who came over from the Mariners in a 5 person trade back in November. Walker is 6-7 over 20 games and 115.0 innings with a 3.83 ERA, 4.21 ERA and 1.313 WHIP. He is 0-3 in his four starts and 21.2 innings allowing 24 hits and 8 walks leading to 16 runs, 13 earned (5.40 ERA). Walker hasn’t faced the majority of the Mets lineup, which makes sense given the moves the Mets have made over the last month. Cespedes is 1-6 with a homer and Lagares is 0-2. No one else has seen him.

Let’s Go Mets!

Please ignore Molina being presented with a jersey in the background (although he’s not in the shot). Taken on 7/9/17.

Picture of Curtis against the Cardinals taken on 7/9/17 in St. Louis.

The Mets finally snapped their losing streak last night as the Mets and Rafael Montero beat the Marlins. For a second straight outing, Montero was successful and this time the bats showed up scoring 8 runs and the bullpen continued their recent dominance. It has been a while since all three areas clicked for the Mets and it was refreshing to see it again last night. Now the Mets will fight their demons and try to be successful on a Sunday in 2017.

Jacob deGrom is 13-6 over 24 starts and 158.2 innings with a 3.35 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.160 WHIP. His last start was the first time since June 6th that he allowed more than 4 runs in a start as he allowed 5 runs over 7.1 innings against the Yankees. Before that he was on a tear and let’s hope he gets right back on it. He hasn’t faced the Marlins since April 15th wehere he allowed 2 runs over 7.0 innings while striking out 13. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Yelich 11-29, 2 2B, 2 BB
• Ozuna 8-27, 2 2B, HR, BB, 9 K
• Gordon 5-21, 7 K
• Stanton 7-18, 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB (1.421 OPS)
• Dietrich 3-13, BB
• Realmuto 2-9
• Rojas 2-10, BB

The Mets bats will get a look at Adam Conley today who is 5-5 over 13 games and 12 starts over 66.0 innings with a 5.32 ERA, 4.83 FIP and 1.485 WHIP. August has not been kind to Adam who has pitched 16.2 innings over 3 starts allowing 22 hits and 7 runs leading to 12 runs, 11 earned (5.94 ERA). His first three outings this year were against the Mets. His first start was good where he allowed 1 run from a solo homer (the only hit as well) and 3 walks in 5.0 innings. Then he allowed the solo shot to d’Arnaud in the 16th inning of the long game against the Marlins in April. Two days later he pitched 6.0 innings against the Mets allowing 3 runs of 4 hits and 2 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Adam:

• Cespedes 1-16, 2B, BB, 8 K
• Cabrera 4-14, 2B, 2 BB
• Flores 2-13, 2B
• Lagares 1-9, 2 BB
• d’Arnaud 2-10, HR, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

As the Mets wind down their “fire” sale (in quotations because everyone traded/claimed so far off the team was in their last year of contract control) the Mets head into the off-season with some clear gaps in the roster.

The Mets so far have traded:

• Addison Reed – Bullpen (Closer)
• Lucas Duda – First Base
• Curtis Granderson – Outfield
• Jay Bruce – Outfield
• Rene Rivera – Catcher
• Neil Walker – Second Base

They could still trade Cabrera (who has an option for next year) as well. I see the Mets essentially doing one of two different solutions in the off-season. In addition to signing free agents / trading for Bullpen and Rotation depth, they should focus on either infield bat OR an outfield bat. We could (probably should) live in a world where the Mets can spend money on an infield bat, outfield bat, bullpen and rotation, but reality (and the team owners) stinks.

Outfield – Infield Solution 1: Focusing on CF

Let’s say the Mets make CF a priority in the off season and go get Cain. Cain makes the most sense for this team that hasn’t had a true CFer that can also hit above average for quite some time. This would make the outfield Cespedes-Cain-Conforto (Hey! Alliteration!). Second and Third base in this scenario becomes some combination / triple platoon of Flores/TJ Rivera/Cabrera. Offensively, I’m still holding out on the first two. All three (although I’m not sure so much on TJ) are a defensive liability. (Flores has made significant improvements though).

Outfield – Infield Solution 2: Focusing on 3B

In this solution the Mets go after Mike Moustakas. I’m not a fan of this solution as I’m not convinced at how much Moustakas, outside of his name, adds to this team against the money it would cost to bring him in (and the missed opportunity to bring in Cain to the outfield). Here the outfield would be come Conforto – Nimmo/Lagares – Cespedes. Then Cabrera and TJ would split time at 2nd with Flores getting scattered AB’s everywhere. Once again, I’m not a fan of this solution.

Outfield – Infield Solution 3: Only Focus on Pitchers

Yeah, I lied earlier, there is a third scenario, a default scenario, where the Mets don’t spend any money on their lineup. The outfield would look like what it does in the second solution, and the infield looks like the first solution. Here the Mets hopefully go bananas on relief pitching.

Finally, all of this gets thrown out the window if the Mets make a blockbuster trade with someone. This could look like trading Dom Smith + other talented players? (or maybe a starter?) for something (third base?) and then the Mets go into the much deeper first base free agent market. Who knows. I’m just trying to cope with my post-Curtis Granderson life.

The Mets wrapped up a disappointing week last night heading into the weekend with another loss, this time against the Marlins. The Mets will look to even the series today behind Rafael Montero as he takes on former Phillie Vance Worley. Last night the Mets lost 3-1 in another game where the bullpen did a good job but the offense went flat (Rosario, however did record two hits). After the game, my favorite player, my heart and soul, Curtis Granderson was traded to the Dodgers.

Rafael Montero is 1-8 over 24 games and 10 starts and 71.1 innings with a 5.80 ERA, 4.61 FIP and 1.752 WHIP. He is coming off of a strong start against the Yankees where he allowed 3 runs over 6.0 innings with 5 hits and 2 walks. It was one of the best starts I’ve seen from Montero. He looked like an ace for the first three innings, got into a lot of trouble in the 4th but didn’t melt down and allowed only one run. He allowed a solo shot later in the game. Was this a turning point for Montero? We’ll find out tonight! He hasn’t been good against the Marlins this year allowing 7 runs over 8.1 innings parts of 5 games including 16 hits and 8 walks. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Gordon 4-15, 2B, BB
• Ozuna 3-8, 4 BB
• Realmuto 2-10, BB
• Stanton 3-8, 2B, BB
• Yelich 1-5, 3 BB
• Suzuki 3-6, 3B
• Ellis 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
• Rojas 4-4

Vance Worley has been all over the place since leaving the Phillies in 2012 including Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Miami (and DC, but he didn’t play in an official game with the Nationals). This year he is 2-2 over 16 games and 8 starts logging 50.2 innings posting a 4.97 ERA, 3.77 FIP and 1.500 WHIP. He had two good to great starts at the beginning of August allowing 1 run over 13.0 innings but in his last start he allowed 3 runs over 4.0 innings. He made back to back relief appearances against the Mets earlier this season where he allowed nothing in 2.0 innings with 4 K’s. The Mets have the following numbers against Vance:

• R Rivera 0-4
• d’Arnaud 1-3
• Lagares 1-3
• Reynolds 0-2
• Cespedes 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

Carlos Sanchez, catcher of the Cyclones, with the hot dogs after they raced in Mahoning Valley.

This has been a horrible week for the Mets, so before jumping into today’s game, let’s note some of the positive and memorable moments. Dominic Smith hit his first homer. Rosario reminded us multiple times about the importance of defense. Travis d’Arnaud played 3rd and 2nd, in the same game, many many many times. Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to make the Mets competitive. I still love Michael Conforto. The Mets bullpen for the most part was great this week.

Ok. I feel better. Let’s go!

Chris Flexen is 2-1 over 4 starts and 16.2 innings this year with a 7.02 ERA, 7.22 FIP and 2.100 WHIP. His last start was probably his best of the season where he pitched 5.0 innings against the Phillies allowing 6 hits and 4 walks leading to 2 runs. He didn’t allow any homers in CBP, which is even better considering he allowed 4 homers in his 3 previous starts. This will be his first career start against the Marlins.

The Mets bats draw Justin Nicolino who is 1-1 over 7 games and 6 starts pitching 25.2 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 5.94 FIP and 1.831 WHIP. He is making his second start since returning in mid-August. In his first one he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 5.1 innings with 6 hits and 4 walks. He had a relief outing in June against the Mets this year where he allowed a homer and a hit over 0.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Lagares 1-8
• Flores 4-5, 2 HR, 2 BB, .857 OBP
• Cespedes 2-6, HR
• Granderson 3-5, HR
• Cabrera 1-3, BB
• Conforto 0-2
• d’Arnaud 2-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

I’m taking a liberty with “Picture of the Day” with this. Here’s a video of Cyclone’s outfielder Quinn Brodey swinging.

Mets 2017 3rd round pick, Quinn Brodey, fouling off a pitch. Would later strike out. Had a good hit last time. pic.twitter.com/QI4PkGzZPR

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

The Mets will try to avoid the four game, home and home, sweep by the Yankees tonight as they send out Steven Matz to face Luis Severino. Close to game time last night, the Mets had to scratch Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes to rib cage injuries thus launching us to a world where Travis d’Arnaud had to play 3rd. To minimize his chances at needing to make a play, he continually changed to second with Cabrera depending on the batter leading to some fantastic box scores. This was my take away from last night. I have blocked and repressed everything else from my memory.

Steven Matz is 2-6 over 12 starts and 63.1 innings with a 5.54 ERA, 4.91 FIP and 1.468 WHIP. His last outing was his first “good” one in quite some time as he held the Phillies to 4 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings leading to only 2 runs. The last time he allowed 2 runs or fewer was July 3rd in a 7.0, shutout innings. It was actually only his 4th start this year where he allowed 2 runs or fewer. Last September he allowed 6 runs off 6 hits and a walk over 6.0 innings against the Yankees who have the following numbers against him:

• Frazier 2-9, 2 HR
• Gregorius 2-6, 2B
• Headley 2-6, 2B
• Ellsbury 1-3
• Gardner 1-2, BB
• Romine 0-3
• Hicks 0-2
• Sanchez 0-2

The Mets bats will try to get something going agianst Luis Severino who is 9-5 over 23 starts and 143.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 3.08 FIP and 1.107 WHIP (career bests in those two categories). He is coming off by far his worst start of the season where he allowed 8 hits, 10 runs, 8 earned and 2 walks over 4.1 innings, a start that raised his ERA from 2.91 to 3.32. Before that he was on a 5 game streak of 32.2 innings with 38 K’s, a 0.83 ERA and .176 BA. In August last year he started against the Mets pitching 4.1 innings holding the Mets to 1 hit, 1 run, none earned with 1 walk. The Mets have the following numbers against Luis:

• R Rivera 1-4
• Cabrera 1-2, BB
• Cespedes 0-2
• Conforto 0-2
• Flores 0-2
• Granderson 0-0, BB

Let’s Go Mets!