213 Miles From Shea

On this off-day, we decided to take a look at the Mets minor league rosters to see if there are players who are standing out in any way that we weren’t expecting. Between Woods-Richardson, Vientos and Mauricio, we already knew the Columbia Fireflies were going to be the team in the Mets system to watch this summer.

And then we saw this opening line from their corner infielder, Brian Sharp:

12 G, 39 PA, 31 AB, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 16 K, .258/.395/.516

Granted there is a giant red flag near the end of that line, 16 K’s, which is alarming, his .395 OBP is leading the team and so is his slugging (thanks to half of his hits being for extra bases).

The Mets drafted him in the 26th round of last year’s draft and he was assigned to Brooklyn, where he was exactly the average age. He hit .250/.347/.387 including 5 homers in 50 games (remember MCU is a a difficult park to hit the ball out of).

This year he’s slightly over the average age in his league and he’s blocked at St. Lucie by Blake Tiberi, who is off to a fantastic start and Todd Frazier who should be shipping up to Syracuse today. If the Mets get aggressive and promote Tiberi, which they should, then the Mets should move Blake Sharp up. He’s listed as a third basemen but at Columbia he has to compete for time at third with Mark Vientos, the Mets could un-logjam their system a bit and having intriguing players at the hot corner across multiple levels in the system.

Wow was last night a night to forget. Steven Matz struggled to get anyone out in the first inning (aided by multiple defensive miscues across the field) and the Mets were down 10-0 at the end of the first inning. To add insult to injury, Nimmo had a stiff neck that he tried to play through but after the second homer of the inning that knocked out Matz, he decided that he just couldn’t play through it anymore. Hopefully he’s ok as he just started to heat up.

Wheeler will try to get the Mets back on the right track today. He’s 1-1 over 3 games and 15.2 innings allowing 13 runs. After two rough starts to begin 2019 (11 runs over 9.2 innings), he rebounded against Atlanta his last time out holding the Braves to 2 runs over 6.0 innings while striking out 8. In 2018 against the Phillies last year he was not good, allowing 7 runs over 11.2 innings from 10 hits and 6 walks. The Phillies have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Bryce Harper 5-26, HR, 3 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 7-14, 4 K
• Odubel Herrera 1-11, 2 BB, 4 K
• Maikel Franco 1-7, HR, 2 BB
• J.T. Realmuto 3-8, 2B, 2 K
• Nick WIlliams 3-6, BB, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-7, 2 K
• Andrew McCutchen 2-5, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Jean Segura 1-6

The Mets get a look at Jake Arrieta this afternoon who unlike Nola and Pivetta, has been successful so far this season. Over three games and 20.0 innings this season he has a 2.25 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.150 WHIP and a 206 ERA+. Last season he pitched 172.2 innings over 31 starts with a 3.96 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He faced the Mets three times last year and did well allowing only 5 runs over 18.1 innings from 18 hits and 3 walks while striking out 17. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Robinson Cano 5-22, 2 2B, 4 BB, 5 K
• Michael Conforto 2-12, 2 BB, 4 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-7, 2 BB
• Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 0-7
• Keon Broxton 0-6, 4 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-6, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

It’s been a couple of weeks since we searched the league for former Mets to see how they are doing! Let’s take a trip down memory lane:

Tampa Bay Rays:
Adam Kolarek: Adam is off to amazing start this season pitching in 9 games and 5.2 innings allowing no runs from 6 hits and a walk. He has a 0.00 ERA, 2.79 FIP and 1.235 WHIP. The Rays as a team are off to a fantastic start this year.

Cleveland Indians:
Oliver Perez: Oliver has allowed 4 runs over 4.0 innings in 7 games from 5 hits and two walks. Not great. Not great.
Kevin Plawecki: The Mets were having some issues this season with back up catchers between Nido and d’Arnaud’s return from injury. Plawecki though is also having a tough time hitting .125/.222/.313 over 18 PAs.

Detroit Tigers:
Michael Fulmer: Still on the injured list. This isn’t a surprise.

Kansas City Royals:
Lucas Duda: Lucas is having a rough go of it with the Royals early on this season. He is hitting .174/.333/.348 over 30 PAs. The difference between batting average and on base is positive, probably due to his 6 walks, but the slugging is the disappointing part of his game right now.

Minnesota Twins:
Addison Reed: Still on the injured list. This isn’t a surprise.

Houston Astros:
Collin McHugh: Collin is still good! He has allowed 5 ER over 17.0 innings in three games this season with a 2.65 ERA, 2.20 FIP, 0.882 WHIP and a 164 ERA+.
Joe Smith: On the Injured List. Hasn’t pitched yet this season

Texas Rangers:
Kyle Dowdy: Dowdy is still with the Rangers on the major league squad. He has pitched in 3 games and 6.2 innings this season allowing 5 runs, 4 earned from 5 hits and 4 walks.
Asdrubal Cabrera: It hasn’t been a great season for our old second basemen. In 56 PAs he has hit .216/.268/.549.

Oakland Athletics:
Yusmeiro Petit: Petit is off to another great season out of the pen. In 8 games and 8.0 innings he has allowed only 2 runs, a 2.25 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 0.750 WHIP and 196 ERA+

Seattle Mariners:
Chasen Bradford: Recently landed on the Injured List, before that
Gerson Baustista: Still on the Injured List
Anthony Swarzak: Recently off the injured list and has done really well in the five games he’s been in. He’s allowed no runs and only 2 hits over 4.1 innings.
Jay Bruce: Bruce is just being extra Bruce with the Mariners. He’s hitting .169/.265/.559 over 68 PAs with only 10 hits this season but 7 of the 10 hits have been homers. Its outrageous really.

Los Angeles Angels:
Matt Harvey: Since his first start Matt Harvey has had a rough go of it as an Angel allowing 16 runs over 14.1 innings now leading to a 10.05 ERA, 7.12 FIP, 1.953 WHIP and a 44 ERA+.
Hansel Robles: Hansel is being average right now with the Angles and for him that’s a godo thing to be. He has allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and a homer over 7.1 innings while striking out 11.

Miami Marlins:
Neil Walker: Walker is trying to re-establish himself this season and the start he is having the Marlins doesn’t inspire confidence posting a .231/.298/.423 line over 57 PA’s.
Curtis Granderson: Our favorite Curtis Granderson is struggling more than Walker in Miami. Over 55 PA’s Curtis is hitting .152/.273/.304. Granted, he is half a decade older than Walker.

Atlanta Braves:
Darren O’Day: Still on the Injured List.

St. Louis Cardinals:
John Gant: Gant has turned a major corner this year. He has allowed 1 run over 11.2 innings in 9 games this year leading to a 0.77 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 0.857 WHIP and 569 ERA+ (actually).
Merandy Gonzalez: Still not on the active roster for the Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers:
Bobby Wahl: Still on the injured list, you already knew this

Los Angeles Dodgers:
Justin Turner: Turner is off to another fine season with the Dodgers hitting .302/.387/.333 over 75 PA’s. If this holds true, granted it’s still early in the season, it would be his third season in a row batting above .300.

Arizona Diamondbacks:
Wilmer Flores: Wilmer is seeing semi-regular playing time and is having a a rough go of it hitting .195/.250/.268 over 44 PA’s.

Colorado Rockies:
Daniel Murphy: Still on the IL for the foreseeable future

It was pretty clear around the 3rd inning that last night’s game was going to be one of those games that despite the marquee pedigree of Syndergaard and Nola on the mound, that the wind, the friendly confines of the ballpark and the way the baseball just flies now, it was going to be a back and forth offensive game. This one ended with the Mets on top in the 11th.

Steven Matz will look to keep the Mets in the win column tonight. Over his first three starts of the season he has allowed 5 runs, 3 earned over 16.1 innings with a 1.65 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.041 WHIP and a 251 ERA+. He faced the Phillies 4 times last year totaling 17.0 innings allowing 9 runs, 7 earned over 17.0 innings (3.71 ERA). The Phillies have the following numbers against Matz:

• Bryce Harper 4-17, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-10, HR, 2 BB, K
• Cesar Hernandez 3-9, 4 BB
• J.T. Realmuto 3-9, BB, 3 K
• Aaron Altherr 1-5, 2B, 2 BB
• Odubel Herrera 1-5, HR
• Maikel Franco 2-5
• Jean Segura 1-3, K

The Mets will get their first 2019 look at Nick Pivetta who is in the midst of his third major league season. So far he has allowed 15 runs, 14 earned over 13.1 innings leading to a 9.45 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 2.175 WHIP, and a 49 ERA+. Last year he made a significant step forward from his 2017 rookie year. In 2018 he tossed 33 games, 32 starts and 164.0 innings with a 4.77 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.305 WHIP and a 87 ERA+. He only faced the Mets once last year where he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Nick:

• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 2-7, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 4-7, 3 K
• Michael Conforto 1-5, HR, BB, K
• Keon Broxton 1-3
• Travis d’Arnaud 2-4, HR
• Juan Lagares 1-3, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

After taking the first two games from the Braves, the Mets dropped two in a row to split the series and now travel to Philly to face the team they are a half game behind in the standings. The Mets at 9-6 have split the difference with every opponent so far this season with the exception of a sweep of the Marlins. The four teams on top of the division are similar and all could benefit from Keuchel, Kimbrel or both, which will continue to become “Exhibit A” in the collusion case against the owners.

Noah Syndergaard is on the bump for the Amazin’s tonight. He’s 1-1 over his first three starts of the season with a 4.74 ERA, 2.89 FIP, 0.789 WHIP and a 87 ERA+ in his first 19.0 innings. Two of those stats say he’s struggling. two of those stats say he’s excelling. All of them are subject to small sample size bias. He made 4 starts against the Phillies last year, more than any other team and he allowed 13 runs of 28 hits and 12 walks in 20.1 innings, a 5.75 ERA. The Phillies have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Bryce Harper 7-24, 2B, 4 BB, 7 K
• Cesar Hernandez 8-22, 4 BB, 6 K
• Odubel Herrera 2-20, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Maikel Franco 5-19, 2B, 4 K
• Rhys Hoskins 4-9, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB
• Aaron Altherr 1-11, K
• Andrew McCutchen 1-8, 2B, 3 K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-8
• Aaron Nola 0-7, 4 K

The Mets bats draw the Phillies ace, Aaron Nola who competed with Scherzer and deGrom for the Cy Young last year. Last year he was 17-6 over 33 games and 212.2 innings with a 2.37 ERA, 224 K’s, 3.01 FIP, 0.975 WHIP, and a 175 ERA+. He has had a bumpy start to the season allowing 12 runs, 11 earned over 15.1 innings with a 6.46 ERA, 7.26 FIP, 1.435 WHIP and 72 ERA+.

At some point, you have to feel bad for the Mets bats today. Yesterday they faced Julio Teheran who last year started against the Mets 5 times and had an ERA against them around 1.6 something. Today they face Nola who started against the Mets 6 times last year and posted a 2.15 ERA over 37.2 innings (9 runs from 26 hits and 11 walks). Back to back days against pitchers who feast on the Mets lineup. The Mets have managed these numbers against Nola in his career:

• Michael Conforto 3-21, HR, 2 BB, 8 K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-12, 6 BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 3-15, 2B, 5 K
• Dominic Smith 3-12, 2B, HR, 4 K
• Wilson Ramos 3-8, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Noah Syndergaard 0-4, BB, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and the Braves match-up tonight for the National Broadcast, marquee game of the week on Sunday Night baseball with the ace of the Mets vs one of the long time prominent pitchers in the Braves rotation. It’s a shame that one of the most anticipated season premiers in television history is happening at the same time. Is Jacob deGrom the night king? Would you rather be turned into a white walker or be forced to watch Jason Vargas pitch every night? Will deGrom go back to being deGrom tonight or will it be a red wedding. (At this point, if it’s not clear, I really have no idea what’s happening with Game of Thrones but I’m probably going to tune out of the Mets game around 9 PM anyway).

Jacob deGrom finally had a bad start his last time out. It happens and it’s amazing that he was able to be so good for so long. Hopefully another streak starts tonight. Despite blowing up in his last start, on the season he still has a 3.18 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.118 WHIP and a 131 ERA+ over three starts and 17.0 innings while striking out 17. Last year he was 1-2 against the Braves over 6 starts. Six starts! He tossed 41.0 innings against the Braves holding them to 4 runs, a 0.88 ERA while recording 50 K’s. The Braves have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Freddie Freeman 12-44, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 11 K
• Nick Markakis 10-39, HR, BB, 6 K
• Ender Inciarte 6-35, 2 2B, 2 BB, 8 K
• Ozzie Albies 3-20, 2B, BB, 5 K
• Johan Camargo 6-17, 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
• Tyler Flowers 4-14, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• Dansby Swanson 3-13, 2B, 3 BB, 6 K
• Ronald Acuna 3-9, 2B, 3 K

The Mets bats get their first 2019 look at Julio Teheran. Julio is 1-1 over three starts this year and 15.0 innings with a 6.00 ERA, 5.08 FIP, 1.533 WHIP and a 76 ERA+. Last year over 31 starts and 175.2 innings he posted a 3.94 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 1.173 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. He faced the Mets a whopping 5 times last year tossing 32.2 innings and holding the Mets to 6 runs from 18 hits and 12 walks, a 1.65 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Julio:

• Travis d’Arnaud 2-26, 2 BB, K
• Michael Conforto 5-22, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Juan Lagares 4-21, 5 K
• Wilson Ramos 5-17, 3 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Amed Rosario 1-12, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-6, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 1-6, 2B
• Robinson Cano 1-2, 2B
• Keon Broxton 2-2, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have a three game winning streak! First they walked all over the twins. Then they powered past the Braves. Last night? Timely hitting against the Braves and a bullpen that re-inspired confidence! One of the best developments in the past 5 games has been Brandon Nimmo. Over the last 5 games and 21 PA’s he’s gone 7-18 with 3 2B, 2 HR, and 2 BB hitting .389/.476/.889. In his previous 8 games he was hitting .077/.250/.077. Nimmo won’t produce the line from his last 5 games forever but he also won’t hit at the same rate that he did in the first 8 games for an entire season. He’s a key part of the offense and if his streak continues, the Mets could have a good rest of the weekend.

Jason Vargas makes his second start this season and his stats for this season are wonky. In his first start he was serviceable, going 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs off 8 hits and a walk while striking out 2. The Mets skipped him the last time through the rotation and he was asked to close out a game the Mets were losing by a lot and he somehow made it worse. In one inning out of the pen he allowed 4 runs off 4 hits. He made more starts last year against the Braves than any other team clocking in 21.2 innings over 4 games allowing 10 runs from 22 hits and 6 walks while striking out 18. That would be a 4.15 ERA, which was significantly lower than his season ERA at 5.77. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Nick Markakis 8-38, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 9 K
• Josh Donaldson 3-28, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Ozzie Albies 4-11, 2B
• Johan Camargo 1-11, 2B, 7 K
• Tyler Flowers 1-9, HR, BB
• Ronald Acuna, 5-8, 3B, HR, BB
• Freddie Freeman 2-7, BB
• Dansby Swanson 0-3, BB

The Mets bats will get a look at Sean Newcomb for the first time in 2019. Sean has no decisions in his first two starts where he has allowed only 2 runs from 10 hits and 6 walks in 11.0 innings. Last year he was 12-9 over 31 games, 30 starts pitching 164.0 innings with a 3.90 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.329 WHIP and 103 ERA+. Three of those starts were against the Mets where he did very well, holding the Mets to 3 runs, 2 earned over 18.0 innings from 9 hits and 8 walks while striking out 21. That’s a 1.00 ERA against the Mets who have the following numbers against him:

• Juan Lagares 0-10, BB, 4 K
• Michael Conforto 0-4, 3 BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, 2 BB
• Amed Rosario 3-7, 2 2B, 3 K
• Dominic Smith 1-4, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets took the opener last night thanks to a strong start by Steven Matz, a critical shot of power by Amed Rosario, a crushed baseball by Pete Alonso and then a Mets bullpen that didn’t completely implode. Matz struggled early, like the first two innings, but then settled in dominated the rest of the night. Although Rosario’s homer was more important for the direction of the game, Alonso’s homer is going to be the one we all remember. His 454 ft, 118.3 mph shot was the farthest of his career so far and the hardest hit by any Met in the statcast era. Further, he joins only Aaron Judge and Stanton as players who have hit a ball both 450+ feet and at 118+ mph. Astounding!

Zack Wheeler could use a new start to the season, and hopefully he gets that tonight in Atlanta. Overall in the two games and 9.2 innings he’s tossed he has allowed 11 runs from 10 hits and 8 walks. Seven of those walks and seven of those runs came from his last start on Sunday in a game where the Mets just fell apart before their offense found the Nationals bullpen. He made two starts against the Braves last year allowing 6 runs over 12.2 innings from 11 hits and 5 walks while striking out 11. The Braves have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Freddie Freeman 10-19, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 5 K
• Brian McCann 3-7, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• TYler FLowers 3-6, Hr
• Ozzie Albies 0-6, K
• Johan Camargo 1-6, BB, K
• Ender Inciarte 2-6
• Nick Markakis 2-5, BB
• Josh Dondaldson 2-5, BB
• Dansby Swanson 1-5, 2B
• Ronald Acuna 0-3, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at the young righty Kyle Wright who has very little service time in big leagues. He’s making his third start of the season and so far has allowed 5 runs over 10.1 innings from 7 hits and 6 walks. Three of the 7 hits he has allowed this year have been homers. Last year he was in the bullpen and pitched in only 4 games totaling 6.0 innings allowing 3 runs from 4 hits and 6 walks. Two of those four hits were homers. So in total, he has allowed 5 homers in 11 hits. One of his outings last year was against the Mets where he allowed 2 hits, both homers over 1.0 innings. It’s important to note this almost definitely a statistical blip rather than a trend. The Mets have the following numbers against Wright:

• Michael Conforto 1-1, HR
• Todd Frazier 0-1, K (IL)
• Dominic Smith 1-1, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

After splitting a series with the Twins the Mets return to their early, heavy NL East schedule tonight. They’re about to kick off a 7 game road trip featuring 4 games against the 7-4 Braves (same record as the Mets!) and then 3 games against the 7-4 Phillies (same record as the Mets!). Early on in the season, the NL East is playing out exactly as described with the Braves, Mets, Phillies and Nationals separated by a game and the Marlins holding a 3-9 record.

Sometimes pitchers make the game look easy. Sometimes pitchers show how incredibly hard it is to post a a good outing. Steven Matz was the latter on Saturday. He had a great outing but threw a ton of pitches early, knocking him out of the game early due to pitch count. Overall on the season he has allowed 3 runs, 1 earned over 10.1 innings (0.87 ERA) from 8 hits and 4 walks. Matz only faced the Braves once last year and pitched 3.0, 1-hit innings, injured his hand and had to leave the game. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freddie Freeman 4-15, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Nick Markakis 3-15, 2B, BB, 4 K
• Tyler Flowers 2-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Ender Inciarte 2-7, BB
• Johan Camargo 2-5
• Dansby Swanson 1-3, 2B
• Ozzie Albies 1-2

The Mets bats get to see long time Oriole, Kevin Gausman! Gausman was traded to Braves with O’Day at the deadline last year for prospects and slot money. He had a fantastic 2019 debut last week picking up the win after allowing 2 hits and 2 walks and nothing else over 7.0 innings. In 10 starts and 59.2 innings as a Brave last year he had a 2.87 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.140 WHIP and 140 ERA+. For comparison, with the Orioles last year he tossed 124.0 innings over 21 starts and posted a 4.43 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 1.379 WHIP, and a 95 ERA+. Kevin’s one start against the Mets last year wasn’t very good as he allowed 3 runs off 6 hits and 2 walks in 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Robinson Cano 6-15, 3B, 2 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-15, HR, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 2-6, 2 K
• Travis d’Arnaud 0-2, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 3-3, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, BB
• Amed Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday is a game the Mets would like to forget. It was the first time deGrom was human in (literally) years where he allowed 3 homers, 6 runs in 4.0 innings ending his streak of quality starts and 3 runs or less per start. The bullpen wasn’t great behind him and without knockout stuff (and defensive miscues) Gsellman and Vargas allowed 7 runs in the last two innings of the game (which will probably increase the requests for Dallas Keuchel from Mets fans).

It wasn’t all bad though. The Mets still showed fight late in the game and the final score a lot closer than it should have been for a second straight game. Pete Alonso had his first multi-homer game and now has 5 on the season, Conforto had a homer and Nimmo had a double and a homer as he tries to break out of his funk. Quck note on Alonso – this game brought his batting average up to .385 and OPS to a 1.352.

Noah Syndergaard will try to put the Mets back on track today. In two starts this year he is 0-1 allowing 6 runs and 8 hits over 12.0 innings while striking out 13. After a rocky season debut he rebounded in a positive way limiting the Nationals to 2 runs over 6.0 innings from 1 hit (a homer) at the Opening Day at home. Syndergaard has never faced the Twins before and since the Twins have so many home grown players, there are only two players he has seen while they were with other teams:

• Jonathan Schoop 1-3, HR, K
• Michael Pineda 0-2, K (who is definitely not taking ABs tonight)

The Mets will get to see Jake Odorizzi tonight who is in his second season with the Twins. Jake has been pitching for a while, making his debut in 2012 with the Royals and becoming a regular starter with the Rays in 2014. So far this year he has allowed 6 runs, 5 earned over 6.2 innings and two starts. Last year he had a 4.49 ERA over 164.1 innings through 32 starts posting a 4.20 FIP, 1.345 WHIP and 97 ERA+. He has made one start against the Mets way back in 2015 where he allowed 1 run over 6.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Robinson Cano 5-15, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 0-3 K
• d’Arnaud 0-2, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 2-3, 2B
• Keon Broxton 0-1
• JD Davis 1-1, BB

Let’s Go Mets!