213 Miles From Shea

Yesterday I learned that the Long Island Iced Tea originated in Kingsport, TN.

Gates open at 5:30pm THIS Friday! ⚾️🍹😎 @KingsportMets #DontMessWithTheOriginal pic.twitter.com/hx2QtWeNTo

— Visit Kingsport (@VisitKingsport) August 20, 2018

That was a bold design for a jersey. Since sublimating jerseys became popular for the better part of a decade, there have been a lot of wild minor league designs but this seemed so photo realistic. Finally this morning I found some pictures of what the actual jersey looked like:

We hope you enjoyed Long Island Iced Tea Night. We want to give a special thanks to @VisitKingsport for help with this promotion.

We’re back in action as the K-Mets tomorrow night at 6:30! #LGM

📷: @AllenGreenePhot pic.twitter.com/6utUmNqzxn

— Kingsport Mets (@Kingsport_Mets) August 25, 2018

The Mets took the opener last night 3-0 behind Jason Vargas’ best start as a Met and a DL returning homer from Jay Bruce! Normally this is said sarcastically, but this time we mean it: this is just how the Mets drew it up in Spring. It wasn’t always a good plan as it took until now to work, but hey! A win is a win.

Zack Wheeler gets the nod today. He is 8-6 over 24 games and 146.1 innings with a 3.63 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.210 WHIP and a 102 ERA+. In Wheeler’s last 5 games he has logged 32.0 innings with a 1.13 ERA while striking out 37. His last average start was against the Nationals where he allowed 4 runs over 7.2 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Rendon 8-23, 4 BB
• Harper 5-24, HR, 2 BB, 11 K
• Zimmerman 8-20, 2 HE, 2 BB
• Turner 4-11, 2B
• Eaton 3-8, 2B
• Taylor 3-5, 2B
• Difo 1-5
• Wieters 0-3

The Mets bats will take a crack at Tanner Roark who is 8-12 (league leading in losses) over 26 games and 25 starts logging 153.1 innings posting a 4.05 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.265 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. In his last 6 starts he has logged 38.2 innings posting a 1.63 ERA. He two starts against the Mets recently. On July 31st he held the Mets to only 1 run over 7.0 innings. On July 13th he allowed 4 runs over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Roark:

• Conforto 4-20, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB
• Bruce 3-19, 2B, 4 BB
• Flores 4-16, 2 2B
• Frazier 2-9, HR, 6 BB
• Reyes 3-12, 2 BB
• Rosario 1-10, 3B
• Jackson 4-7
• Bautista 1-6

Let’s Go Mets!

Earlier this season the Mets were supposed to give out a Todd Frazier Pullover but they were held onto due to a Quality Control Issue. The fixed ones were just shipped out and came with a comically large patch on the sleeve:

If you turn the sleeve inside out, you can see what the Quality Control issue is:

The NY you actually see correctly above was originally screen printed on the sleeve. Look closely and you’ll see the ridge for the stitching of the NY on the patch. The N’s are opposite directions, so the originally N was printed backwards.

So mystery solved.

The Mets dropped the series finale with the Giants yesterday heading into their series with the Nationals. Yesterday deGrom was deGrom, allowing only 1 earned run (2 total) over 6 but the Mets bats remembered that they don’t hit against Bumgarner (and that historically in 2018, they don’t hit for deGrom) and fell silent.

The Nationals are a slightly different team heading into Queens as they sold off Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams earlier this week as they start to throw in the towel of the season. Change could still be on the way as Gio Gonzalez, Matt Wieters and Ryan Zimmerman all cleared waivers yesterday with the former making the start (and possibly an audition) tonight.

Before we get into that, lets break down the Mets starter Jason Vargas who made us all proud on a national broadcast last Sunday night. On the season he is 3-8 over 14 starts and 58.2 innings with a 7.67 ERA, 5.99 FIP, 1.722 WHIP and a 48 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 4 runs over 11.1 innings with a 3.18 ERA (against the Orioles and Phillies). The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Wieters 5-19, 2B
• Reynolds 3-8, 2 2B
• Eaton 1-5
• Zimmerman 2-5, 2B

The Mets bats will get a look at Gio Gonzalez who is 7-10 over 133.2 innings in 25 games with a 4.51 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.548 WHUP and a 95 ERA+. He’s coming off back to back rough starts allowing a total of 13 runs over 8.2 innings (13.50 ERA). He hasn’t faced the Mets since April where he held the Mets to 1 run over 5.1 innings and then 2 runs over 5.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:

• Bruce 6-29, 5 2B, 3 BB, 10 K
• Flores 6-28, HR, 3 BB
• Reyes 7-19, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Frazier 3-16, 2 2B, 2 BB, 8 K
• Jackson 3-15, 2 BB
• Mesoraco 2-8, 2B
• Rosario 1-7, 2B
• Conforto 0-2, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to take the four game series tonight after winning the last two games. Yesterday the Mets got a solid start from Noah Syndergaard and some power from Dom Smith, Jose Bautista and Todd Frazier. The star of the night, for me at least, was Jeff McNeil, who recorded 8 straight hits after his 2nd hit of the night, becoming the second Met to do that this season (Nimmo was the other).

This afternoon Jacob deGrom takes the mound for his third straight start against a staff’s ace. First it was Severino and the Yankees then last time out it was Arrieta and the Phillies and today’s it is Bumgarner.

Jacob is 8-7 over 25 games and 168.0 innings with a 1.71 ERA (league leading), 2.08 FIP (league leading), 0.958 WHIP and 216 ERA+ (league leading). He’s coming off a complete game masterpiece against the Phillies where he allowed 1 unearned run and in the month of August he has posted a 1.21 ERA over 4 games and 29.2 innings. He faced the Giants twice last year allowing 3 runs over 6.0 innings in Queens and only 1 run over 8.0 innings in SF. The Giants have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Belt 3-14, HR, 4 BB
• Pence 6-17, 2B, HR
• Panik 2-14, 2B, 2 BB
• McCutchen 4-14, BB
• Posey 4-14, 2B, HR
• Crawford 3-13
• d’Arnaud 0-4

Madison Bumgarner is 4-5 over 14 games and 85.2 innings posting a 3.05 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.296 WHIP, 133 ERA+. Madison is coming off his worst start of the season where he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned over 6.0 innings against the Reds. Before that in August he had a 1.50 ERA over 3 games and 18.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Reyes 3-13
• Flores 1-11, 2B
• Frazier 5-12, 2B, HR
• Jackson 3-9, 3B
• Mesoraco 1-7, 2B
• Bautista 1-2
• Conforto 0-3
• Plawecki 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets! You tease!

The Mets once again teased what could have been this season with a 6-3 come back win. Conforto hit his 18th homer of the season as he continues to show that he is back and McNeil went 4-4 on his path to reclaim all of the lost hits from the Mets refusing to call him up earlier. Matz allowed 2 runs in the first and then kept things locked down through 5 and Corey Oswalt came out of the pen for a solid 3.0 innings allowing only 1 run.

The Mets look to keep the winning going tonight with Noah Syndergaard tonight. Noah is 8-3 over 17 games and 100.2 innings with a 3.40 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 1.252 WHIP and a 109 ERA+. August has been rough for Syndergaard as he allowed 14 runs over 26.0 innings in 4 games with a 4.85 ERA. The Giants have the following numbers against him:

• Belt 0-8
• Crawford 2-10
• McCutchen 1-8,2B
• Panik 2-9
• Posey 3-9
• Pence 1-8, HR
• Longoria 1-3

The Mets will see Casey Kelly who is 0-1 in 3 games and a start this season logging 10.2 innings with a 1.69 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and a 247 ERA+. In the minors this season he has started 23 times logging 130.0 innings with a 4.78 ERA. He faced the Mets back in 2016 where he allowed 1 run over 3.0 innings. The only healthy Met who has seen him in a game is Conforto who is 0-2 against him.

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was another one for the book of “Mets Things That Happen to the Mets” as the Mets lost in the 13th inning due to an error that in most organizations would never happen. The Mets have been playing Dom Smith out of position in left, partially due to Pete Alonso, partially due to Jay Bruce. The way things have gone down for him, in most places, just would not occur. The Mets are stretched incredibly thin in outfield depth as the team stays as healthy as an iPhone 5 in the hands of a 3 year old. Most organizations, after putting Dom in left, would give him ample playing time, the Mets have not treating him more like a comet that comes around every so often. So while this one was literally off Dom’s glove, it’s really on the front office’s hands.

On the positive side, Wheeler looks more and more impressive after tossing 7.0 innings of 1 run ball and now is getting the deGrom ace treatment of no runs.

The Mets will turn to Steven Matz tonight who is 5-10 over 22 starts and 109.2 innings with a 4.60 ERA, 4.97 FIP, 1.368 WHIP and 82 ERA+. His last start was his first off the DL and it didn’t go so well as he allowed 6 runs, 4 earned over 2.0 innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader in Philly. The Giants have the following numbers against him:

• d’Arnaud 1-6, K
• Belt 1-2, BB
• Crawford 2-3
• Hundley 1-3
• McCutchen 2-3
• Panik 1-3
• Pence 0-2

The Mets bats will face off against Chris Stratton who is 8-7 over 20 games and 19 starts logging 101.0 innings posting a 5.52 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 1.554 WHIP and 73 ERA+. His first two outings since returning to the majors have not been good as he has allowed 9 runs over 4.1 innings from 13 hits and 5 walks. He does have potential though. In the first 5 games, 31.0 innings, of the season he had a 2.32 ERA. The only Met who has seen him in a game is Bautista who is 1-3 with a double against him.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets finally return home after a trip that in the last 8 days alone saw the Mets play 9 games in Miami, the Bronx, Baltimore, Philly and Williamsport. On the latter, it was awesome seeing Mets and Phillies players yesterday interact with Little Leaguers yesterday from the bus ride to the LLWS complex, to Syndergaard talking shop with pitchers, the rotation hanging out in the stands and both teams doing “good-game” handshake to end the game. Yesterday was a great day for baseball and the Mets were lucky to be a part of it.

Speaking of yesterday’s game, who would have guessed that Vargas would be one of the key players on the positive side of the ledger? Not me. Vargas had one of his best starts of the season yesterday and the Mets poured on 14 hits. The heart and hustle award has to go to Jeff McNeil who killed it with some nice defensive plays, flipped over a wall at one point and had a key 2-RBI hit.

Zack Wheeler starts for the Mets today and is 8-6 over 23 games and 139.1 innings with a 3.75 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.227 WHIP and a 99 ERA+. In Wheeler’s last four starts he has posted a 1.08 ERA over 25.0 innings. In his last 9 starts and 57.2 innings he has a 2.18 ERA. Last year Wheeler held the Girants to 1 run from 2 hits and 4 walks over 6.0 innings. The Giants have the following numbers against him:

• Pence 0-8, 2 BB
• Belt 1-6, 3 BB
• Posey 1-8, HR
• Crawford 3-6, BB
• McCutchen 2-2, 2B, HR, BB
• Panik 0-3
• Hernandez 0-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Derek Holland who is 6-8 over 27 games, 23 starts, pitching 129.1 innings while posting a 3.83 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.307 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. Holland is coming off of a good start allowing no runs in 4.2 innings despite allowing 6 hits and 4 walks. Since July 7th, he’s started 6 games, been in 9 and posted a 2.41 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Jackson 7-24, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB
• Bautista 5-27, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Frazier 2-5, BB
• Reyes 3-4

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets end an intense 8 days today with the Little League Classic against the Phillies. This ends a 5 game series with the Phillies on a rubber game and for the Mets an insane road trip that has seen them play in Miami, the Bronx, Baltimore, Philly and now Williamsport.

Jacob deGrom yesterday sent the Mets to Williamsport on a high note tossing a complete game allowing one unearned run in a dominating performance. He was the first Mets pitcher this year to toss a complete game (he was also the last one in June 2017).

Oh also, since this game is for the Little League World Series, have you heard that Todd Frazier played in the LLWS?

Get ready to make the little league jokes now. The Mets are sending out one of the more frustrating pitchers on the roster in Jason Vargas out tonight. Vargas is 2-8 over 13 games and 53.1 innings with a 8.10 ERA, 6.14 FIP, 1.781 WHIP and a 46 ERA+. He’s coming off a strong start against the Orioles where he allowed only 2 runs over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 3 walks. In a rarity for Vargas this year, he was not the reason why the Mets lost that game. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Santana 9-41, 2 2 B, 5 BB
• Cabrera 7-16, 2B, HR
• Ramos 1-3
• Bour 0-2

The Mets bats will try to close out the series on a strong note against Nick Pivetta. Nick is 7-9 over 24 starts and 125.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA, 3.50 FIP and 1.249 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. August has been great for Pivetta who has posted a 1.50 ERA over 18.0 innings in three games. He hasn’t faced the Mets yet this year but last year he posted a 4.98 ERA in 4 starts and 21.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Nimmo 0-6, BB
• Dom Smith 2-7, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Reyes 1-5
• Rosario 2-4
• Conforto 1-2, HR, BB
• Mesoraco 0-3
• Flores 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have now dropped two games in a row after scoring 40 runs in the two games before that but they look to turn it around today with Jacob deGrom on the mound. Yesterday Syndergaard wasn’t his best but there were some bright spots. Zamora made his major league debut (Wahl landed on the DL) and he pitched 1.1 innings allowing a walk and striking out 2. McNeil went 2-4 with a double and Jackson had 3 hits on the day.

Jacob degrom is 7-7 over 24 starts and 159.0 innings with a 1.81 ERA (league leading), 2.14 FIP (league leading), 0.969 WHIP and a 206 ERA+ (league leading). On Monday against the Yankees he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned in 6.2 innings while striking out 12. In August he’s pitched 20.2 innings posting a 1.74 ERA while striking out 31 K’s. In two games against the Phillies this year he has tossed 9.0 scoreless innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Herrera 7-31, BB, 9 K
• Bour 8-21, 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB
• Hernandez 4-20, 4 BB
• Franco 4-19, 2B
• Ramos 3-17, 2B, HR
• Hoskins 1-7, 3 BB
• Knapp 2-5, 2B, 3B
• Cabrera 1-5, 2B

The Mets bats will have to deal with Jake Arrieta who is 9-7 over 23 starts and 132.1 innings with a 3.33 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.232 WHIP and a 126 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start where he allowed 5 runs over 5.0 innings against the Padres. Before that start he had a 1.29 ERA over 3 games and 21.0 innings. His one start against the Mets this year was a good one where he shut out the Mets over 7.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Bautista 1-16, 4 BB
• Frazier 4-18, 2 HR
• Flores 3-16, 2B
• Mesoraco 1-13, 2 BB
• Conforto 1-6, 2 BB
• Jackson 4-6
• Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!