213 Miles From Shea

After the first two series of the season, the Mets finally come home to Queens as they take on the Phillies for the first time in 2015. The Mets kicked off the season taking two of three from the Nationals and yesterday they avoided the sweep against the Braves to improve to 3-3 on the year. Speaking of yesterday, Cuddyer flashed some power as he gave the Mets the first lead of the game. Some odd defensive miscues by either Tejada, Flores or both depending who you ask led to the Mets failing to turn an inning ending double play and eventually led the Braves tying the game. The Mets gained the lead later in the game and Gomes tied it again before the Mets got the lead and kept with Familia notching the save.

This afternoon Jacob deGrom will make his second start of the season. His first start was delayed due to rain. Once the storm cleared he allowed two earned runs over 6 innings while striking out 6, both runs coming off of a Zimmerman homer in the first inning. Last year he made two starts against the Phillies totaling 13.1 innings with a 2.03 ERA and striking out 13 batters. The Phillies have the following numbers against Jacob deGrom:

• Howard 1-6, HR
• Revere 0-6
• Utley 2-5
• Asche 1-2
• Ruiz 0-3
• Sizemore 1-3

The Mets bats will try to wake up against Aaron Harang who pitched 6.1 innings of shutout baseball in his first start of the season picking up the win allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 8. Last year he was 12-12 against the Mets over 33 starts and 204.1 innings with a 3.57 ERA for the Braves. Last year he was masterful against the Mets going 2-1 over three starts and 20.0 innings allowing only 2 ER, which brought his ERA to a 0.90. In those 20 innings he still allowed 14 walks (not that it mattered, the Mets only got 6 hits) and struck out 16. The Mets have the following numbers against Harang:

• Wright 12-28, 4 2B, HR
• Duda 2-16, HR
• Murphy 7-20, 4 2B, HR
• Tejada 6-16, 2 2B
• Granderson 1-12, 2B
• d’Arnaud 1-7
• Mayberry 1-6
• Cuddyer 1-6, 2B
• Lagares 1-6, 2B

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets try to avoid the sweep this afternoon after dropping two games by the same score, 5-3 against the Braves. The Mets in this series have gotten their runs when Atlanta’s starters were off for an inning. Yesterday it was in the 7th. The Mets (and the Marlins too) have struggled against Atlanta’s bullpen who have been perfect on this young season. Today the Mets will try to flip the script and return to a .500 record before the home opener as Bartolo Colon starts opposite of Alex Wood.

Colon was pretty good during the season opener. But also surprisingly good. He allowed one earned run and three hits over 6 innings against the Nationals while striking out 8. I didn’t realize he struck out 8 batters until after I got home from the game. Colon was just good Colon. Changing the speeds on his fastball to make it look like different pitches, working at his own pace, not letting the speed of Scherzer and how he was slicing the Mets lineup at the time get into his head. Anyway, Colon was 1-2 in three starts against the Braves last year pitching 22.0 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 18 strikeouts. The Braves have the following numbers against Colon:

• Pierzynski 11-47, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Callaspo 7-29, 3 2B, HR
• Markakis 8-29, 4 2B
• Gomes 7-18, 2B, 3B, 2 HR
• K Johnson 2-12, 3B, 5 K
• Freeman 6-10, 3 2B
• Simmons 4-10
• C Johnson 1-6

The Mets bats will face off against Alex Wood who pitched 5 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 4 in his 2015 season debut earlier in the week. Last year he was 11-11 over 35 games, 24 starts and 171.2 innings with a 2.78 ERA. He made two starts against the Mets last year where he allowed 11 hits over 13.0 innings (6 ER) and posted an ERA of 4.15. He also struck out 13 Mets in that stretch. The Mets have the following numbers against Wood:

• Lagares 3-11, 2B, HR
• Murphy 5-11
• Mayberry 3-10, 2B, HR
• Duda 0-6
• Flores 1-5
• Granderson 1-4, HR
• Tejada 2-6
• d’Arnaud 3-5, 2 2B
• Wright 1-4
• Cuddyer 2-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets had a rough night in Atlanta. Wilmer Flores had several errant throws that led to unearned runs (and may had more if it wasn’t for Cuddyer bailing him out a few times). The dagger of the night came from a rare mental error via David Wright in the bottom of the 8th which eventually allowed two go-ahead runs to score. On the positive side, the Mets finally flashed some power with back to back homeruns from Wright and Mayberry.

Today Dillon Gee will look to turn the Mets fortunes around. Dillon Gee was destined at the start of the season to join the bullpen, but the injury bug struck the Mets rotation and Dillon Gee was ready to step up. Last year Dillon was 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA over 22 starts and 137.1 innings. Before his injury last year, he had a 2.73 ERA in his first 8 starts. In his two starts against the Braves last year he was 2-0 over 13.2 innings with a 1.98 ERA. The Braves have the following numbers against Dillon:

• Freeman 7-29, 2 2B, HR
• C Johnson 3-15, 2B
• Simmons 3-15, 2B
• Maybin 1-9, 2B
• K Johnson 1-7
• E Young 1-4

The Mets draw the Braves ace in Julio Teheran, who will be making his second start of the season today. In his first start he picked up the win after allowing 8 hits and only one earned run over 6.0 innings. Last year he made 33 starts over 221.0 innings with a 14-13 record and a 2.89 ERA. He made four starts against the Mets with a 2-2 record over 23.2 innings and a 3.42 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Julio:

• Duda 5-17, 2B, 2 HR
• Murphy 5-13, 2 2B
• Tejada 1-14
• Granderson 3-10, 2B, HR
• d’Arnaud 1-10
• Wright 3-11, HR
• Lagares 3-8
• Cuddyer 2-6
• Mayberry 1-6
• Flores 1-4, HR

Lets Go Mets!

Off of a opening series win against the Nationals, the Mets head south tonight to face the Braves. Yesterday was an incredibly exciting day as Matt Harvey made his long awaited return striking out 9 over six scoreless innings. Hopefully the Mets will be able to keep their focus down south after being amped up for the opening series and the return of the Dark Knight.

Jon Niese feels slightly forgotten, at least for me. There’s been attention this spring on Harvey, Wheeler’s injury, Gee/Montero for the fifth spot, Colon for the opening day starter and deGrom’s sophomore season that Niese just slipped out of my mind. Niese was 9-11 over 30 starts last year and 187.2 innings with a 3.40 ERA, which ties 2012 for his best season ERA. In three starts against the Braves last year, Jon posted a 1-2 record over 20.2 innings with a 2.61 ERA and 17 strikeouts. The Braves have the following numbers against Niese:

• Freeman 10-37, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Maybin 6-25, HR
• C Johnson 7-21, 2 2B
• Simmons 6-18, 2B
• K Johnson 4-11, 2B

The Mets get to witness Eric Stults first start in a Brave uniform, who the Braves signed as a free agent in February. Last year he was 8-17 over 32 starts for the Padres with a 4.30 ERA. Eric missed the Mets in 2014 but in 2013 he faced the Mets twice going 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA over 11.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Stults:

• Wright 3-7, 2B
• Cuddyer 0-6
• Mayberry 4-8, 3 2B
• Duda 1-4
• d’Arnaud 0-2
• Flores 0-2
• Lagares 0-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets and Nationals play a rubber game on Harvey Day! Last night, the Mets dropped the second game of the season 2-1 behind a strong performance behind deGrom who had only one poor inning (the first one). The Mets were able to scratch out a run in the top of the second and load the bases but couldn’t get anyone else across the plate and after that the game just flew by with little offense from either side.

Today is a rematch of a 2013 game started the whole “Harvey Day” from being a small event into a massive event. Back in 2013 Harvey out pitched Stephen Strasburg prompting the fans at Citi Field on a cold, dreary, Friday night to start chanting, “Harvey’s Better! Harvey’s Better!”. Anyway, Matt Harvey was 9-5 in 2013 with a 2.27 ERA over 26 games and 178.1 innings of work. He was 1-0 against the Nationals over three starts allowing only 2 ER over 22.0 innings (0.82 ERA, with 25 K’s). The Nationals have the following numbers against Harvey:

• Desmond 3-9, HR
• Zimmerman 3-8, HR
• Harper 0-7
• Uggla 1-3
• Johnson 0-3
• Ramos 1-3, 2B

The Mets bats draw Strasburg. Last year Stephen posted a 14-11 record with a 3.14 ERA and a league leading 34 starts over 215.0 innings. He was 1-0 against the Mets over two starts and 13.0 innings last year with a 2.77 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Stephen:

• Wright 4-15
• Tejada 2-13
• Murphy 3-10
• Cuddyer 2-9
• Duda 1-6, HR
• Granderson 0-5

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets started off the season on a positive note Monday afternoon as they beat the Nationals and Max Scherzer by a score of 3-1. The Mets were the recipients of a strong pitching performance of Bartolo Colon and a couple of errors. The Mets did what good teams do, which is when given an extra out, you take advantage. Today they’ll try to score more runs, hopefully not only on errors, off of Jordan Zimmermann as Jacob deGrom leads the way.

Jacob deGrom, the reigning 2014 National League Rookie of the year, is coming off of a 9-6 season where he made 22 starts over 140.1 innings while posting a 2.69 ERA. Only one of those starts was against the Nationals where he pitched 6.0 innings allowing 3 ER and 7 hits. In that outing he walked one and struck out four. The Nationals have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Desmond 2-3, HR
• Harper 0-3
• Lobaton 1-2
• Uggla 0-1

The Mets draw Jordan Zimmerman in game two. Part of the reason why the Nationals signed Max Scherzer this offseason is a concern that they won’t be able to retain Zimmermann when he hits open market. Jordan is coming off of his strongest season where he pitched 32 games and 199.2 innings with a 2.66 ERA (and a 14-5 record). Last year against the Mets he posted a 3-0 record over 4 games and 25.1 innings with a 2.13 ERA. In 2013 he was 1-3 over 5 starts and 32.1 innings with a 3.62 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Jordan:

• Murphy 16-50, 5 2B, 3 HR
• Wright 12-42, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Duda 6-29, 2 2B
• Lagares 5-21, 2 2B
• Granderson 3-13
• Flores 3-11, 3B
• d’Arnaud 3-8, 2B
• Mayberry 3-6

Lets Go Mets! Take the Opening Series!

I was lucky enough to go to Opening Day with my parents this year in DC. We were sitting in right field and got to the game early because its what you do during Opening Day. When we first got to our seats, the Mets were still taking BP, most of the pitching staff was shagging flies in the outfield and Terry was out their too having a conversation (I couldn’t make out with who).

We all started yelling, “Hey Terry!” and he turned around and gave us a wave.

Opening Day is a nerve inducing day. Terry has a lot on his mind. He could have easily just allowed us to be noise in the crowd and we would not have cared. But he turned around and acknowledged us. We care about the Mets. He cares about the Mets and he cares about us caring about the Mets.

Lets get game two tonight!

Opening Day 2015 has finally arrived! After an off-season of anticipating the 2015 rotation, wondering what was going to happen with the shortstop, trying to figure out why Fred Wilpon would be named to the head of the MLB Financial Committee, stressing about Wheeler, stressing about the Opening Day starter, stressing about left handed relievers, and wondering what the mystery structure in the Citi Field parking lot is we have made it to Opening Day. The Nationals were a huge thorn in the side of the Mets in 2014 getting 4 wins in 19 games. While the Nationals are the heavy favorites for the NL East (with very good reason, their rotation and lineup are stacked) the Mets have an opportunity early to establish a new trend as the two teams play 7 times in the first 4 weeks of the season.

Bartolo Colon will get the start for the Mets today. While there was some controversy around whether he should start, and while he probably is the least exciting or near the least exciting pitcher in the Mets rotation he surprisingly put up some very good numbers last year. He led the team with 15 wins over 31 starts and he had a strikeout to walk ratio of 5.03. In raw numbers over 202 innings he struck out 151 batters while only walking 30. However in raw numbers he also allowed 22 homers. Overall last year he was 15-13 with a 4.09 ERA over 202.1 innings and against the Nationals he was 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA over 30.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against Bartolo:

• Escobar 6-14
• Desmond 4-12, 2 HR
• Rendon 4-13, HR
• Werth 4-9, 2 2B
• Harper 1-10
• Ramos 2-11, 2B

The Mets bats will draw the new Nationals ace of the 2015 season. One of the main strengths of the Nationals prior to 2015 was their rotation, but they went out and got Max Scherzer anyway (which provides future protection in case they cannot retain Jordan Zimmermann). Max Scherzer has lead the American League in wins the last two season putting up 21 in 2013 when he won the Cy Young and 18 last year. Overall last year he went 18-5 in Detroit over 33 starts and 220.1 innings with a 3.15 ERA. The last time he faced the Mets was in 2013 where he pitched 6.0 scoreless innings allowing 3 hits and 4 walks and striking out 11 batters (seriously). The Mets have the following numbers on Max:

• Cuddyer 4-17, 2B, HR
• Granderson 4-15, HR
• Murphy 2-8
• Flores 0-2
• Lagares 0-2
• Wright 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets tied with the Rangers 4-4 yesterday and ended a successful spring training that saw the Mets end with the best record, great pitching stats and great hitting stats. Starting tomorrow, these stats all mean nothing, but the Mets have a lot of to be confident about going into the regular season. Anyway, lets look at the box score for the game:

• The game ended up being a tie because Recker hit a grand slam in the top of the 9th. Spring Training as a whole has been awful for Recker with some fans calling for Monell to get the bench spot over Recker so I’m glad his final taste of spring was something incredibly positive like hitting a a game tying grand slam.
• Gee allowed 2 ER over 4.2 innings while allowing 2 hits and 2 walks and striking out 4 in his final tuneup for the rotation
• Alex Torres allowed 2 runs, but they were unearned, he also walked 2
• Gilmartin allowed 2 hits and that was it over 1.1 innings
• Thorton ended a strong spring allowing a hit and nothing else while striking out 2 over 2.0 innings. He ends with a spring ERA of 1.38

The Mets headed up to DC after the game yesterday to get ready for Opening Day. Lets Do This!