213 Miles From Shea

Tommy Hunter is arguably a Mets Legend.

Tommy Hunter, in his 476th career game, gets his first big league hit.

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— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) May 18, 2021

I’ve come around the Universal DH, but memories like that warm my National League heart.

The 36-year old righty was drafted by the Rays back in 2005, made his debut in 2008 and has traveled all over. He’s played for the Rangers, Orioles, Cubs, Guardians, Orioles )again), Rays, Phillies and for the last two seasons, the New York Mets. Hunter was mostly used as a starting pitcher until 2013. The Orioles made a massive shift and used him out of the bullpen for 68 games (still his career high) over 86 1/3 innings. From 2013 on Hunter has pitched in 396 games making only one start with a 3.14 ERA, 3.46 FIP and a 1.110 WHIP. When healthy, he can pitch over 60 times in a year, but he has only done that four times since 2013, the most recent time being in 2018.

His time with the Mets has been memorable. In 2021 he pitched eight scoreless innings for the Mets and got his first major league hit during a stretch when the Mets were really falling apart health wise but still somehow winning ballgames. He then got traded for Rich Hill and then resigned with the Mets the next season. Last year he pitched 22 1/3 innings over 18 outings with a 2.42 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 4.28 FIP and a 162 ERA+.

We know what we are getting with Tommy Hunter. He’s a veteran reliever who has been in the game for a while. The question for the Mets – is there space for Hunter? The question for Hunter – is he willing to go to Syracuse in April if he doesn’t break with the team in spring?

Hunter is clearly in a position battle for the bullpen. My gut says that if he stays with the Mets, he ends up on the 40-man roster at some point and sees at least as much playing time as he did last year. If he has a tremendous spring, or if there’s an injury, we’ll see him sooner than later.

Grant Hartwig has risen like a rocket through the Mets system, and according to last year’s MLB Pipeline rankings, he’s looking at a major league debut at some point this season.

Hartwig was a pitcher at Miami University of Ohio where he posted a 4.32 ERA over his collegiate career. He finished off his time in Ohio with his best season, a 3.44 ERA over 73 1/3 innings, but wasn’t selected by any teams in the 2021 draft. The Mets signed him as an undrafted free agent in July 2021.

Hartwig earned his invitation to camp this year because of his performance last year. He pitched in St. Lucie, Brooklyn, Binghamton and Syracuse last season, totaling 56 2/3 innings over 39 games while posting a 1.75 ERA and 1.094 WHIP. One big change – his role. The Mets pretty much immediately switched him from a starter to a reliever and he got into a lot of games last season.

Grant is angling for one of the last bullpen spots. Barring something incredibly surprising (an injury, Grant not allowing a hit all spring, etc.) most likely he’s looking a debut deeper into the season as a injury replacement, the need for a fresh arm, or someone else in the pen hits a wall (and has minor league options). Last season Grant had an opportunity to face higher tier talent in the Arizona Fall League. Things didn’t go so well as he allowed 12 runs, 10 earned, over nine innings of work from 15 hits. Spring training will give him another chance to face top talent. MLB Pipeline wrote about his sinker and his tendency to produce grounders. If he can do that in spring, and in Syracuse once the season starts, we’ll see him in Queens this season.

Non-Roster Invites to spring training run the gambit from top tier prospects, to veterans trying to get back on major league rosters to minor league players who never got their shot – Connor Grey falls into the latter category.

A New York state native who graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2016, Connor Grey was originally drafted by the Diamondbacks back in 2016. He made some noise back in 2017 when he posted a 2.87 ERA over 18 games and 103 1/3 innings spread over four levels of minor league ball. This included a 100-pitch perfect game. The following season showed success again at AA ball, posting a 2.93 ERA over 10 games but hit a roadblock in AAA, posting a 9.39 ERA and 2.478 WHIP in seven games.

Then Covid-19 happened. There was no minor league baseball in 2020 and Grey was essentially cut from the Arizona system. He started to pitch for an independent team in Chicago which is how the Mets found him. The Mets have signed him as a minor league free agent multiple times since then.

Grey started out with Brooklyn in 2021, 3.7 years older than the average player in the league. When Grey was in the Arizona system, he was used primarily as a starter until 2019. The Mets immediately switched him back to his starting role. In Brooklyn he made four starts with a 3.22 ERA and 1.075 WHIP so he was bumped up to Binghamton. He faced a few more hurdles but finished the year with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.168 WHIP.

The Mets then brought Grey back last year where he pitched exclusively with Syracuse. Grey was 28-years old, only one year older than the average AAA baseball player. Last year was tough for Grey. He had a 6.38 ERA and a 1.668 WHIP over 104 1/3 innings. But, he pitched over 100 innings, which by itself is an accomplishment.

Grey also came frustratingly close last year to making his major league debut. He was added to the Mets roster in late August series against the Yankees, but wasn’t used. Then was DFA’d, then had to be resigned by the Mets.

I see two different ways Connor Grey fits with the 2023 Mets. If the Mets need a spot starter for one turn in the rotation, and there is no in the bullpen who can do that (and Showalter doesn’t want to do a Bullpen game), Grey could be called up to eat some innings. Or, if the Mets have to turn a long-man in the bullpen into a starter, and the innings are starting to add up on arms in the pen, Grey could be called up to become that long-man for an afternoon (maybe on a double header day). One thing the Mets have showed us over the years is you can never have too many healthy arms. Grey was *this close* to making his debut last year, I have a feeling the circumstances for his debut will happen at some point this year.

The Mets and Padres face off tonight at Citi Field for a winner-takes-all rubber game.

After getting trounced in Game 1 the Mets struck back last night. For the Mets it was the formula they’ve used all year to win 101 games. The starting pitching did it’s job. Edwin Díaz did his job – just a few innings earlier. The Mets offense hit a couple of solo shots and then had a big inning to put the game out of reach. There was also some flirting with disaster when the Padres loaded up the bases at the end of the game down by four with Josh Bell at the plate. Normal 2022 Mets stuff.

The Mets and Padres are also the only teams that are in a Game 3 situation. The Phillies, Mariners and Guardians have all punched their tickets to the next round.

Chris Bassitt is on the mound tonight to make sure the Mets can get a ticket to the next round too. Over 30 starts and 181 2/3 innings this season, Bassitt has a 3.42 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.145 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. His last start in Atlanta was not great – he allowed four runs from three hits over 2 2/3 innings. In the two starts before that though he allowed only two runs in 14 innings of work.

He’s also had two very different starts against the Padres this year. In San Diego he allowed seven runs from eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Then in Queens he held the Padres to two runs from four hits over seven innings while striking out 11 batters. The Padres have the following career numbers against him:

• Manny Machado 3-12, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Josh Bell 2-5, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Jake Cronenworth 2-5, 2B, 2 K
• Jurickson Profar 2-5, BB, 2 K
• Trent Grisham 0-4, BB, K
• Ha-Seong Kim 1-5, 2 K
• Brandon Drury 0-3, K
• Wil Myers 1-3, 2B, 2 K
• Juan Soto 2-3, K
• Austin Nola 0-2, K

The Mets bats will have to power through Joe Musgrove tonight. Over 30 starts and 181 innings this season he has a 2.93 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.083 WHIP and a 127 ERA+. Joe has been on quite the run to end the 2022 season. Over 22 innings over four starts he has allowed only one run from 15 hits while striking out 27 batters (0.48 ERA, 2.48 FIP). In the four games before that eh allowed 17 runs, 13 earned, over 20 innings (5.85 ERA, 6.26 FIP).

He’s only faced the Mets once this season. On July 24th in Queens he allowed four runs from five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Francisco Lindor 6-17, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 8 K
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-9, 2 BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-8, 2B, K
• Pete Alonso 3-8, HR, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 3-9, K
• Eduardo Escobar 2-8, HR, 2 K
• Luis Guillorme 2-7, K
• Tomás Nido 1-6, BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-6
• Mark Canha 1-3, 2B, BB, K
• Darin Ruf 1-5, K
• James McCann 1-3, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Padres face off in an elimination game for the Mets tonight. The Padres got off to a fast start in Game 1 with Josh Bell hitting a homer in the first inning. From that point on it was a fairly consistent drum beat of Padres hitting homers, adding to their score. Meanwhile the Mets bats would constantly get runners to third base and then just leave them there.

That was yesterday. The Mets need to dig deep tonight if they want to keep playing this postseason.

Jacob deGrom will get the start for the Mets and try to save the team from elimination. Over 11 starts and 64 1/3 innings, deGrom has a 3.08 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 0.746 WHIP and a 126 ERA+. Jacob also had an absurd 102 strikeouts, getting them at 14.3 K/9 clip. That tied his career high rate he set in 2021.

Jacob’s last four starts have been rough – he’s allowed 14 runs from 20 hits in 21 innings (6.00 ERA, 3.68 FIP). He has also been dealing with a blister issue. The Padres have the following career numbers against him:

• Wil Myers 5-24, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 11 K
• Manny Machado 6-20, BB, 6 K
• Jorge Alfaro 4-18, 2B< HR< BB, 10 K
• Juan Soto 3-15, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Josh Bell 0-6, BB, 3 K
• Jake Cronenworth 1-5, 2 K
• Jurickson Profar 0-5, K

Blake Snell gets the start for the Padres. Over 24 games and 128 innings, Snell has a 3.38 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 1.203 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. Snell has been on a roll in his four starts, tossing 25 innings and allowing only two runs from 10 hits and six walks (0.72 ERA, 2.31 FIP).

Snell has faced the Mets twice this year with two very different outcomes. In San Diego back in June, the Mets scored five runs, four earned, off seven hits in four innings. Then in July the Mets scored nothing off four hits over five innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Snell:

• Francisco Lindor 3-25, 2B, 5 K
• Starling Marte 5-15, 2B, HR, 5 K
• James McCann 3-13, HR, 2 BB, 7 K
• Mark Canha 4-11, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 3-9, 2B, HR, 3 BB, K
• Eduardo Escobar 2-12, 2B, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-9, 2B, BB, K
• Darin Ruf 3-7, 3 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-5, K
• Terrance Gore 2-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets return to the playoffs tonight for the first time since 2016! This season has brought us Edwin Díaz’s trumpets, Jeff McNeil’s batting title, Francisco Lindor’s leadership, improbable comeback wins and so much more. Will the 2022 Mets become eternal? The journey starts tonight!

Major League Baseball debut’s their new Wild Card system on Friday, with four games happening starting at noon going all the way to prime time. You already know they had to save the best game for the 8 PM time slot.

The 101-win New York Mets will start their postseason run against the San Diego Padres and Yu Darvish. A team and a starting pitcher that gave the Mets some trouble during the regular season. It’s fitting that this team, “These Mets” will have to go directly through their challenges during a postseason run.

The Mets signed Max Scherzer for moments like this. Max Scherzer, a veteran of postseason magic and pressure will start the first game of the best-of-three series. Over 23 starts and 145 1/3 innings this season, Scherzer has a 2.29 ERA, 2.62 FIP, 0.908 WHIP and a 169 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start in Atlanta where he allowed four runs from nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Before that start he had a four start stretch where he allowed three runs from 11 hits over 24 innings while striking out 32 batters.

Scherzer made one start against the Padres this season, holding the Padres to two runs from five hits over six innings while striking out eight batters. The Padres have the following career numbers against him:

• Manny Machado 8-50, 2 2B, 2 HR, 20 K
• Wil Myers 7-25, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, 14 K
• Jorge Alfaro 4-23, HR, 12 K
• Trent Grisham 2-15, 2B, BB, 14 K
• Josh Bell 5-12, 3 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• Jurickson Profar 2-11, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jake Cronenworth 0-13, BB, 4 K
• Brandon Drury 1-11, BB, 4 K
• Juan Soto 1-3, HR, 3 BB

The Mets bats face off against Yu Darvish tonight. Over 30 starts and 194 2/3 innings, Darvish has a 3.10 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 0.950 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. Like Scherzer, Darvish also looked human in his last start allowing three runs from eight hits over six innings against the White Sox. In his three starts before that, he allowed two runs from eight hits in 20 innings.

Darvish has been tremendous against the Mets this season. On June 7th he held the Mets to two hits and nothing else over seven innings. Then on July 22nd, in Queens, he held the Mets to four hits and one run over seven innings. Both games the Padres won. The Mets have the following numbers against Darvish:

• Francisco Lindor 5-16, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Eduardo Escobar 3-17 2 2B, HR, 7 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-11, HR, BB, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 2-10, HR, 3 K
• James McCann 4-10, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, 2 K
• Luis Guillorme 1-6, 2B
• Tyler Naquin 3-6, 2B
• Daniel Vogelbach 2-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets did everything they needed to do on Tuesday but the Braves were able to squeak by the Marlins 2-1. The Braves win locked in their 5th consecutive NL East Division title.

The key thing for the Mets on Wednesday was building momentum. They definitely got that in the nightcap. The Mets started the game with back to back to back homers. Francisco Álvarez had his first major league hit, a home run. Just an all around good night (except for losing the division title).

Today we will probably see a lot of younger players and bench players getting their reps in while the starters rest for the upcoming Wild Card Series.

Trevor Williams will start the game for the Mets and we can expect that the Mets normal star bullpen players will be getting rest. Williams has been a critical part of the Mets team this year, pitching in 29 games and making nine starts. Over 83 2/3 innings, Williams has a 3.23 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.243 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. In the last month he has pitched 14 innings over six games allowing eight runs from 18 hits while striking out 17 batters. This includes a 4 1/3 inning outing against the Nationals at the start of the month where he allowed two runs from five hits. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• Cesar Hernandez 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Victor Robles 1-11, BB, 2 K
• Keibert Ruiz 3-7, K
• Lane Thomas 2-5, BB, 2 K
• Carter Kieboom 2-5, K
• Luke Voit 0-1, BB
• Joey Meneses 0-2, K

The Mets will get their final tune-up against Erick Fedde this afternoon. Fedde has made 26 starts and pitched 124 2/3 innings with a 5.27 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 1.572 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. In his last four starts, Fedde has allowed 14 runs, 13 earned, over 18 1/3 innings. Before that streak, he had a great start against the Mets where he held the Mets to one run and four hits over six innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Brandon Nimmo 6-25, 3 BB, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 6-16, 2 2B, 6 BB, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 5-17, HR, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 7-16, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Eduardo Escobar 4-13, 2B, K
• Luis Guillorme 4-7, 2 BB, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-6, 2 BB, K
• Mark Canha 3-5

Let’s Go Mets!

Taijuan Walker is pitching today for a role in the post-season. Once the playoffs start, traditional roles and time lengths for starting pitchers are thrown out the window. Over 28 starts and 153 innings this season, Walker has a 3.59 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 1.203 WHIP and a 107 ERA+. In his last two starts, he’s allowed seven runs from 12 hits and five walks over 11 innings of work. Walker has made only one start against the Nationals this season, holding them scoreless and to only three hits over seven innings. The Nationals have the following career numbers against Walker:

• Luke Voit 2-10, HR, 2 K
• Victor Robles 2-6, 2B
• Keibert Ruiz 1-5
• Lane Thomas 3-5, HR
• Nelson Cruz 0-3
• Riley Adams 0-2, K
• Carter Kieboom 0-2, K

Paolo Espino gets the night cap for the Nationals. Over 41 games and 18 starts, Espino has pitched 113 innings with a 4.30 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 1.310 WHIP with an ERA+ of 91. As a starter only he has pitched 83 1/3 innings with a 5.08 ERA and 1.380 WHIP. Espino is coming off of a rough start against the Braves where he allowed four runs over five innings from five hits and no walks. Before that in September he had pitched 17 innings over six games with a 3.18 ERA, 3.05 FIP.

Espino has pitched in three games and 6 1/3 innings against the Mets this season allowing one run from five hits. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 3-8, 2 2B, 2 K
• Eduardo Escobar 1-5, 2 BB, K
• Luis Guillorme 1-6, BB
• Jeff McNeil 3-7, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-5, 3B
• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, K
• Darin Ruf 1-4
• Mark Canha 0-3, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets are still long shots to win the National League East Division Championship. Going into Monday’s games the Mets needed the Braves to lose every game for the rest of the season and the Mets needed to win every game for the rest of the season.

The Marlins – who messed with the Mets chances last week – returned the favor on Monday night and beat the Braves. Mother nature gave the Mets night off. Now the Mets have two must win games today.

Carrasco had made four starts against the Nationals this year, totaling 20 innings of work, allowing eight runs, four earned, from 19 hits and seven walks while striking out 17. His last start against the Nationals though, on September 4th, was not pretty. He allowed five runs, only one earned over 2 2/3 innings of work from six hits and two walks. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• Nelson Cruz 13-35, 3 2B, 5 HR, 4 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 0-9, 2 BB, 4 K
• Luke Voit 0-5, 2 BB, 3 K
• Victor Robles 1-5, 2 K
• Yadiel Hernández 0-8, BB, 2 K
• Riley Adams 3-5, HR
• Keibert Ruiz 1-4, 2 K
• Lucius Fox 0-2, K
• Lane Thomas 2-2, 2B

The Mets bats look to reignite their passion for offense in the first game against Cory Abbott. Abbott has pitched in 15 games and made eight starts for the Nationals this season totaling 44 innings. He has a 5.11 ERA, 6.30 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. As a starter only he has pitched 35 innings with a 5.91 ERA and 1.543 WHIP.

Abbott has been roughed up in his last two starts, both against the Braves. The Braves scored nine runs, eight earned, over nine innings from nine hits and five walks. While Abbott has struggled against a lot of teams this year, one team he hasn’t has been the Mets. Over three games and a start Abbott has allowed no runs in seven innings while holding the Mets to three hits. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Jeff McNeil 0-3, BB
• Tomás Nido 0-4
• Pete Alonso 0-3, K
• Luis Guillorme 0-3
• Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB, K
• Tyler Naquin 1-2, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-2, BB, K
• Mark Canha 1-2, 2B
• Eduardo Escobar 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets got swept by the Braves this past weekend. The road to a division title is almost entirely closed, but not completely. The Braves now need to get swept in their final series of the year while the Mets need to sweep. The most likely scenario is that the Mets will be heading to the new wildcard series later in this week.

The Mets are still playoff bound and they need to get their swagger back. Hopefully the next three games against the Nationals allows them to get their confidence back up heading into their first postseason appearance since 2016.

Carlos Carrasco will get things started for the Mets this week. He’s made 28 starts and tossed 148 innings this season with a 3.95 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.324 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. Carrasco has had a rough go of it his last two starts allowing seven runs from 11 hits and three walks over seven innings of work. This game for Carrasco is effectively his last tryout to see what role he’ll have on a postseason roster.

Carrasco had made four starts against the Nationals this year, totaling 20 innings of work, allowing eight runs, four earned, from 19 hits and seven walks while striking out 17. His last start against the Nationals though, on September 4th, was not pretty. He allowed five runs, only one earned over 2 2/3 innings of work from six hits and two walks. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• Nelson Cruz 13-35, 3 2B, 5 HR, 4 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 0-9, 2 BB, 4 K
• Luke Voit 0-5, 2 BB, 3 K
• Victor Robles 1-5, 2 K
• Yadiel Hernández 0-8, BB, 2 K
• Riley Adams 3-5, HR
• Keibert Ruiz 1-4, 2 K
• Lucius Fox 0-2, K
• Lane Thmas 2-2, 2B

The Mets bats look to reignite their passion for offense tonight against Cory Abbott. Abbott has pitched in 15 games and made eight starts for the Nationals this season totaling 44 innings. He has a 5.11 ERA, 6.30 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. As a starter only he has pitched 35 innings with a 5.91 ERA and 1.543 WHIP.

Abbott has been roughed up in his last two starts, both against the Braves. The Braves scored nine runs, eight earned, over nine innings from nine hits and five walks. While Abbott has struggled against a lot of teams this year, one team he hasn’t has been the Mets. Over three games and a start Abbott has allowed no runs in seven innings while holding the Mets to three hits. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Jeff McNeil 0-3, BB
• Tomás Nido 0-4
• Pete Alonso 0-3, K
• Luis Guillorme 0-3
• Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB, K
• Tyler Naquin 1-2, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-2, BB, K
• Mark Canha 1-2, 2B
• Eduardo Escobar 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!