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| PC - Ed Delany |
Press Release:
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (July 26, 2018) – Raphael Gladu hit a walk-off single to lift the St. Lucie Mets to a 6-5 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Thursday at First Data Field.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the two FSL South teams. Mets trailed 3-0 after the top of the fourth and the Stone Crabs were down a run entering the eighth. The two teams went to the ninth tied 5-5.
Gene Cone started the winning rally with a one-out single. Dale Burdick then punished a pitch that bounced over the left field wall for a ground rule double, preventing Cone from scoring with ease. The Stone Crabs intentionally walked Luis Carpio to load the bases.
Lefty reliever Ivan Palaez was brought in to face the lefty Gladu. Palaez got ahead in the count 1-2, but Gladu drove a ball up the middle for a base hit to plate Cone for the winning run.
It was the Mets’ fifth walk-off victory at First Data Field this year and their second against the Stone Crabs.
Reliever Adam Atkins pitched 2.1 innings to get the win.
Burdick went 2 for 4 with two doubles. Mike Paez singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
Carpio went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. He extended his on-base streak to 12 games.
Charlotte starter Brendan McKay faced the minimum over three innings. He struck out five batters, including four in a row to end his outing.
On Reese Kaplan's Post today...
ReplyDeleteGood read per usual. My personal thoughts on the bullpen are simply that it is pretty much a total rebuild for 2019. The reason being is that the vast majority of relievers that the Mets have used this season, were simply ineffective. The question with almost all of them is simply, can they get a lot better? My own answer is probably not, this looks like who they are and not a mirage. But do not despair long over this factoid Mets fans, this is about to change I believe. Mets brass are on it!
Here's why I think...
Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo are the exceptions to the above 2018 season for the bullpen. Each one have shown themselves well in 2018 and are keepers. Plus, I do also like Tyler Bashlor as well. If you saw last night's game, Bashlor really does have a nice moving fastball and he does (as I have said before more than once here) aggressively attack the plate beautifully. The only thing left for Tyler I think is developmentally he may need to greater establish his secondary pitches, even to the point of being additional out-pitches to his fastball.
Thirty years ago, I really don't think it was as vital as today for a good reliever to have three sound pitches in their arsenal. But with the advancement of pitching in MLB since then, it has come more and more into play as being vital. Today, a team simply cannot go from pitchers throwing 98/99 mph fastballs, effective curves, sliders, and change-up pitches to a reliever with only a solid fastball. Opposing team's batters are much more advanced and will sit on it and probably crush it once it enters their own wheelhouse. This is why.
Additionally, the NY Mets have some really strong bullpen arms down in both AAA Vegas and AA Rumbleponies ball. A few to quickly mention might be lefty David Roseboom who had another strong relief outing yesterday with Mickey Jannis starting for the victory. And then too guys like Blackman, Hanhold, Ryan, Gerson Bautista, Drew Smith, Bobby Wahl (statistically probably the best NY Mets reliever in the farm system now), and newcomer Franklin Kilome, if that in fact is to be his role here with the Mets and not as a starter. And no I do not know this for sure.
But the NY Mets currently are without a true closer at the moment since the departure of Jeurys Familia. Again here, this is a fantastic opportunity for someone to step up and make their own fresh mark on this ball club, which to me is an outstanding thing.
I am not certain what the plans are here for new arrival Franklin Kilome, another hard throwing right hander. Not totally unlike Gerson Bautista at Vegas now, he has location and walk issues to mend first. I am confident that both can do this, but what timetable it happens on, is anyone's guess still. "Never rush the good wine."
On the starting side of the 2019 NY Mets rotation equation, only right handed Justin Dunn looks perched and nearly ready for a Spring Training 2019 serious look. I have forever thought that for some reason and inexplicably so, that Nabil Crismatt was a left handed starter. Well, he isn't. I was wishful thinking it I suppose. But Nabil is a right handed starter. But at current, he is a bit struggling where he is and still getting ready. But stay tuned because this will change soon I would bet.
Here's Justin Dunn's numbers. He pitches today. Justin Dunn age 22, 7-5 won/lost, 107 strikeouts in 96 innings, a healthy 2.52 ERA, with a wholesome 1.24 WHIP. And he just keeps getting better and better too!
(But where oh where are all the lefties? Good question. I watched late inning reliever Jose Alvarado pitch this past week and was not impressed. He too had a hard time finding the plate. I think a lefty to close here could be an optimal thing to wish for? The Mets already have enough solid right handed relievers in the pipeline. But a lefty closer is a novel concept. I miss Tug, Billy Wagner, Randy Meyers and Johnie Franco, you could say here.
Life is so never perfect, is it? Pass the beer nuts!
Was reading the web recently and saw a potential trade scenario mentioned there with the Milwaukee Brewers, Carlos Gomez for Zachary Wheeler.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Gomez first, is getting old, like 32 maybe. Over this, I prefer bringing up Vegas OF Zach Borenstein.
Here's what I would definitely prefer getting back in maybe a six player deal...
23 year old AAA catcher Jacob Nottingham, who is batting .294 BA, 10 HR, .362 OBP, and two other players I like from the Brewers AA Biloxi Shuckers team: AA centerfielder Corey Ray with 21 HR, .264 BA, 32 SB, and a .352 OBP. And then finally, AA Shuckers 2B Keston Hiura, also age 21, a .306 BA, and a .370 OBP. These three players.
Better and younger.