SAFE AT THE PLATE, WITH TONY PLATE
It
has been a while since Steven Matz pitched a gem like he did this past Sunday
against the San Francisco Giants. He had not pitched well in approximately six
weeks which included a stint pitching from the bullpen.
He held the Giants to two runs over six innings, escaped two jams and stranded runners in two different innings. He received a no-decision in the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss in twelve innings at Oracle Park. The Mets lost three out of four tough games to the Giants.
Matz finished the first half with a 4.89 Earned Run Average. He has been using his slider more often recently which has been effective and led to his improved performance. If he continues to use the slider, perhaps he can turn his season around during the remainder of the second half of the season just like Zack Wheeler did last year.
Since the trade deadline is coming up the Mets have received inquiries about Matz, but the Mets are unlikely to deal him given the fact that his contract has two years of control.
In other baseball news the Mets look forward to the return of Zack Wheeler who is scheduled to return on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This gives scouts a chance to see watch Wheeler pitch once before the trade deadline arrives.
The Mets put Zack Wheeler on the ten-day injured list because of shoulder fatigue. Wheeler is 6-6 with a 4.69 earned run average in nineteen starts this season, striking out 130 and walking 34 in 119 innings.
The Yankees are one of the teams rumored to be interested in Wheeler. A trade between the two New York teams would be interesting since they do not do that much business with each other. Wheeler should bring in a decent return if the Mets decide to trade him. He would make a strong back-of-the rotation option for a playoff contender.
Also, former New York Yankee great Mariano Rivera was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this past Sunday. He is regarded as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history.
Rivera saved at least 25 games in 15 consecutive seasons and posted an earned run average under 2.00 in eleven seasons, both of which are records. Rivera is the first player ever to be inducted unanimously.
He held the Giants to two runs over six innings, escaped two jams and stranded runners in two different innings. He received a no-decision in the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss in twelve innings at Oracle Park. The Mets lost three out of four tough games to the Giants.
Matz finished the first half with a 4.89 Earned Run Average. He has been using his slider more often recently which has been effective and led to his improved performance. If he continues to use the slider, perhaps he can turn his season around during the remainder of the second half of the season just like Zack Wheeler did last year.
Since the trade deadline is coming up the Mets have received inquiries about Matz, but the Mets are unlikely to deal him given the fact that his contract has two years of control.
In other baseball news the Mets look forward to the return of Zack Wheeler who is scheduled to return on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This gives scouts a chance to see watch Wheeler pitch once before the trade deadline arrives.
The Mets put Zack Wheeler on the ten-day injured list because of shoulder fatigue. Wheeler is 6-6 with a 4.69 earned run average in nineteen starts this season, striking out 130 and walking 34 in 119 innings.
The Yankees are one of the teams rumored to be interested in Wheeler. A trade between the two New York teams would be interesting since they do not do that much business with each other. Wheeler should bring in a decent return if the Mets decide to trade him. He would make a strong back-of-the rotation option for a playoff contender.
Also, former New York Yankee great Mariano Rivera was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this past Sunday. He is regarded as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history.
Rivera saved at least 25 games in 15 consecutive seasons and posted an earned run average under 2.00 in eleven seasons, both of which are records. Rivera is the first player ever to be inducted unanimously.
.
John Francp deserves Hall of Fame consideration. 424 saves and a career ERA of just 2.89 is pretty dominant.
ReplyDeleteerr... number 14???
ReplyDeleteJohn Franco was very impressive - especially when you see how a guy like Matz struggles. I would hesitate to trade him now - Kay and Szapucki are not really ready until 2020.
ReplyDeleteThe other lefty, David Peterson? Who knows?
Heck, Peterson seems to have slipped back into the Dibrell/Gonzalez/Wilson/Smith starter prospect category. And I still would not be surprised if Richardson is ready by mid-to-late 2020.
John Franco was great, he was reliable in relief, I remember the Randy Myers for Franco trade
ReplyDeleteI think the Mets might end up trading Wheeler, Vargas and Frazier
ReplyDelete