John From Albany - Syracuse Mets Post Game Zoom Call with Manager Chad Kreuter 5/22/2021

Here are some of the highlights of Chad Kreuter’s Zoom call: 

J.D. Davis had his best swings Saturday night since being in Syracuse.  Chad thought that the IronPigs pitched him well.  He jumped all over the fastball in the 5^th inning to hit it over the centerfield fence.  Focus is on JD’s swing due to his hand injury.  He was a little tentative when he first came to Syracuse.  He was able to cut it lose today.  When he goes back to NY he will probably see time at 1B with Pete Alonso being out.

On why Thomas Szapucki was limited to 4 innings.  Chad explained how the innings are limited to make sure certain pitchers can be ready should they be needed later next week…Szapucki would be available for a start Thursday in NY if needed.  “Szapucki is ready…really good stuff…he was supposed to pitch in the Colorado but the game go rained out.”

“Sam McWilliams has come a long way, believe it or not…in Spring Training was hitting the back stop on every other pitch…now he is in the strike zone…has been in the middle…making adjustments to the corners…”.  Chad the best case would have been to take Sam out after the struck out the final batter in the 7^th to build on that success…but he was short on pitchers and had to send him back out for the 9^th. 

Corey Oswalt - plan is to stretch him out and slowly build up his innings so he can eventually go back into rotation;

David Thompson - Chad said he knew him real well...that the new regime did not know who he was or what he was...Chad said he knew David could hit…when Jose Martinez got hurt, Chad said let’s look at David…he just needs an opportunity.  [David went 3 for 4 in Saturday’s game with a HR.] 

On the Hit and Run single by Nick Meyer in the 9^th that set up the winning run scoring on the wild pitch, Chad noted how he managed Nick in St. Lucie in 2019.  That Nick knew how he likes to play.  Chad added how for many of the players these games are like their Spring Training right now.  Chad was not able to see a lot of these players in Spring Training, Nick Meyer and Cody Bohanek played for Chad in St. Lucie, he is getting to know the other players.   

Chad said that he tells his players to put their best foot forward.  If they play well, they will have an opportunity to play in the big leagues.  They are staying ready.  Prepare yourself...prepare completely.  Drew Jackson has been working on his swing and hit 2 home runs Saturday.  

Syracuse Mets manager Chad Kreuter says the team wanted to put J.D. Davis at first because he is expected to fill in there when he comes off the IL: pic.twitter.com/diTp9MbEm6

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 23, 2021