Tom Brennan and Mack Ade - Mets Recap

Interesting stuff - to me anyway...the top 6 starters for the Mets this season - Max, Chris, Cookie, Tylor, Taijuan, and David - were a combined 21-6 through Monday. 

Another weird stat grouping: 

Tomas Nido had thrown out 1 of 11 this year after nailing 12 of 21 in 2021. In all years but 2021, though, he has nailed just 10 of 80.  Can anyone explain that?

Saw this positive tweet, presumably from Trevor May today: 

“I know I’ve been MIA. But I thought I’d update. I’m crushing rehab. my body feels like it’s moving better, and is stronger, than it’s been in a minute. The arm feels way better and we’re quickly approaching imaging to see if we’re good to ramp up. Can’t wait to contribute.”

Oh yeah, the game...it sure was a game.  

Chris Bassitt signs a contract extension and allows 8 runs - well, the Giants ARE good.

Down 8-2 into the 7th, another infield hit by speeding Starling Marte was followed by a Lindor HR, his 7th.  8-4.

In the 8th, though...

McNeil's 2nd hit, Escobar's 3rd hit, Canha's infield hit, a seeing-eye 2 run single up the middle.  8-6.  Guillorme grounded out.  Nimmo beats out yet another infield hit, bags full, Marte bad hop hard infield hit. 8-7, bags jammed.  Lindor 3 run ground ball triple to left, 10-8.   Pete hits a bullet to center that Yaz tracked down barely, for a sac fly, 11-8.  McNeil 2nd hit of inning, Escobar, too, giving him 4 hits.  Canha, though, grounded out to end the frame.  NINE run inning.

BUT...ain't over til it's over.  Bottom 8, Drew Smith fanned the first batter (normal), next a slow ground out, but Yaz got a hit, Smith walked Ruf, Joc Peterson turns on an inside fastball for his THIRD HR of the evening to tie the score, and Joely Rodriguez gave up 3 more dinky hits (infield hit, bloop, bloop) to load them up and Adam Ottavino fanned his one hitter to keep the bags full. Still 11-11.

Mets score in the 9th to go ahead 12-11, led off by a Dom Smith 410 foot triple, which he was fortunate to get since he was not running hard until he was 20 feet past first base for some reason. Jankowski runs, Nimmo sac fly.  

But...no, still not over.  The Giants - well, they're GIANTS.

The normally brilliant Edwin Diaz was not so tonight - he got 2 quick outs ON A DP, 2 OUTS, NONE ON!!!!  

But he didn't have it tonight.

ARGHH!!! JUST ONE OUT FOR A SAVE!!  

DON'T TURN OFF THE TV, THOUGH...

Walks Yaz (no!!!!!!), allows 4 hits.  NO KS!

Loses.  The tying run comes in on a lined hit from Joc Peterson (8 RBIs).  Winner later scores on a close play at the plate.  Beat Canha's throw by less than a half step.  3rd blown Diaz save.

Amazingly, the Mets' 2 best pen arms (Smith and Diaz) had two outs and none on in their respective innings, but allowed 5 combined runs.

Mets lose!   Mets lose!   13-12 final.  

Kind of like watching a Mohammed Ali - Joe Frazier bout.

Sometimes you lose a classic.

BUT...Given the team's starter injury situation, you hate to lose ANY games like this. 

Mets had 18 hits, just one walk.  Unusual, to say the least. 

36 hits in two games, which the hitters look at their batting averages and LOVE.  TV subscript noted this was the most runs scored by the Mets in a loss, ever.

Best pitcher of the night for the Mets? Steve Nogosek, who went 2.1 scoreless and fanned 4.

Team ERA had to jump, huh?

Braves beat Phillies late, one run game, too.

MINORS - BORING BY COMPARISON:

Jake Mangum got on base 3 times in his post-promotion debut in Syracuse.  They got close late, but lost.

Binghamton won 4-3 in 10. Montes de Oca threw 2 scoreless for the victory and Hayden Senger popped a 2 run shot. The demoted Carlos Cortes and Quinn Brodey both played and had a hit apiece.

St. Lucie wasted no time - they had just promoted Atencio, and he’s the starter. 4 IP, 3H, 1BB, 4K, 1 run.  And Omar de los Santos picked up 2 hits and his 22nd steal, but the Lucie relievers coughed up 5 runs in a 6-2 loss.

Brooklyn's weather woes continued - rained out in Bowling Green.   I think the etymology of "Brooklyn" is "postponement."

Finally, apparently the plan for Tylor Megill (fingers crossed) is a rehab start soon, then back to the Mets.

AND...THEY SAY DEGROM COULD BE BACK BY LATE JUNE.

 Mack - My thoughts

- Today's minor league player focus is on 25-yr. old Rumble Ponies 6-3 RHRP Michel Otanez.

Otonez was an IDFA in 2016 and signed with only a $35K bonus

Simply put, he has been a failure as a starter, mainly due to his inability to find the plate.

He also went down with TJS and lost the entire  2017 season.

But this year..

He has been a successful reliever for Binghamton

The stat line is:

13-IP 17-K O-1 1.38/1.08 11.77 K/9 and, most importantly, a vastly improved 2.77 BB/9 ratio.

Oh, the fast ball that the MLB said was the best Mets fastball in the minors?

Still topping at 98.

- Per Christopher Soto:

    David Peterson is under team control thru 2026

    The Mets have spent $74.9mil so far this season in new payroll. That is more than the entire payroll of Oakland (60.9m), Baltimore (64.8m), or Pittsburgh (74.6)

- Some more minor league moves (most happen around the Monday day off so logistics can be accomplished):

    RHP Colby Morris was released.  2022: Brooklyn 1-1, 6.43, in 9-apps

    RHP Dan Goggin was released. 2022: St. Lucie 0-0, 5.40, 6-apps.

    RHP Evy Ruibal was released. Brooklyn 11.2-IP, 6.94

    RHP Jaison Vilera was released. St. Lucie 0-2, 10.80, 3-games.

    Syracuse Tommy Hunter was put on the 10-day IL. Hunter is 0.00 in 8 innings this year for the Mets. 

- The Big-12 Player of the Year goes to Texas 1B Ivan Melendez. 28 big ones.

- Walked the dog today and ran into a Dodger fan neighbor. 

He said "boy, you guys have a real rotation depth problem".

I said "oh yeah, three of our top four starters are out on extended leave and we currently have the most wins in the league."

Shut that boy up.

- Going into today's games, Pete Alonzo had 7 more RBIs than anyone else in the league 

- St. Lucie LHP Javier Atencio made his first stateside start and faired well, giving up only one run in 4-IP, while striking out four and producing a 1.00 WHIP

- After yesterday's event in Texas, I had a hard time finishing this up.

The Mets scored.12 runs. Lindor had a great night. Eduardo had even a better one, rookie reliever Stephen Nogosek went lights out  and the Mets came back from being down 6 runs.

And they lost.

Lots of bad news but I'm gonna pass on breaking that out. 

I'm just going to label this one of those shit happens games on a day that America will not forget.