The Mack Report, Thursday, August 10
I am pinch-hitting for a few days for Mack, who is undergoing surgery today, and is on the Macks Mets' IL.
Thoughts and prayers for you, buddy.
I have little doubt you'll return throwing 102 MPH.
METS:
The blistering hot Mets came in 7 games up, and playing a day game. Taijuan Walker (9-3, 3.45) came into play hoping for a comeback after his last faltering start, facing T.J. Zeuch, who was making his 2022 debut after a miserable 0-5, 6.70 effort in AAA this year in 13 starts. His MLB career is 2-4, 4.59 in 49 innings with a 1.55 WHIP. Looked pre-game like a Mets mismatch.
And so it was.
Zeuch (pronounced ZOIK) looked good against the first batter, Nimmo, going ahead in the count 1-2, until Nimmo started doing that "it's one inch off the plate, why would I swing?" thing he always does, and he got hit by a pitch on 3-2. Then, the re-energized offense proved to be too much for Mr. Zeuch, and then added more runs against his reliever.
Mets pecked and poked away, and grabbed a 10-2 lead in the 6th. NO OPPONENT should want anything to do with the Mets right now. Great, great pitching, great, great hitting, great, great smarts. Great, great team.
The Reds got mangled by the Big Mets Machine. No doubt, the Reds saw red.
Naquin HR and double, Vogelbach 3 RBIs? Man, these new guys are great! What can one say? Walker threw a very solid 6 innings to move to 10-3 on the season. Lugo, Williams, and Medina each added a scoreless inning.
But...the 73-39 Mets are not the only scorching NL squad. The remarkable Dodgers are 31-5 in their last 36 games! Might these two mighty forces of nature (NYM and LAD) have a rematch of their incredible 1988 and 2015 clashes this October? As long as the Mets prevail, why not?
SYRACUSE:
Syracuse started the season 1-9, and then brought in Wyatt Young as an unexpected stabilizer, and the S-Mets are 46-50 since then, which is not terrible.
Dom Smith entered action on Wednesday hitting .273/.364/.416 in 19 AAA games. Now, if he could just put up a slash line in the majors that good or better...
Anyway, last night's game...no real hitting. Period. Alvarez fanned 3 times. Vientos played…hit and walk. Downed10-3.
BINGHAMTON:
Most of their toys have been taken away. No Baty, no Alvarez, no Butto, no Montes de Oca. Only Mauricio and Young are stars who remain in Bingoville. Those star losses and basically a bunch of journeyman pitchers had the Rumblers coming into Wednesday action at 39-63 (.382) and just 11-22 in the second half. Insufficient AA talent.
Anyway, last night's game...no real hitting. Period. Wyatt Young homered, and walked twice. Lost 11-1 with just that Young HR as a hit. Garrison Bryant got knocked around badly. Dedniel Nunez gave up 2 runs in 2innings,but fanned 5.
BROOKLYN:
Came into Wednesday action 51-52 and hoping to get to .500. And 1 run over .500, in effect, with 398 runs scored vs. 397 runs allowed. Hitting has perked up since the resurgence of Peroza (30 for his last 98 plus 13 walks), and the promotions to Brooklyn of Ramirez, Consuegra, and, more recently, William Lugo. Surprisingly, Greg Guerrero in 5 Brooklyn games has come in at .357/.471/.643.
Dom Hamel started tonight, hoping to continue his truly, terrifically, tremendous 2022 season. He remained brilliant, with 5 innings of 3 hit, one run ball. Joe Suozzi hit his 7th, a grand salami, in the win, moving the Cyclones to .500.
NateLavender tossed 2 scoreless, dropping his ERA to 1.56. 5 guys had 2 hits, and lead off man Matt Rudick got on base 4 times. Nice.
ST LUCIE:
Came into action 20 games over .500 at 61-41, but with 1,071 strikeouts, so the hitters have been productive while also fanning quite a lot. But their pitchers have fanned 1,087 in 881 innings, with a 3.75 ERA, so that's pretty cool. By the way, Blaine McIntosh got to play for St Lucie on Tuesday - congratulations.
Anyway, last night's game...5-2 losers. Tilien and Beracierta .295) each had RBIs.
COMPLEX AND DSL:
Oddly, no games for any of the three kiddie teams.
PHILLIES:
We spent all of the past several weeks staring at the specter of the Braves. So far, not as scary as that specter.
Meanwhile, going into Wednesday night's game, the Phillies are suddenly winners of 11 of 12, without Harper!
All the recent "feel good Mets" play is about to get tested. But that’s what it’s all about, Alfie.
The Mets in their next 20 games have 4 "easier" games against the Rockies.
The other 16? Seven against the Phillies, 4 against Atlanta, 2 against the downward-spiraling Bronx Bunglers, and 3 against, yes, those LA Dodgers. Me? I'll take 16-4 in those 20, how about you? Can’t be too greedy.
14 comments:
Mets are on a 106 win pace. Most of that was achieved without the brilliant Jake and a substantial amount without the outstanding Max, who missed 7 weeks. Exactly how good is this team? It seems we will find out.
Good luck Mack, speedy and complete recovery.
16-4? You really could live with that?
Winning 4 of 7 against Philly, 2 of 4 in Atlanta, 3 of 4 against th Rox, 1 of 2 against the Yankees, and 2 of 3 against Hollywood. That’s 12-8. That’s the minimum. More is better.
You’re the first writer today that didn’t criticize Peterson’s outing last night. Pitching on short rest, he gave up four singles and a double in the first. No walks, no homeruns. They are trying to line him up to pitch August 20th in the twin bill, but without a game Monday, I guess pitching Sunday on short rest again for three innings and being fully rested next Saturday?
Hamel was sharp last night and has a 1.80 ERA in A+ after his promotion. JT Ginn just came off the IL in Oakland, throwing in Florida…
Gus, I did not even look at Peterson, figuring he was just trying to get work in. He's had one or two other shaky AAA outings this year. But it has not followed him to the big leagues. I frankly do not like a guy pitching this well being sent up and down like a yo yo - my guess is he doesn't like it either. I wonder if he does not get paid MLB minimum in games he is in AAA - if I was David, that would really irk me. And he'd be in the 5 man rotation of at least 75% of MLB teams this year.
I'd take 12-8 - because the softness of the subsequent schedule in September and early October could end up with the Mets going 24-6 over their last 30. 73-39, plus 12-8 and 24-6 would bring them to 109-53. I think that is possible.
We would all be happy with 12-8. Go Mets.
tom excellent point that i was thinking about Peterson
I mean what is his mind set when he comes in does better than expected and still get sent down
and the money is hue at this stage of his career
Tom your not being paid enough great work and I'll talk to Mack as soon as he's back healthy and all. Props to Peterson and Medina to survive the yo-yo nonsense and thrive and for me 12 and 8 would be fine we just don't want them to gain any ground. Does anyone know how many players we can add in Sept.?
I think it is hilarious that the mainstream media went from criticizing Billy Eppler's trade deadline moves as "insufficient" and timid, to suddenly fawning all over the team after the Braves series (like the Mets suddenly came out of nowhere).
One thing they left out in this most recent itereation is that Eppler actually nailed the trade deadline by adding underrated players in positions of need, all the while keeping the farm system largely intact. This team was already playing well and didn't need to make a bunch of splashy moves, period (thankfully we don't have a Pete Crow Armstrong disaster to fret over this year).
But, it is the mainstream media after all.......imagine if they actually circled back to a story and admitted they got it wrong?
Not sure where they finish the season, but they are looking the part of a contender (which is a year or so early, in comparison to Steve Cohen's 3 to 5 year mandate).
Eppler looks like a genius.
Hopefully, the bullpen until Megill and Smith return is somewhat of an exposure - hopefully, it holds together until then.
Eddie, I'm sorry, if I am former first rounder Peterson, I am unhappy with my usage this year. Thankfully, id they win the World Series, he will get well compensated for being jerked around.
Gary, I am like saccharine, a poor substitute for Mack seasoning. Hopefully, he returns very soon.
We can add a whole TWO, but so can everyone else. Rosters go up to 28, instead of 40 in past years.
Listening to his interviews (and Megill's), he is very levelheaded and understands the situation.
There's no way, barring injury, that any of our current rotation is going away.
Peterson and Megill can go to the pen, or stay in 'Cuse as SPs to be ready for callups.
Over the Winter, we can possibly lose every member of the rotation except Max to FA.
There will be opps.
Saccharine is very unhealthy. Don't compare yourself to it in any way, Tom.
Bill, I believe every team HAS to boost from 26 to 28 on Sept 1 - it is not optional.
I just wish it was 30.
I don't for the record, have saccharine or a whole lot of sugar - neither is good for ya.
Megill's big ??? is whether he can stay healthy. I can see him being a set up bullpen beast.
Peterson is ready to roll next year. Let's hope he gets his shot at full time starting.
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