RECAP!
Mets now up a daunting 2.5 games on the Braves, as the Baseball Brats got schlepped in Philly, while the Mets turned the As ballpark into a Tattoo Parlor as they tattooed the Oakland As, 9-2.
Excellent Eddie Escobar joined the grand slam party and is hitting .329 with 7 HRs and 17 RBIs in a huge relief of a final month + for him. It was great to see his million dollar smile. 19 HRs, 61 RBIs on the year, on his way to 22 and 70?
Brandon Nimmo was thankfully healthy, praise the Lord, and had a big, early lined single off a lefty to push the early score to 3-0.
Chris Bassitt great and wins his 15th! If he wins his next two, maybe he picks up a few Cy Young votes?
Jeff McNeil got back on board the Hit Train, with his 38th double and 2 singles. 40 doubles minimum, Mr. McNeil.
And the "3 for their last 50" boys went 3 for 7 last night. D Ruf (make him sound like a Hip Hop star) was 1 for 4.
Mark Vientos was a much needed 2 for 3, with 2 RBIs and a walk. Exciting for them is the fact that after a lefty started tonight, Saturday's and Sunday's afternoon 4:07 games are to be started by lefties. I am hoping Mark can launch his inaugural Big Fly this weekend, now that the pressure is off.
May these next two southpaw games bring two more 3 for 7 performances from these two (did I use "two" too many times here?).
In AAA, Syracuse won 5-4. Dom Smith stayed hot with his 10th HR, and so did torrid Jake Mangum, who went 2 for 4 with 2 ribbies, and to me, Jake (.345 after April) seems for all the world like a Mets reserve outfielder in 2023. Every team needs more than one Jake.
Francisco the Great did not play. In his place, Martin Perez was 2 for 3 with an RBI (.203).
Alvarez has 399 official ABs for the season, 27 HRs, 78 RBIs. Even in AAA, where everyone concludes he is not ready, he has 9 HRs in 146 official at bats and 26 walks in 41 games, giving him a .358 AAA OBP. Me? I have no doubt he is a 2023 NY Met, if not on opening day, then by very early 2023.
On the mound, my hulking favorite, Bryce Montes de Oca, picked up the win, with 1.2 IP and 4 Ks, allowing just a hit and, yes, a walk. I know you weren't wondering, but BMDO has 83 Ks in 53 innings this year. Similar to Jake deGrom's 86 in 54 innings, wouldn't you say? Only slight difference is BMDO has walked 37, while Jake has walked 4.
Keep in mind, please, though, that BMDO has just 87 pro innings thus far. And since July, he has 44 Ks in 22.2 AAA innings.
That's the recap, Jack.
OK, how many true Mets fans stayed up until midnight to see the final out last night? I did, and am proud of it! Not quite as proud of rooting for the Phillies, but boy, it feels better to be up 2.5 games with ten to play.
ReplyDeleteBraves are showing cracks, as I wrote in my post on Monday "Mets rival may not be all you think". Strider down with oblique soreness, Sikora shut down for 2022. Acuna sat a few games. Olsen in a prolonged slump. These guys are human, and it has to affect their confidence to not catch the Mets after sprinting since June 1st. Keep the pressure on, Buck!
My youngest granddaughter Plays volleyball for her high school team.
ReplyDeleteShe played last night.
I attended game with the fam as a send-off to my daughter's trip to New Orleans for the first of two operations.
I sat with her boyfriend who is a big Braves fan.
Loved showing him updates of the Phils game.
Braves are wilting, but still dangerous. Mets are more dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI am proud of Nimmo for pulling himself out the other day, and avoiding injury. Great move.
Mack, it is not good to send Braves fans into a deep depression.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your volleyball granddaughter (my cousin's daughter is 6'1" and played V Ball in college), and on those 2 operations.
I was sure you'd say something nice about Bryce, at least once or twice. I definitely look at him with a glass half full perspective. Control has been on the upswing. Ready for 2023.
Gotta love it and just like Sugarlands 2nd album title "Enjoy the Ride" and I am. Loved Nimmo being in there last night and not taking a day or 2 off as he's just adding a few bucks to his next contract. EE's is a hitting fool just like I told you guys all year (LOL) but seriously way to go Eduardo! Tom maybe we can both take time his winter after celebrating our season and meet at Citi-field to push that fence in alittle more...how about it?
ReplyDeleteGary, that is not an off-the-wall suggestion. I do (yes) have another wall-related article coming out soon BTW. From a different take.
ReplyDeleteThis team is.a tease
ReplyDelete