Tom Brennan: Incredible Mets Day, But for One Sad Thing

YOUNG, BELOVED…AND INJURED 

Wow, what a day on Saturday, but for one sad and painful thing. 

That Alvarez injury Friday? Ligament surgery on his left thumb is the Saturday diagnosis, with perhaps a 6 to 8 week timeframe to heal. 

On a play that was totally bizarre. Alvarez tops a ball down the first base line; had the catcher made a normal throw to first base, no injury. 

But he ridiculously flipped a high lollipop toss over Alvarez’s head - and over the first baseman’s head, too. Alvarez, instead of being an easy out at first, is seeing the ball rolling into foul territory and finds himself chugging around first, then loses his balance just enough to tear ligaments in his thumb.   

You know, another weird Mets injury. We’ve seen far too many weird ones over the years. 

(Remember David Wright stepping on Ike Davis’ foot on a pop near the mound, and what looked like a simple nothing helped cause the demise of Ike’s then-promising career? What memorable bizarre-circumstance injury to a Met do you remember most?)

But this Mets team is right now firing on ALL cylinders, beating the Dodgers to win their 12th in 15 games.  This Mets team is clearly for real.

So, they win 6-4, with a “I’m 100% back” Starling Marte 3 run shot, 4 times on base for Nimmo, and other fine offensive work. 

Diaz gets a difficult 8th inning hold, facing Shohei and Freddie, and 3-0, 0.00 Reed Garrett dominates (again) with a 3 strikeout perfect inning, in yet another remarkable performance. 

Butto started and was solid - he held the mighty LAD offense in check. He has convinced me, friends.

Wow.

MINORS THUNDER 

Then, in the minors, a total flip side to Friday’s total lack of Mets minors hitting. 

The hitters rocked in the 4 minors games, all wins, including great come-backs.

A whopping 35 runs on 50 hits were produced in the 4 games.  Stunning.  

Great offensive nights by many, including but not limited to:

3 hits including a HR from Vientos (.343), 

Ritter’s  HR and single, 

L.A. Acuna - single, triple, walk,

Ramirez 3 hits (.348), 

Peroza (.353), 

Young (.300), after last 4 games’ 6 for 13 and a walk,

Hot Ryan Clifford on 3 times, 

McLean (3 hits, including 2 doubles, .350), 

Villavicencio (single and triple)…

And Morabito (.333) and Baez had 3 hits apiece.

Only sour playing note for me was another ineffective outing for Mike Vasil 11.20 ERA in his first 4 starts). No walks yesterday, but many runs.

And of course the very sour note of Alvarez needing surgery.

Can the Mets sweep LAD? I won’t complain if they do, will you?