MACK– Wild Card, Brandon Sproat

 

Morning

Hope you all survived week one of the college football season. I didn’t.

 

As for the game we first love, let’s be realistic here. Having only 26 games left and being six games out of first place pretty much assures you of having no chance of winning the divisional crown this season. However, being five games ahead for the third, and last, Wild Card slot is definitely in play to get you to the playoffs.

As a Mets fan, you need to start doing the following:

1.     Forget what Philadelphia does, They are not in your future until you play them in the playoffs.

2.     Concentrate first on winning your games

3.     Keep an eye on what Cincinnati does each night.

4.     Get ready for an upcoming three game series against the Reds, at their home. The minimal goal here would be to win one

5.     Peek in at what San Diego does each night out on the Left Coast. You are only three loses away from qualifying as the second Wild Card team and, thus, not have to worry about Cincinnati anymore.

 

I know you have enjoyed the spark and excitement that both Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong have brought to the Mets pitching staff, but let’s not forget about the Third Amigo who is dominating right now in AAA-Syracuse.

Brandon Sproat produced a gem last night, posting a stat line of:

           7-IP, 9-K, 0-R, 3-H, 2-BB, 91/58

More importantly is what he has produced over his last 10 starts: 1.73-ERA.

Sproat would be on any other parent team’s rotation right now. He should be on the Mets rotation also, but where do you put him? More important than that, the Mets have to declare their playoff roster and add two more players. Should Sproat be one of them and join the rotation, Join the pen?

He has never showed that spark and dazzle that pitchers like Tong have showed. No, he’s more like the Don Drysdale to Sandy Koufax. The Bob Turley to Whitey Ford. The Jerry Koosman to Tom Seaver.

Yes, he will be invited next spring to compete for a spot in the 2026 rotation, but the question this morning is what do the Mets do with him now?

MACK - IN FOCUS - Nolan McLean, Average FB Speed, Netflix, Tug McGraw, Expansion, Savannah Bananas

 

Prospect Live –

2025 Top 100 Prospects: End-of-Season Update

https://www.prospectslive.com/2025-top-100-prospects-end-of-season-update/?s=03  

25. Nolan McLean, RHP

Scouting Report 

Nolan McLean is finally where he belongs: as a full-time pitcher. In college and early in his pro career, he was a two-way player, but fortunately, he and the Mets recognized the opportunity to focus solely on pitching. McLean is one of the most exciting arms in the minors, boasting a double-plus slider with exceptional sweep and a plus fastball with great riding life up in the zone. A significant part of his appeal lies in his ability to effectively spam these two pitches to left- and right-handed hitters. He also mixes in a hard cutter after those two pitches have been established in the same plate appearance. While his arsenal has a changeup, scraping that pitch is best. His command of his offerings has notably improved since he transitioned to a full-time pitcher. McLean is a back-end bullpen monster who can rely on his two-plus pitches and mix in the cutter to induce weak contact. However, given the Mets' major league roster, there's no need to rush him into a bullpen role, even if that is his most likely home. - Rhys White

David Adler                @_dadler

The *average* MLB righty now throws 95 mph on the dot

Still a little crazy to think about even though it's been coming for a while

Netflix to stream 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6574987/2025/08/25/netflix-world-baseball-classic/

Netflix has its first agreement with Major League Baseball to stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan.

The partnership is the start of a relationship that is expected to grow soon. The Athletic previously reported that Netflix is the leader to become the exclusive platform for the Home Run Derby over the next three years. That deal is not official yet. Netflix would stream the Home Run Derby in the United States, while the WBC Classic is just for the Japanese market.

Netflix has an interest in expanding in Japan, which is why potentially featuring Shohei Ohtani and the Japanese team was appealing. Japan has won three of the five WBCs, including the 2023 title.

Jim Koenigsberger                          @Jimfrombaseball

The "Philadelphia Inquirer" found dangerous chemicals in the astroturf of the now-demolished Veterans Stadium.

Six Phillies who played on that turf, Tug McGraw, Darren Daulton, John Vukovich, John Oates, Ken Brett, David West died of a rare and aggressive brain cancer.

The six players all died in their 40s or 50s, roughly three times the rate of the average adult population. Even more alarming was their mutual diagnosis of glioblastoma.

The Phillies sold pieces of turf in sealed 4 x 4" bags. The Inquirer purchased four of those on eBay. Samples analyzed by two separate labs found 16 types of dangerous chemicals in the turf.

They are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down and can last in the human body for years.

The US federal government estimates that 12,000 artificial turf fields containing PFAS or “forever chemicals” exist in USA.

Darren 'Dutch' Daulton

And still no word on this story!!!                     

    This is a horrible story. And one I have never heard of before.

Why is that? Why hasn’t this been featured on the MLB Network, ESPN, or even 60 Minutes?

Salt Lake City? Nashville? How six cities are faring in the race for an MLB expansion team

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6577020/2025/08/27/mlb-expansion-cities-salt-lake-city-nashville-raleigh-portland/

The intense interest in Major League Baseball expansion and realignment last week surprised those inside the league office in New York. What commissioner Rob Manfred said publicly on the subject had lasted just 52 seconds, and none of it was new information.

But the expansion conversation captivates, and now that there’s resolution in sight for the two items Manfred has long cited as expansion roadblocks — the uncertain futures of the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays — it no longer feels premature to raise the topic. Nowhere is the spike in interest more apparent than in the cities vying for a spot when MLB expands to 32 clubs.

“There’s tremendous excitement locally about the potential for expansion,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company in Salt Lake City, describing the market as “buzzing with anticipation” about the prospect of bringing the big leagues to Utah.

In recent weeks, The Athletic sought progress reports from six cities with established expansion efforts underway — Nashville, Raleigh and Orlando in the east; Salt Lake City, Portland and Austin in the west

GO TO LINK FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

As Savannah Bananas pursue ‘a billion fans,’ are they real competition for MLB?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6579676/2025/08/28/mlb-savannah-bananas-fans-coexistence-competition/

On a Friday night this summer, the New York Yankees packed Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in a rematch of last year’s World Series. An hour south that same evening in Anaheim, another major-league stadium hosted a sold-out ballgame, but the contest had nothing to do with the nation’s most venerated sports league, Major League Baseball. It was between a troop of dancing ballplayers called the Savannah Bananas and a rival of their own creation, the Firefighters.

MLB officials say they view the independent Bananas not as competition but as a complement, an aid to the number of baseball and softball fans everywhere. To MLB, the Bananas are an entertainment product — not competitive with an established sport and closer to a stadium-filling concert, or a sport-adjacent show like the Harlem Globetrotters of basketball.

But Jesse Cole, the Bananas’ owner, sees what he’s creating as much more than just baseball vaudeville.

“This isn’t the Globetrotters. We’re building a sport,” Cole said. “I have Little Leagues reaching out every day that they say they want to do Banana Ball League. They don’t want to play regular baseball, their kids want to play Banana Ball. They want to have a yellow banana ball, the first ball that they pick up. It’s different. My seven-year-old kid, that’s all he does is trick plays now.”

Cole, too, says the Bananas should not be seen as rivals to MLB’s 30 owners. But his own stated ambitions — he says he wants to amass one billion fans — belie that stance. He likens the Bananas’ trajectory to that of Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed-martial arts competition that grew alongside the old stalwart of combat sports, boxing.

CLICK ON LINK FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

MACK - MY Sunday Observations - Jonah Tong, Jett Williams, Spin Efficiency, Elian Pena, Randy Guzman, Antonio Jiminez, Nolan McLean, Jim Marshall

 

Morning Thoughts 

Let me say this…

I wasn’t totally thrilled with the Friday Night Tong Show. Sure, the kid deserved a shot after his meteoric journey through the Mets affiliates this season. He pitched to a 1.59-ERA this season for AA-Binghamton and his last five games at AAA-Syracuse produced… wait… he only pitched in TWO GAMES at this level. This kind of Gooden-ish approach sort of set up a sink or swim scenario and, frankly, all it produced was a thread water situation.

In my opinion, there were far too many Whiffs, the fastballs either didn’t hit their mark or produce hitting the catcher mitt. So many balls. So many foul balls.

Let an associate of mine also explain this in a more analytical manner:

           Lance Brozdowski          lancebroz@substack.com

Mets Jonah Tong went 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, ER, 6 K in his MLB debut. Tong was heavy fastball, slider, and curveball in this game, throwing just one slider. His four-seam ran a 36% whiff rate in the minors, exactly double that of the 18% average in MLB. In his debut, however, he generated just two whiffs on 59 four-seamers thrown. His location was pretty biased toward his glove side (away from righties). You can argue he was pulling the ball most of the night compared to his Triple-A locations, where he’s been more central to up. His changeup acted as his primary pitch to both left- and right-handed hitters Friday, which is a new development this season. He’s had an innate ability to zone the pitch in the minors and still draw an exceptional number of whiffs (51% whiff rate, 32% is average).

Even with the platoon nature of the changeup, I do think a key to his development is figuring out his slider shape. He’s toggled between a few iterations over the last calendar year, presently throwing one that averaged 87 mph with 5” vertical break and 5” glove-side movement, an average shape from his extremely vertical slot. I don’t think he’s as good as Nolan McLean, but his results are undeniable, even if they weren’t as loud as Tolle’s in this first taste of big league hitters.

I have previously vented about how Mendoza & Co. mis-handled this uber-prospect in the fifth inning, so I I am not going into this again.

To me, Tong was rushed into a situation to help a rotation that was bleeding badly and first saw a shot of adrenaline from his fellow prospect, Nolan McLean. Did it work? Err… sort of. Did he survive it? Definitely, yes. And has he solidified his position in the Mets rotation, going forward? 

Err… 

Pitch Profiler                     @pitchprofiler

Jonah Tong has a BIG TIME FASTBALL

 

Thomas Nestico             @TJStats

Jonah Tong made his MLB debut!

Tong fired off 5.0 IP with 6 K and 1 ER as he sat down the Marlins with his elite fastball and changeup combo. His curveball has a key contributor, helping him generate a handful of whiffs

Congratulations to my fellow Canadian!

Prospect Live –

2025 Top 100 Prospects: End-of-Season Update

https://www.prospectslive.com/2025-top-100-prospects-end-of-season-update/?s=03

43. Jett Williams, SS/2B/OF

Scouting Report

Jett Williams could have been a part of the Mets' playoff push had it not been for a right wrist injury that sidelined him for a chunk of the season. Wrist injuries are notorious for sapping power, which was the case for Williams in 2024. Fortunately, power isn't his primary asset. What's particularly exciting about Williams is his transition to center field, a shift that pushes him up the defensive spectrum. While the Mets initially seemed to be grooming him for second base, his double-plus speed and ability to get great routes and jumps should make him a standout in the outfield. Offensively, the wrist injury affected his power output this year, but Williams doesn't profile as a thumper even at full health. His game is built around his speed and ability to slap the ball into gaps, taking advantage of his wheels to cause havoc on the basepaths. His swing is notably flat and linear, enabling him to effectively handle pitches throughout the zone. Williams projects as an ideal, old-school leadoff hitter, a guy who will excel in getting on base, wreaking havoc with his legs, and playing solid defense in center field. While his power might max out at 12-15 homers in his peak years, his speed, defensive versatility, and disciplined approach will more than make up for the lack of pop, making him a valuable piece for the Mets' future. - Rhys White

pitchLogic by F5 Sports                   @pitchlogic

Spin efficiency is crucial as it influences a pitch's movement. It's the percentage of total spin that contributes to that movement. It matters because it enhances movement and maximizes effectiveness. If we throw a 4 seam fastball with 100% efficiency, it will "ride" longer.

Mets Prospect Group                   @bkfan09

Congratulations to Elian Pena for being named  Top MLB Prospect In The DSL Prospect

 

Ernest Dove                   @ernestdove

As a whole the Low A St. Lucie Mets bats were quiet last night, but 20 year old prospect Randy Guzman was 1 for 3 w/ a double.

I'm told Guzman "Walked in a leader day one" and is considered an important piece of their offense.

Has played 1B RF LF & 4 gm 3B in FCL this season.

                Mack –

Randy Enmanuel Guzman, born April 19, 2005, in Tenares, Dominican Republic, is a 20-year-old outfielder and first baseman in the New York Mets' minor league system.

Standing at 6'4" and weighing 215 pounds, he bats and throws right-handed.

Currently active with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets, Guzman has shown promise in his first stateside season.

Notably, on July 29, 2025, he hit an RBI double, contributing to St. Lucie's 10-5 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads, part of an eight-game winning streak.

He was promoted from the Florida Complex League (FCL) Mets, where he also performed well.

 

Ernest Dove               @ernestdove

After breaking in as a pro baseball player for 2 games in July going 0 for 7. Mets 3rd rd pick Antonio Jimenez in August is hitting .271 with a .365 OBP with a BB/K of 9/9.

                Mack –

Antonio Andres Jimenez, born June 15, 2004, in Hialeah, Florida, is a 21-year-old shortstop in the New York Mets' minor league system. Standing at 6'1" and weighing 200 pounds, he bats and throws right-handed. Drafted by the Mets in the third round (102nd overall pick) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Central Florida, Jimenez signed for a $564,000 bonus.

In his 2025 college season at UCF, he hit .329/.407/.575 with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 55 games, earning a spot on the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List. His strikeout rate improved from 30% in 2024 at the University of Miami to 19% in 2025, though his aggressive swing decisions remain a concern for pro ball.

Defensively, Jimenez is a true shortstop with smooth actions, soft hands, above-average range, and a plus-plus arm, capable of 100 MPH throws across the diamond.

Currently active with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets, Jimenez is ranked No. 18 on MLB Pipeline’s Mets Top 30 prospects list, with a 60-grade arm on the 20-80 scouting scale. No 2025 minor league stats are available yet, as he’s early in his professional career.

Lance Brozdowski         lancebroz@substack.com

Mets Nolan McLean continues the legendary start to his career. I gave you my thoughts on him when he debuted, and my main takeaway was wondering what would happen with his lefty approach. Welp, we have our answer. At Triple-A he threw six pitches 10% or more, leading mostly with his four-seam and sweeper. In the majors, we’re seeing more sinker and curveball, the latter jumping from 13% to 22% usage and posting a repertoire-best 20% swinging-strike rate.

MetsRewind                           @metsrewind

Who is the oldest living Mets player? Jim Marshall. We are lucky to have a franchise that still has some of its original team living and healthy! 

John From Albany: 10 Years Ago - Bartolo Throws 8 Scoreless, 8/2/2015

NY Daily News Back Page - 9/1/2015

2015, the last year the Mets made the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to the Fall Classic.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 2015; Game #131; Monday;  Aug 31, NYM 3  Vs. PHI; 1; boxscore;   WP: Colon; LP: Eickhoff;  Save: Familia; Time: 02:23; NIGHT; Attendance: 34,233; Record: 73-58; Standings: 1; Games up/behind: up 6.5; W;  

Curtis Granderson RF: 1 for 3; HR; 1 run; 2 RBIs; 1 walk; Yoenis Céspedes CF-LF: 0 for 4; 1 K; Daniel Murphy 1B: 0 for 3; David Wright 3B: 0 for 3; Kelly Johnson 2B: 0 for 3; Travis d'Arnaud C: 0 for 3; 1 K; Michael Conforto LF: 2 for 2; HR,CS; 1 run; 1 RBI; 1 walk; Wilmer Flores SS: 0 for 3; 1 K; Bartolo Colón P: 1 for 2; 1 run; 1 K; Juan Lagares PH-CF: 0 for 1; Bartolo Colón, W (12-11): 8 innings; no runs; 4 hits; 1 walk; 9 Ks; Jeurys Familia, S (36): 1 inning; 1 run; 1 ER; 2 hits; 1 walk; 1 K; 

NY Post: Bartolo Colon surges into playoff discussion with another gem. "The veteran right-hander extended his scoreless streak to a season-high 16 innings with a gem Monday that carried the Mets to a 3-1 victory over the Phillies at Citi Field...Colon (12-11) allowed four hits over eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts and one walk. He also singled in the fifth against Jerad Eikhoff for his seventh hit of the season, a career best."

ESPN.com: "Conforto hit a solo shot off fellow rookie Jerad Eickhoff (1-2) in the fifth, an opposite-field drive to left-center. Colon singled for his career-best seventh hit of the season, and Granderson homered to right."

Cardinals beat the Nationals 8-5 as the Mets stretched their 1st place lead to 6.5 games. 

NL East Standings 8/31/2015

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYM	73	58	.557	--	533	478	.550
WSN	66	64	.508	6.5	555	525	.525
ATL	54	77	.412	19.0	475	615	.384
MIA	53	79	.402	20.5	485	548	.444
PHI	52	80	.394	21.5	502	666	.373

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/31/2015.

Tom Brennan: TONG; Mauricio - One Tweak to Succeed; Bang for the Buck; Rampaging Reimer

METS‘ RONNY MAURICIO NEEDS TO TOSS OUT HITTING AS A RIGHTY 

FIRST: 

TONG WON THE FIRST OF HIS 300 CERTAIN MAJOR LEAGUE WINS! 

He was…TERRIFIC, what else.

One earned run, 6 Ks in 5 innings of a 19-9 Mets explosion, with Nimmo rocking 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. (The Mets missed two extra points).

Dwight Gooden in 1984 allowed just 1 earned run in 5 innings, with 5 Ks, in his MLB debut.  Hmmmm….

Soto interesting stuff: 

His 2 run first inning HR made him 7 for his last 7 with RISP, after a very substandard first 120+ games with RISP. Then, after former Met Tyler Zuber in relief had retired 3 straight in the first and second, Juan stroked an opposite field single with two outs.  The second inning did not end before the Mets scored 7 runs in the second. Amazing.

Juan somehow has just one double in 37 “second half” games, but has scored 99 runs with 2 games left in August. Wow.

Nimmo haters must admit that his 22 HRs, 77 RBIs and .262 are impressive in his 128 games.

Tong and McLean are giving the Mets an immense shot in the arm, as did Lugo and Gsellman late in 2016.

Philly won, so their lead over the Mets is still 5.  

But the Mets are reenergized.  Look out.

ON TO MY ARTICLE:

Our very own Big Mack Attack writer Angry Mike did a very positive and detailed article on Ronny Mauricio earlier this week.

If you missed it, you can find it in the side bar. Read it. 

I’ll be angry if you don’t.

Me?  I think very highly of Mauricio, too.  

He is (as I see it) just one silly (not so) little tweak away from becoming a bona fide MLB everyday hitter.

He needs to stop hitting righty. Go 100% lefty swinging.

At least that is what the numbers tell me:

Through Monday, his career MLB numbers against lefties were putrid:

11 for 81, 4 walks, 31 Ks, 1 HR.   

Jerry Koosman would have been sure he could have done better than that in his days as a weak hitting major league pitcher.

I did not ask him, but even positive Ernest Dove would likely say those righty hitting R-Mo hitting stats are AWFUL.

MO: Against righties? 

.283/.344/.441 as a lefty MLB hitter in his career.   Strong slash, huh?

MINORS?

In 2022, in the minors, just .226 righty, but .267 lefty. In 2023, just .250 righty, but .297 lefty. And in those 2 years in minors as a righty, he walked just 9 times in roughly 260 plate appearances vs. lefties.  

Awful, pretty much.  

And a lot less power.

So why do it?

It is like, prior to the days of the DH, when pitchers got to swing the bat in games (e.g., Warren Spahn had 2,056 plate appearances), Ronny would have been a #5 hitter lefty, but a #9 pitcher’s slot hitter righty.

Time to dump the righty hitting?

BRENNAN’S NO-COST RECOMMENDATION:

This off-season, drop the righty swinging, Mo.  

Go 100% lefty.  

It would be great if the Mets could hire a few decent AAAA lefty pitchers to pitch to him this winter, to help with the transition.

Remember those Rocky movies against Mr. T. and Ivan Drago?  

Rocky knew he had to make significant adjustments to win.  

He trained to recalibrate his fighting style. It was hard, but it worked.

To become a possible major league star, Ronny needs to recalibrate.  

He needs to drop the righty at bats. Period.

BANG FOR THE BUCK?

With less than 20% of the season left, through Monday, the Mets spent $42 million on Manaea and Montas this season.

Probably $85 million, including tax levies.

For that?  They’ve gotten 4-4, 5.75 ERA, 75 innings. Egads.

Of course, there are weeks that Uncle Steve probably made $85 million, just on surging crypto. Easy breezy.

Minimum wage McLean and Tong? 4 starts, 4 wins.

WEDNESDAY, THEY CAME OUT OF HIDING

PER SNY: 

“Jesse Winker appears to be on the mend. 

The Mets' outfielder/designated hitter kicked off a rehab assignment on Wednesday afternoon, batting second and serving as the DH for the Low-A St. Lucie squad. 

Winker took just two at-bats, finishing hitless with a double play and strikeout. (Brennan note - And 3 more Ks Friday night.)

Jose Siri was also in the lineup as he began a rehab assignment of his own, leading off and playing center.

He played five innings and reached in his two at-bats, drawing a walk and being hit-by-pitch.”

Siri was 2 for 2 last night.

Meanwhile, a beast lurks…

RAMPAGING REIMER

Jacob Reimer, the 21 year old who was injured for most of 2024, went through a couple of slumpy, dumpy months from June though mid-August.  

I started to wonder about the lad a wee bit. But…..

Then, from August 14 thru 29, I wondered no more - he went on a AA rampage. 

He realized, perhaps, that his AA classmates were promoted and he was left back.  That would tick me off.

Anyway, he has gone 26 for 52 (.500) over that 15 day stretch, with 5 HRs and 16 RBIs. And his 73 RBIs in just 406 at bats this year are impressive. 

What to do? 

Promote him to AAA in September after the AA playoffs conclude.

DO YOU REMEMBER HIM?

In 1974, San Francisco Giant Ron Bryant at age 25 led the NL in wins, going 24-12, after going 14-7 the year before.

He promptly went 3-16 over the next two seasons and his career was done at age 27.

He was 5-2 career vs. the Mets.

Do you remember him?  I should.  But I sure don’t. 

I do, however, remember Jellybean Joe Bryant and Kobe Bryant.

Reese Kaplan -- The Surprises Thus Far for 2025 Mets Season

Some people love surprises for the unexpected developments they bring.  Others hate surprises because it represents a loss of control over their careful planning.  For the Mets the 2025 season has been full of surprises, some good, some bad and some too soon to determine what they really mean.

The Good

For all of the hostility and disappointment people felt about the record setting Juan Soto contract, who here thought he’d be leading the team in home runs ahead of Pete Alonso.  Lately he’s been on fire in situations with runners in scoring position.

Starling Marte began the season as a member of the walking wounded and everyone was writing him off as brittle and over the hill.  Who here had betting slips that listed Marte as the club’s leading batting average when the season began?

Pete Alonso is having the kind of season many players only dream about.  Already in triple digits in RBIs with the best batting average he’s shown in his career, his mere 30 HRs suggests he may need a very hot September to reach 40 by year’s end.  I think everyone can live with that.

David Peterson has demonstrated that the unexpected 2024 output was not an outlier.  Right now he’s 8-5 and while the ERA has jumped to 3.18, that’s still close to a number one starter’s quality anywhere in baseball. 

What can you say about the first three major league starts by rookie Nolan McLean?  After making a late entry onto the Mets roster all McLean has done is perform at All Star level.  He’s 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA and averaging just about a strikeout per inning pitched while offering up a WHIP of just 0.689.

The Bad

Injuries have disproportionately hit the Mets this season with many pitchers out needing Tommy John surgery, hitters with broken bones and the club scrambling to substitute the expected regulars with 2nd, 3rd and 4th tier players.  As a result the team finds itself 4 games out of first place which is actually not that bad considering all of the health maladies that have arisen.

The slumps that have tanked Mets games have been tough to swallow.  For much of the season Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor, Francisco Alvarez, Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna and others were performing at well below league average levels.  Some have turned themselves around.  Others have not. 

The starting pitching has been adventurous for much of the middle of the year.  All of the sudden Kodai Senga is hittable, Clay Holmes went from star level to exhausted, Sean Manaea hasn’t been able to go deep into games and the multitude of others who have attempted starts like Paul Blackburn, Frankie Montas and others fell off the table with injuries and incompetence.

The bullpen has not been much better.  Obviously Edwin Diaz is pitching like he’s invincible most of the time, but the rest of the relievers have been fighting overuse, incompetence, health and the inability to thrive once they hit the roster (which, of course, includes the July arrivals). 

The Unknown

After regularly posting video game type pitching numbers Jonah Tong is slated to be promoted to start Friday night’s game against the Marlins.  Who goes to make roster room for him is apparently reliever Ty Adcock.  Everyone’s expectations will possibly mirror what they felt when Doc Gooden was a 19 year old rookie phenom making the roster much sooner than anyone anticipated. Tong is a ripe old 22 years old now but the metrics suggest he’s going to be special.  Of course, we don’t know for sure until he actually throws the ball from Citifield’s mound.  

John From Albany: 10 Years Ago - Cuddyer Leads Mets Over Red Sox, 8/30/2015

Michael Cuddyer, 2015 Topps Baseball Card

2015, the last year the Mets made the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to the Fall Classic.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 2015; Game #130; Sunday;  Aug 30, NYM 5  Vs. BOS; 4; boxscore;   WP: Clippard; LP: Ross;  Save: Familia; Time: 02:56; DAY; Attendance: 38,938; Record: 72-58; Standings: 1; Games up/behind: up 5.5; W; 

Juan Lagares CF: 0 for 5; 2 Ks; Curtis Granderson RF: 1 for 4; 3 Ks; David Wright 3B: 1 for 3; 1 walk; Daniel Murphy 1B-2B: 1 for 4; SB; 2 runs; Michael Cuddyer LF-1B: 3 for 3; 2 runs; 1 RBI; 1 walk; Juan Uribe 2B: 2 for 4; 2B; 1 run; 2 RBIs; Yoenis Céspedes LF: 0 for 0; Rubén Tejada SS: 0 for 4; Anthony Recker C: 1 for 4; 1 RBI; 1 K; Noah Syndergaard P: 1 for 2; SH; 1 RBI; 1 K; Michael Conforto PH: 1 for 1; Noah Syndergaard: 6.2 innings; 4 runs; 4 ERs; 6 hits; 1 HR; 1 walk; 3 Ks; Hansel Robles, BS (3): 0 inning; no runs; 1 hit; Tyler Clippard, W (3-3): 1.1 innings; no runs; 1 K; Jeurys Familia, S (35): 1 inning; no runs; 2 hits; 2 Ks; 

ESPN.com: Cuddyer, Mets avert 3-game sweep at home, beat Red Sox 5-4. "Cuddyer hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and the NL East leaders stopped their five-game home skid, averting a sweep by beating the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Sunday."  

NY Post: Mets lean on geezers to steal one from Red Sox. "Boston evened the game, 4-4, in the seventh when Mookie Betts, against Hansel Robles, dumped an RBI triple to left in front of Cuddyer who got a late break...Murphy hit into a fielder’s choice force for the second out of the seventh. Boston then replaced lefty Robbie Ross Jr. (0-2) with Heath Hembree to face the righty-swinging Cuddyer... Murphy watched the warm-ups — then stole second on the first pitch. The Red Sox didn’t even cover second....Cuddyer smashed a single to left to drive in Murphy with the eventual game-winner and complete his three-hit, one-walk, two-run day..."

Mets stay 5 and a half games ahead of the Washington Nationals who beat the Marlins 7-4. 

NL East Standings 8/30/2015

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYM	72	58	.554	--	530	477	.548
WSN	66	63	.512	5.5	550	517	.528
ATL	54	76	.415	18.0	475	611	.387
MIA	52	79	.397	20.5	481	548	.441
PHI	52	79	.397	20.5	501	663	.375

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/30/2015.