Mets

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom is Back in the Cy Young Race

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets have to be pleased with the groove Jacob deGrom is in right now. The Mets ace hurled seven shutout innings in their 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. deGrom currently holds a streak of 17 consecutive innings without allowing a run. If the Mets want any chance to make a run at the Wild Card, they will need him to carry them through the next two months.

Can deGrom Repeat?

deGrom is battling a lot of the same factors he had to deal with in 2018.  He takes the mound with an offense that does not score for him and a below average defense. They only major difference between the two seasons are his slow start and the larger amount of Cy Young contenders.

His ERA in each month has decreased and he put together one of his best starts of the season on Thursday. deGrom had a career ERA under two during day games and the number decreased even more today. In his four daytime starts in 2019, deGrom has only allowed three runs and has struck out 34 batters.

Who is deGrom Battling For the Cy Young Award?

The usual candidates, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are in the mix. Kershaw has not skipped a beat after losing velocity on his fastball and has been a strong as ever. Scherzer has pitched the Washington Nationals back in the race for the NL East and leads the league in strikeouts.

The new comers to the conversation are youngsters Mike Soroka and Luis Castillo. Soroka’s biggest weapon is his hard sinker and his ability to limit the home run. He has only allowed five in 102.1 innings and to the old writers his 10-2 record also looks good as well.

The Man to Beat

Hyun-Jin Ryu has actually pitched as well as deGrom over the last two seasons, just with a smaller sample size. His 1.76 ERA leads baseball and has only walked 14 batters in 123 innings. He is currently the front runner for the Cy Young and as long as his ERA stays in “deGrom” territory, he will be the winner.

deGrom’s second half will have to top last year’s to put himself in the top three. Ryu will also have to regress at some point as well. deGrom’s first month of 2019 was proof of how hard it is to sustain that level of success. If the Mets are out of the race in September, at least we will have the Cy Young and batting title race.

New York Mets: The Veterans Get The Job Done Against the Padres

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New York Mets, Robinson Cano

The first game of the three game series between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres were supposed to be a battle of youth. The match up everyone wanted to see was Pete Alonso against Chris Paddack, but there were not any fireworks between the two rookies. The Mets ended up winning 5-2.

The Veterans Take the Lead

The 36-year old duo of Jason Vargas and Robinson Cano put on a show last night. Vargas put on a clinic on the mound and kept the young Padres hitters off balanced. He threw six innings, allowing only one run and struck out eight. Vargas had a potent fastball-change up combo and none of his fastball’s were above 85 on the radar gun.

Cano had his first career three home run game and drove in all five runs for the Mets. Since the All-Star break, he is 13-38 (.342) and already surpassed his home run total from the first half. Cano also hit his three home runs on three different types of pitches.

Is Their Success For Real?

Both of these guys had strenuous starts to their Mets careers, but it seems both have turned the corner. Vargas definitely has increased his trade value, especially since the starting pitcher market is very thin. Cano is also slowly giving the Mets hope that trading for his contact was not a mistake.

The Mets still sit seven games out of the second wild card spot, but there are multiple teams within a game of the Mets. If the Mets can sweep the Padres, they will leap them and have a chance to do the same against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Noah Syndergarrd and Jacob deGrom are set to pitch the next two games, this gives the Mets a great opportunity to sweep the series.

 

New York Mets: Zack Wheeler to Return on Friday

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Will the New York Yankees land Zack Wheeler in free agency?

The New York Mets top trade piece, Zack Wheeler, will start on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wheeler had been sidelined since July 7 because of a shoulder impingement. He threw a bullpen session Friday and live batting practice Tuesday without any issues.

Wheeler will only have one start to prove his trade worth, due to the unfortunate timing of his injury. He drew interest from multiple teams before he landed on the injured list. Throughout the year Wheeler had plenty of life on his pitches, but struggled to find any consistency. This led to a 4.69 ERA and a higher home run rate than he had in 2018.

Wheeler’s Deceiving Numbers

The interesting part about Wheeler’s season is his ERA makes it look worse than it actually is. FIP is “Fielding independent Pitching” and it only takes into account pitcher’s three true outcomes (HR/BB/K). Wheeler’s FIP in 2018 and 2019 are 3.25 and 3.67, not too much of a difference. He has allowed multiple bloop hits this year and the Mets poor defense does not turn those bloop hits into outs.

Should Wheeler put together a good start Friday, there should still be a large amount of teams lining up to acquire him. If he struggles, teams might have interest, but their offers will be significantly lower. If he puts together a strong August, the Mets could put him on waivers and deal him before the August 31 deadline. Justin Verlander was a waiver trade and it worked out perfectly for the Houston Astros.

Can Wheeler Regain His Form?

Wheeler found success in the second half of 2018, in which he actually pitched to a lower ERA than Jacob deGrom. After receiving extra rest due to the All-Star break and recovery from his injury, he should expect to return to elite form.

The Mets can extend a qualifying offer to Wheeler during the offseason if they do not trade him. Wheeler was at his peak value last offseason, but the Mets kept him in hopes of winning this season. He has never made a postseason start and his start Friday could determine if he makes his first, this year.

New York Mets: The Disappointing Series in San Francisco

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets flew into San Francisco high confidence after winning four straight games. They had their two aces lined up to pitch the first two games of the series and their bullpen seemed to figure things out. This was a real opportunity for them to get back in the NL Wild Card race.

Bumgarner Flashbacks

The Mets got a taste of a postseason game one as Madison Bumgarner was untouchable in game one of the series. The Giants won in 16 as the Mets ran out of arms and blew their 16th inning lead.

They managed to sandwich a blowout win in between two more disappointing losses. Somehow, the Mets outscored the Giants in the series but lost three of the four games. The biggest highlight for the Mets was watching Pete Alonso break a bat like a toothpick.

Miserable Mets

It fit the theme of the Mets season. They could have easily left with a four game sweep and put themselves right back in contention, but they failed miserably and lost ground.

After all of that, the Mets actually had a 5-4 road trip. It felt like they actually lost all nine games.

The best the Mets record can be at the trade deadline is two games under the .500 mark. If the Mets are not selling now, a series loss to either the Pittsburg Pirates or San Diego Padres will seal their fate as sellers.

The Mets are hanging on to their season by the smallest thread. Currently seven games out of the second Wild Card spot, they cannot afford to lose more ground.

Knowing how this season has gone, I think we are due for one final bitter heart break to put the final nail in the coffin of a third straight disappointing season.

New York Mets: Jeff McNeil Has Become an Elite Utility Player

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In what has been a horrible season for the New York Mets, Jeff McNeil has been a bright spot. An under the radar prospect has come out of nowhere to currently lead the MLB in batting average, play multiple positions well and become an All-Star.

McNeil was once involved in trade talks during the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz trade with the Seattle Mariners. Brodie’s best move was the one he did not make in keeping McNeil.

McNeil virtually came out of nowhere to become a key contributor for the Mets from his debut in 2018. He has become one of the best hitters in baseball after playing with a very unique approach to hitting.

The Mets have asked him to play multiple positions this season and he has excelled. There were questions with his glove in the minors, but he proved to be capable no matter where he is placed.

McNeil is a rare gem in today’s game. McNeil could careless about his exit velo and launch angle. He uses all sides of the field and is not afraid to sacrifice power to get an easy hit.

No matter where the Mets will have McNeil in their plans for the future. He is everything you want out of a player. He plays with the heart of Gary Carter and hustles like Pete Rose.

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The Mets have struggled to find a potent leadoff hitter since Jose Reyes left for Miami, but now they finally have their guy. At age-27, it may have taken McNeil a while to get to the big leagues, but he is making the most of it now.

New York Mets: Simeon Woods-Richardson Rising Fast

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Simeon Woods-Richardson

The New York Mets 2018 second-round pick Simeon Woods-Richardson has already made it to Single-A. What makes his promotion incredible is that he is still 18-years old. All he needed was one season in rookie ball and earned the promotion to the Columbia Fireflies this season.

Through 73.1 innings in Columbia, he has a 4.54 ERA with 90 strikeouts. Those numbers are not dominant by any means but has been a lot better as of late. During his last eight starts, he has not allowed more than two runs. During the season he has only allowed 17 walks and five home runs.

When Will He Be a Met?

Woods-Richardson still has a ton of work to do before getting to the big leagues, but he has high potential. His biggest obstacles are his ability to get deep into games and consistency with his pitches. He will finish the year close to 100 innings though and is very much ahead of most pitchers at his age.

In terms of his pitches, Woods-Richardson features a strong arsenal. His fastball is in the high-90s, a sharp 11-5 curve, along with a slider and change-up. He definitely projects as a starting pitcher, but it is the development of his other two off-speed pitches that will take him over the top.

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There were questions on what exactly Woods-Richardson’s velocity was when he was drafted, but he quieted that the second he made his professional debut. His projection to the big leagues is as early as 2022 and could be in double-A as soon as next year. The Mets will have to be patient with their young prospect, but as the #12 prospect in the Mets system, they have to pleased with his early growth.

 

 

 

 

New York Mets: The Loss From Thursday Night

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The 16-inning thriller between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants ended up in bitter disappointment for the Mets. After Pete Alonso drilled a solo home run in the top of the 16th, the Giants responded with two runs in the bottom half to steal the victory.

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This certainly was the most heartbreaking loss of the season. The game did not finish until 2:32 in the morning on the East Coast. Much like their 18 inning loss in Milwaukee earlier this season, they had to trust an unproven pitcher to close the game out.

Last Man Standing

Chris Mazza was the last man left in the Mets bullpen and had the job of closing out the Giants. He threw two innings the previous day and already pitched a scoreless 15th inning. Mazza looked gassed in the 16th, in which he failed to record a single out. The Mets were also short a reliever because Jacob Rhame was serving his one game suspension for throwing at Rhys Hoskins earlier in the year.

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The Mets bullpen was great Thursday night, regardless of Mazza’s performance. They held the Giants scoreless for 8 straight innings before they broke through to win. The bullpen Mets rose the challenge ahead of them all night, but unfortunately Mazza did not have enough gas to finish it out.

There is Still Hope

A lot of the criticism says Jacob deGrom could have pitched out of the bullpen, but I do not think there was any reason for him to come in. Possibly for the 17th, if it went that far, but the right choice was to give Mazza the opportunity to finish the game out. The Mets are better off trying to rebound and win today with deGrom on the mound and fully rested.

The result yesterday sucks, but they have a great opportunity to rebound tonight. deGrom is facing a pitcher with an ERA over five and deGrom has pitched great over his last few starts. Tonight is a 100 percent a must win for the Mets. They will not be dead in the water if they lose, but the road back to get a split in the series will be a long windy road.

What Will it Take for the New York Mets to Make the Playoffs?

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New York Mets, Mets

After taking both games against the Minnesota Twins, the New York Mets have won four in a row and are all of a sudden five games out of the second wild card spot in the National League. Just when you think this team is knocked out, they find a way to pull fans back in.

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For the next month the Mets have a very winnable schedule which includes some of the teams they have to leapfrog to become serious in the Wild Card hunt. The big question is, what needs to happen for the Mets to make the postseason?

What is the Plan?

The first step the Mets have to take is to win their four game series against the red hot San Francisco Giants, who have won five in a row. They are one of the teams the Mets will have to leap over and just before their hot streak, they were ready to sell.

The Mets will likely have to survive a Walker Lockett start so it is imperative they take game one Thursday against Madison Bumgarner, with Noah Syndergaard on the mound. The Mets follow up with Jacob deGrom Friday night, which gives them the upper hand to take the first two before Lockett pitches.

Overall, in order for the Mets to make the playoffs, the Mets bullpen has to at least pitch average. During their short hot streak, the bullpen has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

If Jeurys Familia returns to his dominant form, it plays the same role of acquiring someone at the trade deadline. He is slowly being worked back into a late inning role and his velocity was close to 100 during his last outing.

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Who else needs to step up?

Robinson Cano is also the x-factor in all of this. If he gets it going, the trio of Cano, McNeil and Alonso will be very dangerous for the rest of the season.

The Mets also have to take the rest of this season one game at a time. Focus on winning their games, instead of the mountain they have to climb in the Wild Card. I do not know if Mickey Callaway is the right leader for that, but the Mets are stuck with him for the rest of the season.

Maybe the Mets hot streak was a blip on the radar, but in 2016 the Mets were 60-62 on August 19 and made it to a Wild Card game. In the 50thanniversary of the Mets 1969 championship team, it would not surprise me to see the 2019 Mets pull off a miracle.

New York Mets: Can Robinson Cano Turn His Season Around?

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New York Mets, Robinson Cano

In his return to New York, Robinson Cano has certainly been a disappointment in his first season with the New York Mets. He has hit .245 with only six home runs and 22 RBIs.

The Mets shipped out a lot in the trade which also netted them Edwin Diaz and cash. The Seattle Mariners received Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn, and top prospect Jared Kelenic.

What happened to Robby?

Cano has certainly disappointed during his short time in blue and orange, but as long as the Mets can turn around their season, he can turn around his.

Since the All-Star break, Cano has gone 6-for-19 and looks more confident now as well. Manager Mickey Callaway has continued to show confidence in Cano by never batting him below fifth in the order, no matter how bad Cano was slumping.

After pulling off a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, the Mets have won four in a row. If the Mets want any chance at a postseason birth this year Cano has to be the one to lead the way.

Cano’s Revival?

He is a sleeping giant and once he gets going he will play like an MVP again. Cano has hall of fame numbers and wants nothing more than to play on a winning team again. Just like Adrian Beltre, I do not think his age has any effect on his production.

Even though it may not have seemed like it, this season-long slump took a huge toll on Cano. When someone has been great for as long as he had and all of a sudden hits a wall, it seems like you are trapped.

Outside of his decisions to avoid running out of the box, he has handled this the best way he could. Mets fans embraced Cano when he came here and they want nothing more than to see him play at the level he did as a Yankee.

Cano is not alone here, Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz are also trying to turn around their seasons. If all three of them return to form, the Mets could be a very dangerous team to finish the season.

Could the New York Mets trade for Yankees Young Pitcher Deivi Garcia

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

2019 has been a major disappointment for the New York Mets, but potentially making a big trade before July 31 could brighten the Mets future.

The Mets sent their top talent evaluator, Omar Minaya, to scout Yankees’ top pitching prospect Deivi Garcia.

Garcia recently played in the future’s game and is the #4 prospect in the Yankees organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

He started the year in High-A and he made four starts and posted a 3.06 ERA. Garcia had the same success in Double-A, with a 3.00 ERA in 51 innings with 81 strikeouts. He has become known for his strikeout ability even though he is only 5-feet 9 inches.

Garcia made his Triple-A debut last night and was solid in his first start. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs while striking out six. Garcia certainly could be a big piece of a trade involving Noah Syndergaard or Zack Wheeler.

There still is a lot of time for Garcia to reach his potential. He is only 20 years old and became the youngest player currently in Triple-A. Before he becomes the centerpiece of the deal, an important part of his growth needs on getting deep into ball games.

Over his first four seasons in professional baseball he has only pitched into the seven innings twice. In a trade for a one-year rental, like Zack Wheeler, Garcia is certainly acceptable as a piece in return. Given his level of talent right now, he still is at least another full season away from getting an opportunity to make an impact on a good team.

In a trade for Noah Syndergaard, Garcia has to be packaged with other big league ready prospects. This includes guys like Clint Frazier or Estevan Florial. Even though the Mets seem out of it, they are only 5.5 out of the second Wild Card spot and the Mets still have control of Syndergaard after this season.

Garcia has a lot of promise and has flown up the ranks of the Yankees system very quickly. If the Mets do not take the risk on trading for him, there are certainly many teams lining up for his services.