NFT: Mets at Dodgers Game 1!

a lot too. He hadn't pitched much in a week or two and he needed it IMO. The guy was clearly tiring in September. A nice long week off and his stuff was electric tonight again. He threw it 99 at one point.

...I can make you a sweet deal on some beach front property in Nevada.

2 for 3 with a walk and the one out was a rope in the first atbat. Locked in.

Mattingly blinked.

to pitch a game 4 if we don't sweep the shit out of this team? He's a lefty phenom who's as good as the rest of em.

Game 4 at this point. I see us splitting the next two at least, especially with the huge mismatch in game 3 and if we are up in the series, Matz will go.

In comment 12538016 ZGiants98 said:

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In comment 12538014 NJGiantFan84 said: Quote: In comment 12538011 ZGiants98 said: Quote: this performance and outduels Greinke the earth might shake. The world is finally getting a taste of what we've been so excited for. He doesnt even need to outduel him. Just ieep it close, go 7 and get into that Dodger bullpen. ill be happy with a chance to win the game in the later innings. Because we go home 1-1 at worst. Yeah I wasn't saying what we needed to do to win. I was saying what a performance like that would do for his perception. Im pretty sure the whole world just witnessed deGrom out dominate Kershaw. Would be crazy if Syndergaard did it to Greinke too.

I see it now. My excitement has made my reading comprehension drop!! Sorry.

He had 1st base open and wasn't going to give in. Ultimately we'll never know if Kershaw would have gotten out of the jam because his manager didn't trust his 3 time Cy Young Winner to carry his own water.

...eliminated the possibility of a game 4 return win or lose. Matz is going to get the ball.

and Wright had already had a few good abats on him earlier. Flip a coin, that could of gone either way. Don't think it was a really bad call. Not after three walks and 120 pitches.

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In comment 12538032 Torrag said:

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...eliminated the possibility of a game 4 return win or lose. Matz is going to get the ball.

IF there's a game 4

Seagar thought the ball was foul and the wind blew it back in. Cespedes hit a shot that the wind just knocked down. I thought for sure it was a HR when it came off the bat. Most nights it probably is.

That said, Conforto starts tomorrow agst the righty and Mets are not coming back to LA so Cuddyer is a moot issue.

NJ

In comment 12538036 Vanzetti said:

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Seagar thought the ball was foul and the wind blew it back in. Cespedes hit a shot that the wind just knocked down. I thought for sure it was a HR when it came off the bat. Most nights it probably is. That said, Conforto starts tomorrow agst the righty and Mets are not coming back to LA so Cuddyer is a moot issue.

Agreed.

Kershaw got several ridiculous strike calls that were a factor though. You rarely see The Captain get on the plate umpire but he groused pretty hard tonight.

If Kershaw is who his stats and accolades indicate I don't think you can pull him there.

We all hope there isn't.

In comment 12538036 Vanzetti said:

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Seagar thought the ball was foul and the wind blew it back in. Cespedes hit a shot that the wind just knocked down. I thought for sure it was a HR when it came off the bat. Most nights it probably is. That said, Conforto starts tomorrow agst the righty and Mets are not coming back to LA so Cuddyer is a moot issue.

I thought so too when it happened then one of the announcers said they aren't seeing any signs of winds out there. Then again, one called deGrom Jason DeGrom right before the broadcast ended so its hard to trust anything they say when they cannot get the pitchers name right after a gem like that.

6 K's through two innings was one. Did he break the most K's overall as well?

You definitely pull him, especially if you are planning to bring him back in game 4 on 3 days rest.

Ball four to Tejada was above his head. When you walk Tejada and you are not even close on ball 4, you are losing it.

In comment 12538041 NJGiantFan84 said:

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In comment 12538036 Vanzetti said: Quote: Seagar thought the ball was foul and the wind blew it back in. Cespedes hit a shot that the wind just knocked down. I thought for sure it was a HR when it came off the bat. Most nights it probably is. That said, Conforto starts tomorrow agst the righty and Mets are not coming back to LA so Cuddyer is a moot issue. I thought so too when it happened then one of the announcers said they aren't seeing any signs of winds out there. Then again, one called deGrom Jason DeGrom right before the broadcast ended so its hard to trust anything they say when they cannot get the pitchers name right after a gem like that.

Yeah, but Dodgers Stadium is in that ravine perched way atop the city. You can get weird currents. I've only been to the stadium three times, so Im not an expert but that ball by Seagar was definitely blown way back in.

There had to be something with the wind. Cuddy is no defensive stud, but he makes all the plays he should make. It will be interesting to see what he says about it.

New York Mets ✔ @Mets
That's going to leave a mark! Murphy's HR ball literally has his name on it. #Beast #LGM #Mets



Statcast estimated the exit velocity at 105 mph

I'd be surprised to see either back in game 4 on 3 days rest. But, if the Mets are up, the Dodgers might think they need Kershaw.

In comment 12538042 Torrag said:

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6 K's through two innings was one. Did he break the most K's overall as well?

David Schoenfield, SweetSpot blogger


The 13 strikeouts tied Tom Seaver for a Mets postseason record and were the most ever in a playoff game at Dodger Stadium. At times, deGrom simply threw his fastball past hitters. Overall, he induced 24 swings-and-misses, tied for the second-most in a postseason game since 2009. Fourteen of those misses were fastballs. The Dodgers simply had trouble catching up to it. It was a brilliant performance.

I guess that puns too obvious and probably used before.

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Who first say deGrom at the All Star game and last night have to be a tad impressed with him I think

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For a third consecutive postseason Friday, the best pitcher on the planet stumbled in the biggest moment of his season and this time, even an attempted rescue by Manager Don Mattingly couldn't save the pitcher, the moment or the game. In a controversial but proper decision, Mattingly lifted Kershaw after he walked the bases loaded with two out in the seventh inning of the National League division series opener against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. Pedro Baez took the ball, gave up a two-run single to David Wright, and the Mets took a 3-0 lead that eventually became a 3-1 win that puts the Dodgers' postseason on the brink just hours after it began. But, yes, you read that right. Mattingly made the right call in lifting Kershaw after he had thrown 113 pitches in steamy heat. He made the right call after Kershaw had walked three of the five batters in faced in the seventh. He made the right call because if the Dodgers have learned anything from the last two postseasons, it is they cannot stand by helplessly and watch their ace wilt while their season wilts with him. Were you not watching last October against the St. Louis Cardinals? Were you not watching in October of 2014 against those same Cardinals? In two late collapses last season against the Cardinals, Kershaw succumbed after throwing 110 and 102 pitches. The previous season, he was left alone to absorb a shelling while throwing 98 pitches. In all three games, there were cries that Mattingly should have swallowed his pride and risked alienating his ace and gone to the bullpen. From the moment Mattingly angered Kershaw by pulling him late in the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, it was obvious this season's Dodgers, from the front office to the dugout, would heed those cries. Yes, Kershaw had been his usual dominating self in the first six innings Friday with 11 strikeouts and only four allowed hits, his effort marred only by Daniel Murphy's fourth-inning homer. But in that seventh inning, the signs of potential collapse were everywhere.

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He pitched a good game, but not as good as de Grom.

For removing Cy Young pitcher Kershaw for some stiff named Baez. Pretty bold and In my opinion stupid. I don't care how it looked like Kershaw was on the ropes. He is Kershaw. Nevertheless, Dodgers weren't beating deGromm anyhow.

He definitely stumbled. Admittedly after having pitched a very good game to that point but he did stumble at the and it cost them dearly when Wright made them pay for the mistake.

In comment 12538253 5BowlsSoon said:

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For removing Cy Young pitcher Kershaw for some stiff named Baez. Pretty bold and In my opinion stupid. I don't care how it looked like Kershaw was on the ropes. He is Kershaw. Nevertheless, Dodgers weren't beating deGromm anyhow.

Mattingly made the right call. They guy had walked the bases loaded; he was done. Was he really supposed to let him continue at that point? Of course people always second guess either way but can you imagine if he left him in and he either walks in an assurance run or give up the big hit to DW how much he would be second guessed for leaving him in?

watching DeGrom battle Kershaw through 7 felt similar to what transpired earlier in the day, when a very efficient Lackey's pitch count was in sharp contrast to Lester's laboring. Both Lester and deGrom went to so many 3-2 counts, I was going bananas, even when deGrom faced Kershaw. Getting through 7 innings with his pitch count at ~120, no earned runs, on a night when he had good stuff but was not especially sharp was very impressive.

Clippard had that terrific stretch when the Mets closed the gap and built the lead on the Nats. But I don't have confidence in his stuff: he leaves too many pitches up in the zone and there is often not a lot of movement.

Cuddyer, that was an embarrassing performance: he got a late jump on the ball that ticked off his glove and, on the second, broke first toward the line several steps before adjusting and breaking back toward the wall. Question: how the wind keep Yoenis' fly in the park yet Cuddyer is breaking sideways? Watching him in LF keeps spitting up the SA mistakes and leaves a sour taste. Cuddyer looked like an over-the-hill, old man playing LF and his at bats were anemic, of course, that's what Kershaw does.

Home plate ump: that also was an embarrassing performance. Torrag was right, he was equally bad for both teams, especially on balls below the knees...stopping deGrom on a "time" when JdG had already gone into his windup.

it is also possible that we see better and that is a reality

His walks weren't gifts by any stretch, they were very close AB's that were battles back and forth. Tejada and Granderson each fought back with 2 strikes on them and earned those bases. Wright had a few good AB's vs. Kershaw, but none of the righties had made any solid contact off of him and it's not like the guy they brought in was some lights out reliever. Didn't Darling say he had an opponent BA over .300 against the first man he faces? And you bring that guy in to a bases loaded situation vs. letting Kershaw continue? Talk about being jaded from last year.

And re: Cuddyer's defense - nobody remembers him being bad in the field because he only played 39 games there in the 2nd half of the season (66 overall). When he was signed, most reports said he was the worst defensive LF in baseball, aging on bad knees, and he didn't do much this season to disprove that. I could definitely still see him getting big hits in this PS, but after yesterday I'd likely restrict him to pinch hitting or playing 1B. Anything you get from Cuddyer will be an outlier to any statistical accomplishments he had this season. His OPS vs. lefties was .700 and he hasn't hit an HR since August.

agree on the Kershaw at bats his last inning: in particular, I thought Granderson gamed the ump when, twice, consecutive pitches I believe, he jerked back, once raising his arms, as if the pitch was close to hitting him.

Of course, the so-called "center field" camera in this game, as with some others, is very tough to read because it's not a dead center view: pitches that looked like they painted the outside corner to lefties were called consistently outside.

Separately, and NOT affected by the slightly skewed angle from CF--and the graphics showed multiple, multiple balls low and well out of the zone were called strikes by this ump. wtf

I was glad they pulled him also, it's always good to run a great pitcher but you can't fault Mattingly there; it was the right move to make. You can only give a pitcher so much rope and at that point Mattingly couldn't let him continue and risk losing the first game of the series with a pitcher who was well over 100 pitches, had a history of blowing it in a similar situation and had just walked the bases loaded. It didn't work out for him but it was the smarter move to make. A manager just can't let his team go down in flames with a gassed pitcher. That's exactly the situation why you have a bull pen.

In comment 12538292 steve in ky said:

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I was glad they pulled him also, it's always good to run a great pitcher but you can't fault Mattingly there; it was the right move to make. You can only give a pitcher so much rope and at that point Mattingly couldn't let him continue and risk losing the first game of the series with a pitcher who was well over 100 pitches, had a history of blowing it in a similar situation and had just walked the bases loaded. It didn't work out for him but it was the smarter move to make. A manager just can't let his team go down in flames with a gassed pitcher. That's exactly the situation why you have a bull pen.

If a run got scored in the seventh when Wright came up, Mattingly was going to get second-guessed regardless.

and yes, that's why you have a pen, but not all bullpens are equal. Pedro Baez has a near 4 era over the second half of the season, a near 6 era in September, and according to Darling is terrible against the first batter he faces (can't find the stat online anywhere but believe he said opp BA > .300).

If they were bringing in someone even on the level of Clippard or Reed that would be 1 thing, but they basically brought in Hansel Robles. I think Mattingly was looking to not repeat a mistake made last year and made a new mistake.

but as an opposing fan all I can say is that I was happy Kershaw got the hook in the moment and upon researching the decision it seems even worse. Great relievers have a tough enough time in the post season. Mediocre ones usually get very exposed. Baez had a 7.7 ERA in his 2 appearances last year.

Had a nice breakdown of why he was done at that point. Not sure if it is online anywhere but it was much more insightful into Kershaw mechanics and why he was in trouble and missing his pitches than most post game talking head type of stuff. He even went as far as blaming the pitching coach for not spotting it sooner.

is the first 10 plus strikeouts game, for the Mets, since Dwight Gooden had 10, in the 1988 NLDS Game at Dodger Stadium.

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In comment 12538323 Canton said:

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is the first 10 plus strikeouts game, for the Mets, since Dwight Gooden had 10, in the 1988 NLDS Game at Dodger Stadium.

Even more impressive is tying Tom Seaver's post game record of 13 K's.

I love the way this young man rises to the big moments. The great ones usually do.

Noah TristerVerified account ‏@noahtrister 12h12 hours ago
Game Score of 79 for deGrom would be fifth best in Mets postseason history. (Matlock 89, Hampton 88, Jones 88, Seaver 80.)

In comment 12538318 steve in ky said:

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Had a nice breakdown of why he was done at that point. Not sure if it is online anywhere but it was much more insightful into Kershaw mechanics and why he was in trouble and missing his pitches than most post game talking head type of stuff. He even went as far as blaming the pitching coach for not spotting it sooner.

Pedro was amazing. I watched that whole postgame show just to hear him.

but I would imagine pitchers mechanics are often changing in game. I saw someone do the same thing showing how Degrom's changed for the better as the game went on getting more on top of the ball (think it was either Pedro or Darling). If it was my call I'd still rather have Kershaw on the hill battling through at bats the way he was at the time than bringing in someone mediocre like Baez for a high leverage situation.

In comment 12538344 Eric on Li said:

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Noah TristerVerified account �@noahtrister 12h12 hours ago Game Score of 79 for deGrom would be fifth best in Mets postseason history. (Matlock 89, Hampton 88, Jones 88, Seaver 80.)

I have some real questions about any metric that doesn't include any of Gooden's games in the Mets top grouping. His 1984 one hitter, which if it weren't but for Ray Knight should have been a no hitter was one of the most dominate pitching performances any Met has ever thrown. Let along a few other gems he had.