NFT: Mets v Marlins rubber game, go Lugo!

or during?

He's the only one on the staff to start the season who hasn't until now!

are playing these games. They must be emotionally drained.

pitched well in his previous start (post injury). It's possible he just had a bad start that was unrelated.

In comment 13147100 Jints in Carolina said:

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are playing these games. They must be emotionally drained.

Which is why Keith Hernandez knocking them for "not having their head in the game" after a sloppy play or 2 really seemed odd.

In comment 13147106 DanMetroMan said:

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In comment 13147100 Jints in Carolina said: Quote: are playing these games. They must be emotionally drained. Which is why Keith Hernandez knocking them for "not having their head in the game" after a sloppy play or 2 really seemed odd.

he said that? wow.

one point it was especially sloppy and I have to assume he just didn't put 2 and 2 together but he was pretty rough on their mistakes.

Every night is a must win for the Mets

Gotta plan to go 4-1 to close out, because the other two teams dont look like they will lose many games

himself. He was pretty broken up and crying himself when first talking about it for Mondays game.

a lot on the Mets last night after the very emotionally draining game the Marlins had Monday.

In comment 13147125 steve in ky said:

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himself. He was pretty broken up and crying himself when first talking about it for Mondays game.

steve I don't disagree at all. I just meant it wasn't the best look to be questioning their play all things considered. I don't think he intended it to sound the way it did.

In comment 13147123 spike said:

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Every night is a must win for the Mets Gotta plan to go 4-1 to close out, because the other two teams dont look like they will lose many games

May have this wrong, but the Mets got Wed Fri Sat Sun left. Stl has five left. If Stl wins all five the Mets need to win 3 to get in.

In comment 13147106 DanMetroMan said:

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Which is why Keith Hernandez knocking them for "not having their head in the game" after a sloppy play or 2 really seemed odd.

Which is really odd given that Keith wondered how the Marlins would find the energy to play last night's game after their emotional first game.

Going to be tough tonight too, after seeing their teammate buried today.

it was in bad form to knock them for no having their heads in the game.

In comment 13147135 schabadoo said:

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In comment 13147123 spike said: Quote: Every night is a must win for the Mets Gotta plan to go 4-1 to close out, because the other two teams dont look like they will lose many games May have this wrong, but the Mets got Wed Fri Sat Sun left. Stl has five left. If Stl wins all five the Mets need to win 3 to get in.

That would leave them tied.

Heating up! Jay Bruce is hitting .429 with two homers in his last four games. #MetsFacts

In comment 13147205 spike said:

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Heating up! Jay Bruce is hitting .429 with two homers in his last four games. #MetsFacts

Getting Bruce on track and getting a hot Duda is just what this team ordered for the playoffs.

mashing offensively and lights out BP. Reyes/Cabrera/Cespedes/Granderson/Duda/Bruce/Tda/Rivera is a pretty stacked lineup if things are clicking. That said, unless Thor can pitch 2 games against the Cubs in the 5 game series (unlikely given scheduling) I think it's unlikely this team can advance.

most of these contending teams have not faced them before

but most everything suggests Lugo in particular is overachieving right now (FIP, K's, etc). I'm not saying they're bums, I see no reason they can't hold their own in the way Yordano Ventura did for KC last year for example. Just that they are obviously in a different league than Thor, Bumgarner, Lester, Arrieta, Scherzer, Kershaw so those other teams are likely to have a SP advantage over the course of a series.

Ironically from a pitching staff standpoint last year's Royals might be our best model for hope. Thor is better than Cueto, Colon and CY are comparable, and it's not crazy to think Gsellman/Lugo can match the output from Volquez/Yordano. It remains to be seen if our BP can do what their's did, but I have more hope this year than last year with Reed + Blevins pitching the way they are.

lol. Buh bye.

You haven't been that good with runners in RISP lately.

doesnt have much control tonight

is a good pinch hitter?

if Lugo can get through five innings

Bruce is back.

I think the pressure is off, esp now they are on the road.

In comment 13147413 spike said:

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I think the pressure is off, esp now they are on the road.

Streaky guy. Bound to heat up eventually. Those numbers are going to look sparkling at the end of the year. Who doesn't want a 29 year old, 32 HR, .800 OPS bat? Sandy will have no problem trading him.

bot 4th

In comment 13147414 ZGiants98 said:

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In comment 13147413 spike said: Quote: I think the pressure is off, esp now they are on the road. Streaky guy. Bound to heat up eventually. Those numbers are going to look sparkling at the end of the year. Who doesn't want a 29 year old, 32 HR, .800 OPS bat? Sandy will have no problem trading him.

It all depends on Conforto.

almost back up to .800 OPS. Another fine year for the Grandy man.

In comment 13147416 spike said:

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In comment 13147414 ZGiants98 said: Quote: In comment 13147413 spike said: Quote: I think the pressure is off, esp now they are on the road. Streaky guy. Bound to heat up eventually. Those numbers are going to look sparkling at the end of the year. Who doesn't want a 29 year old, 32 HR, .800 OPS bat? Sandy will have no problem trading him. It all depends on Conforto.

I actually think it depends on Ces. If Ces signs, Sandy will field offers for Bruce. OF doesn't really work the way its currently constructed. Id keep Granderson in CF next year and bridge him to Nimmo with Lagares playing CF as well. Ces and Conforto would be my corner guys.

its Reed and Familia time!

Pretty much the perfect 7th inning guy.

2

in a RBI situation. Lets get them in, Rivera

I know Rivera has gotten a ton of big hits, but it seems more fluky than sustainable right now. He doesn't walk at all and right now literally everything is dropping into play for him. I think he's a nice bench piece for sure and interested to see more, but Cecchini has looked really good in his limited action working pitchers and showing a quick bat.

Lets do this. Sweep the Phills and prepare for Syndergaard/Bumgarner. Must watch television.

Cecchini has 7 plate appearances and two hits this year. Let's bench a guy hitting .350 with a .850 OPS 3 days before the playoffs?

Oh Eric. Love ya bud.

for the rookie Cecchini. If the Mets clinch, maybe Cecchini will see some time at SS

!

50 saves for Mr Familia!

Magic Number is 3!

In comment 13147482 spike said:

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for the rookie Cecchini. If the Mets clinch, maybe Cecchini will see some time at SS

I mean I certainly campaigned for him about a month ago to get some playing time but 3 days before the playoffs? For what? Not to mention TJ has over 100 atbats now, not nothing and is hitting .350.

In comment 13147484 spike said:

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50 saves for Mr Familia! Magic Number is 3!

Could be 2 if Cards lose right?

In comment 13147486 ZGiants98 said:

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In comment 13147484 spike said: Quote: 50 saves for Mr Familia! Magic Number is 3! Could be 2 if Cards lose right?

yes

just wish he would have gotten more time the last few weeks that Flores has been banged up, especially in some of the games that were completely out of hand. Both guys play enough positions that it wasn't a binary decision.

Bruce getting going now is massive if he can keep it up. What a story it would be if it was the bats that carried us into October this year after the pitching staff we initially went into this season with and how absolutely dreadful this offense was for that stretch in the summer.

In comment 13147489 Eric on Li said:

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just wish he would have gotten more time the last few weeks that Flores has been banged up, especially in some of the games that were completely out of hand. Both guys play enough positions that it wasn't a binary decision.

Ok fair enough. Apologies. I was just messing with you really but it came off harder than I meant..

Mattingly and the rest of the Marlins was a nice touch

to win 2 out of 3 and exercise some demons from 2007 and 2008. It really is incredible that this team is on the verge of getting a wild card after all of the ridiculous injuries this team has had. I'd certainly consider the season a success if they can get a wild card.

If Duda is done then that sucks. Loney (despite the HR tonight) is a huge downgrade from Duda and makes winning in the playoffs a little tougher. Glad to see Bruce finally do something these past few days, but it's going to take more than a few good games to make up for 7+ weeks of complete futility. If he rakes in a wild card game or the NLDS, I might be willing to come around on him :)

I liked Eric on Li's 6:39 post. The Royals aren't a perfect comp to the Mets, but they're the best comp we have if we're going to dream of a deep playoff run.

Should be an eventful weekend for the Mets either way, and well timed with the Giants playing on Monday. LGM!

Bumgarner in a one game playoff at home. It would almost be like a glimpse of what we would have been had we been close to full strength.

4 out of the fab 5 are gone but Syndergaard with our pen and this lineup could be quite a battle for the Bum man.

would be available to play against the MadBum

Wayne Randazzo (@WayneRandazzo)
4 mins ago - View on Twitter
#Mets magic number to grab a wild card spot is 3. Could be 2 if STL loses tonight. First chance to clinch would be Friday in Philly.

favs against Bum at home with Thor on the mound. Would be a great showcase for the franchise with the entire country watching.

Cmon Cinci...finish this off!

but then the next three hitters struck out. Cardinals closer came in to K the last two batters in the eighth

so we can save Syndergaard for the WC game.

0-17, 6-7, and 2-12.

We should be able to score some runs on them this weekend

Tex just hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom ninth to stave off a Sox clincher in the Bronx.

In comment 13147510 spike said:

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Tex just hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom ninth to stave off a Sox clincher in the Bronx.

Actually they just clinched with the Jays loss

Skanks?

In comment 13147524 Mike in NY said:

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Skanks?

sorry got distracted.

.

with tying runs at third in both eighth and ninth innings and less than two outs.

2!!

but a home game either way is great. It's really amazing that this team is only a couple games behind their record last year considering all the injuries.

btw - how crazy is baseball? Carlos Gomez just crushed a 3 run homer for the 2nd game in a row, now has more than 20 RBIs in the month since signing with Texas, after literally being awful for a team that plays in the same state/league. How does that make any sense at all?

Rockies

In comment 13147558 Eric on Li said:

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but a home game either way is great. It's really amazing that this team is only a couple games behind their record last year considering all the injuries. btw - how crazy is baseball? Carlos Gomez just crushed a 3 run homer for the 2nd game in a row, now has more than 20 RBIs in the month since signing with Texas, after literally being awful for a team that plays in the same state/league. How does that make any sense at all?

Astros are charged. Blame Mike Scuff.

?

In comment 13147558 Eric on Li said:

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but a home game either way is great. It's really amazing that this team is only a couple games behind their record last year considering all the injuries. btw - how crazy is baseball? Carlos Gomez just crushed a 3 run homer for the 2nd game in a row, now has more than 20 RBIs in the month since signing with Texas, after literally being awful for a team that plays in the same state/league. How does that make any sense at all?

This season is a truly amazing feat. I have no personal agenda. Im a Met fan. Our manager deserves top billing. End of story.

Then they have a one game playoff and Mets face the winner for another one game playoff.

That Seth int actually Terry Collins? Has he posted during a game once this season while terry was on tv (as opposed to taking a dump and not knowing who is on base)

Keeps my dream of them tieing cards and bumgartner starting on short rest for that game alive

In comment 13147633 bhill410 said:

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That Seth int actually Terry Collins? Has he posted during a game once this season while terry was on tv (as opposed to taking a dump and not knowing who is on base)

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

In comment 13147620 Vanzetti said:

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Then they have a one game playoff and Mets face the winner for another one game playoff.

This would be perfect.

Which would be no picnic but we would match up much better against a righty I think.

was fun.

"While guys like Curtis Granderson and, somehow, “T.J. Rivera” have been huge at the plate for the Mets lately, nobody’s been bigger than Cabrera. After returning from the 15-day disabled list following a knee injury in August, Cabrera’s slashed .366/.427/.687 over a not totally tiny 150 plate appearances, running a Brian Dozier-like (that’s a compliment now) .321 isolated slugging percentage and a 197 wRC+. Few hitters in baseball have been better over the last month. Few have been better over the entire second half. And Cabrera, himself, is on a run like none other in his career"


Asdrubal Cabrera as Daniel Murphy - ( New Window )

Cabrera and Granderson have been hot all month. But it's the kids who came up to replace the injured guys who have really saved the season. TJ Rivera being the most important. Even Conforto. Czech had big moments, Nimmo in very limited time. But Gsellamn has been excellent. Lugo has been phenomenal.

So I don't see how TC has done anything during this run. If anything, even in wins, he has made some crazy head scratching moves. But the youngsters have come up, played their way into a role, and have played just as well as the guys they replaced. Credit the minor league system for developing and preparing these guys.

In comment 13148041 ZGiants98 said:

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Which would be no picnic but we would match up much better against a righty I think.

Don't understand this. The Giants won't throw Bumgarner in a tiebreaker game on Monday when he's on two days rest. They'd throw Samrdjzia and hold back Bumgarner for a potential wildcard game. Nothing else would make sense.

the Giants have several capable vet starters they can use. They just have no offense at the moment.

really reminds me of non-mutant Daniel Murphy. Hopefully he can keep it up (at least reasonably so).

Sickels says he's now in consideration to be at top 100 prospect heading into next year.
Robert Gsellman: What happens next? - ( New Window )

really reminds of of a poor man's DeGrom. Lugo has been a bit more "lucky". I think he's a big leaguer but I think he's more of a back end/reliever type than Gsellman who has 3-4 upside.

i'd trust Gsellman in a playoff game than Lugo, which would fit better in the postseason pen

In comment 13148163 DanMetroMan said:

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really reminds of of a poor man's DeGrom. Lugo has been a bit more "lucky". I think he's a big leaguer but I think he's more of a back end/reliever type than Gsellman who has 3-4 upside.

Agree on both. Thor/Colon/Gsellman obviously isn't going to scare anyone the way last year's rotation did but it's viable. If Lugo can refine the CB he could be a lights out reliever.