Last night's tough 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins should just be a blip on the radar for the New York Mets as tonight they go for their fifth series win in seven attempts in this young season.
Bartolo Colon will try to right the ship as he puts his perfect record on the line in the rubber game of the three game set. Colon so far this year has made hitters look silly at the plate this year. He has posted a 4-0 record with a miniscule 2.77 ERA. Opponents are batting .224 off him so far.
Despite Colon's promising start, the offense will have to pick up the production if the Mets want to protect Colon's unblemished start to the season. The Mets offense has hit a bit of a bumpy patch in the last few games. All year, the Mets offense has been streaky, therefore we will see if that continues and the Mets can open the flood gates for a crocked number tonight.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 ET at Marlins Park. Here's the lineup for the Mets tonight:
Mets
Curtis Granderson, RF
Juan Lagares, CF
Lucas Duda, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, LF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Eric Campbell, 3B
Wilmer Flores, SS
Kevin Plawecki, C
Colon, RHP
No major changes for tonight, top five remain the usual however Eric Campbell will get the start at 3rd and Kevin Plawecki will get the catching duties while batting eighth.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Mets Fans Optimistic After 10-3 Start
The Mets have gotten off to a brisk start to the 2015 season with exceptional starting pitching from the rotation and contrabution from their bullpen which bent but didn't break on Sunday afternoon and hung on for the 7-6 win over the struggling Miami Marlins.
In addition, Saturday marked the third time in the short season where a different Mets pitcher recorded a save. This might not seem like much however, with RHPJennry Mejia on the 15 Day Dasabiled List, the Mets have proven they can equally help carry the load while Mejia is injured.
This, and the timley hitting from the Mets hitters has bolted the Mets into an early season first place spot in April. Despite it still being early in the season, the signs are promising. The Mets have the second best run differential in the National League going into to Sunday. Run differential can be a very accurate stat because it paints the picture slightly of if a team is playing one run nail-bitters or winning by a comfortable margin.
Along with the bullpen, the Starting Pitching has been just as impressive. The Starting Pitching has gone a combined 8-2 mark and has eight quality starts. Bartolo Colon has been a pleasant surprise so far. At age 41, he is pitching like an All-Star. Colon, has been an All-Star three times in his career, in 1998, 2005 and 2013. All three years were with different teams, (CLE, LAA and OAK) and also resulted in playoff baseball for the respective team.
More importantly, with David Wright sidelined on DL for a bit longer, it will be important that the starting pitching continues its strong start. Travis d'Arnaud has been carrying the load offensivley batting .317 with 2 dingers. d'Arnaud went 2 for 3 Sunday helping his team complete the four game sweep of the last place Marlins.
The Mets will close out their first home stand of the season as they prepare for the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are the only team to win a series off the Mets this year. Therefore, it will be just as big of a test for the Mets as it will be for the Braves. It may be early, but there is still a lot of optimism in the air for both of these clubs that have been a moderate surprise so far.
In addition, Saturday marked the third time in the short season where a different Mets pitcher recorded a save. This might not seem like much however, with RHPJennry Mejia on the 15 Day Dasabiled List, the Mets have proven they can equally help carry the load while Mejia is injured.
This, and the timley hitting from the Mets hitters has bolted the Mets into an early season first place spot in April. Despite it still being early in the season, the signs are promising. The Mets have the second best run differential in the National League going into to Sunday. Run differential can be a very accurate stat because it paints the picture slightly of if a team is playing one run nail-bitters or winning by a comfortable margin.
Along with the bullpen, the Starting Pitching has been just as impressive. The Starting Pitching has gone a combined 8-2 mark and has eight quality starts. Bartolo Colon has been a pleasant surprise so far. At age 41, he is pitching like an All-Star. Colon, has been an All-Star three times in his career, in 1998, 2005 and 2013. All three years were with different teams, (CLE, LAA and OAK) and also resulted in playoff baseball for the respective team.
More importantly, with David Wright sidelined on DL for a bit longer, it will be important that the starting pitching continues its strong start. Travis d'Arnaud has been carrying the load offensivley batting .317 with 2 dingers. d'Arnaud went 2 for 3 Sunday helping his team complete the four game sweep of the last place Marlins.
The Mets will close out their first home stand of the season as they prepare for the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are the only team to win a series off the Mets this year. Therefore, it will be just as big of a test for the Mets as it will be for the Braves. It may be early, but there is still a lot of optimism in the air for both of these clubs that have been a moderate surprise so far.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Mets 6, Nationals 3 April 9th
The Mets warped up their first series of 2015 with a decisive 6-3 win over the Nationals. Not only did the Mets clinch their first series win, they also were able to defeat a very good pitcher in Stephen Strasburg.
In the first 21 innings of the Mets season, their offense only mustered up 4 runs. However, in the top of fourth, the Mets offense busted open with a huge four spot ignited by Michael Cuddyer's RBI single to open the scoring.
For the third day in a row, the Mets starting pitching was outstanding. Yesterday, it was Matt Harvey's turn to shine in the spotlight. Harvey, went six strong, fanning nine guys while in the mean time only giving up four hits.
In the sixth Inning, David Wright got in on the fun with a two RBI single to increase the Mets lead to 6-0.
For the first time in the year, the Mets bullpen gave up runs. Alex Torres was the victim giving up two runs in the bottom of the seventh and in the process, his ERA skyrocketed to 54.00.
In the Bottom of the ninth, the Nationals were able to scrape across one run. Jeurys Familia was able to get Michael Taylor to fly out to end the game and give the Mets the series win.
Mets open up a three game set in Atlanta tonight at Turner Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 ET.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Mets 3, Nationals 1 April 6th
Opening Day is special in any sport but for baseball it is extra special. There is optimism in the air, the grass is green and the weather is progressively getting better by the week. Everyone is tied for first place and is hoping that just maybe this could be the Mets year.
This years Opening Day was extra special. Yesterday was the first game of the year for 28 teams and because it was Easter Monday I had nothing to do except watch baseball, watch baseball and watch more baseball all day.
Bartolo Colon was the Mets Opening Day starter. He was very impressive in his outing going six strong and striking out eight. Max Scherzer was equally impressive pitching into the eighth inning giving up three runs despite none of them being earned.
Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a solo home-run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. At this point it looked like one run was going to be enough. Scherzer was on his game and it didn't look like the Mets had an answer. They were hit-less through the first five innings. Fortunately, the Mets took advantage of an error by Ian Desmond that opened the door for Lucas Duba to collect his first hit of the 2015 campaign and in the process knocking home two RBI's.
After the sixth, the Mets bullpen shut the door and had a combined effort from Carlos Torres, Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins and Buddy Carlyle who came in to record the last two outs of the game to secure his first save of the season.
The Mets added an extra tally in the seventh thanks to a Travis d'Arnaud triple that plated Juan Lagares to give the Mets an insurance run on route to a 3-1 win.
After an off day, the Mets and Nationals will go at it again on Wednesday. Jacob deGrom will take the ball for the Mets and Jordan Zimmerman will go for the Nationals.
This years Opening Day was extra special. Yesterday was the first game of the year for 28 teams and because it was Easter Monday I had nothing to do except watch baseball, watch baseball and watch more baseball all day.
Bartolo Colon was the Mets Opening Day starter. He was very impressive in his outing going six strong and striking out eight. Max Scherzer was equally impressive pitching into the eighth inning giving up three runs despite none of them being earned.
Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a solo home-run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. At this point it looked like one run was going to be enough. Scherzer was on his game and it didn't look like the Mets had an answer. They were hit-less through the first five innings. Fortunately, the Mets took advantage of an error by Ian Desmond that opened the door for Lucas Duba to collect his first hit of the 2015 campaign and in the process knocking home two RBI's.
After the sixth, the Mets bullpen shut the door and had a combined effort from Carlos Torres, Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins and Buddy Carlyle who came in to record the last two outs of the game to secure his first save of the season.
The Mets added an extra tally in the seventh thanks to a Travis d'Arnaud triple that plated Juan Lagares to give the Mets an insurance run on route to a 3-1 win.
After an off day, the Mets and Nationals will go at it again on Wednesday. Jacob deGrom will take the ball for the Mets and Jordan Zimmerman will go for the Nationals.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
New York Mets Start New Season Today
The New York Mets begin their year in the nation's capital today as they take on the Nationals in the first game of a three game set.
Last year, the Mets posted a 79-83 record placing them second in the NL East. Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duba led the charge offensively in 2014 while veteran Bartolo Colon led the pitching staff with 15 wins.
I am really looking forward to covering the Mets this year. I have never been to Citi Field but I was fortunate enough to take in a game at Shea Stadium when I was really young. It was the summer of 2000 and my family was on a vacation on the east coast. The Mets were playing a double hitter that day. Ironically the Mets were playing the then Montreal Expos. New York swept the double hitter on the damp day in July.
Despite not being a Mets fan, I have always enjoyed it when teams that get overshadowed by bigger teams in the city do well. The New York Mets haven't finished with a better record than the Yankes since 2000. Unfortunately, the Yankees got the last laugh that year defeating the Mets in the World Series in five games.
This year, the Mets look to finish ahead of their cross town rivals and more importantly contend for a NL East division Title in 2015. Here is the projected Mets depth chart for 2015:
Sparting Pitching:
Bartolo Colon
Matt Harvey
Jacob deGrom
Jonathon Niese
Dillon Gee
Position Players:
Catcher: Travis d'Arrnaud
1B Lucas Duba
2B Daniel Murphy
3B David Right
SS Wilmer Flores
LF Michael Cuddyer
CF Juan Lageres
RF Curtis Granderson
Last year, the Mets posted a 79-83 record placing them second in the NL East. Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duba led the charge offensively in 2014 while veteran Bartolo Colon led the pitching staff with 15 wins.
I am really looking forward to covering the Mets this year. I have never been to Citi Field but I was fortunate enough to take in a game at Shea Stadium when I was really young. It was the summer of 2000 and my family was on a vacation on the east coast. The Mets were playing a double hitter that day. Ironically the Mets were playing the then Montreal Expos. New York swept the double hitter on the damp day in July.
Despite not being a Mets fan, I have always enjoyed it when teams that get overshadowed by bigger teams in the city do well. The New York Mets haven't finished with a better record than the Yankes since 2000. Unfortunately, the Yankees got the last laugh that year defeating the Mets in the World Series in five games.
This year, the Mets look to finish ahead of their cross town rivals and more importantly contend for a NL East division Title in 2015. Here is the projected Mets depth chart for 2015:
Sparting Pitching:
Bartolo Colon
Matt Harvey
Jacob deGromJonathon Niese
Dillon Gee
Position Players:
Catcher: Travis d'Arrnaud
1B Lucas Duba
2B Daniel Murphy
3B David Right
SS Wilmer Flores
LF Michael Cuddyer
CF Juan Lageres
RF Curtis Granderson
Closer Jenrry Mejia
I predict the Mets will build on their 79-83 record from last year and finish with a competitive 85-77 mark. Terry Collins begins his fifth year as the Mets skipper with ambitions of finishing with above 500. for the first time in his tenure with Mets. The new season gets underway at 4:00 ET today as Bartolo Colon takes the hill for New York. The Nationals will counter with prized free agent accusation Max Scherzer.
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