2022 New York Mets season thread

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

One of those series for a team like the Reds where they’re just starting to feel pretty good about themselves…and then a team like the Mets says “Nope, you’re not there yet guys, forget about it.”

This one isn’t over yet of course, but you just feel like whatever the Reds do, the Mets will respond without breaking much of a sweat.  

['7']

I still will have trouble trusting him, but Carrasco continues to do the job and do it well. Made it to the 7th last night which is a rare occurrence for him. The Mets seem to be very careful with him in not allowing him to get up around 100 pitches. He's only hit that mark twice this year. 

This is his 7th quality start in a row. In his last 42.2 innings he's allowed 8 earned runs and gone 5-0 in those 7 starts (and the Mets have won all seven of those game). His last true disaster was June 28th when the Astros bombed him and his era at the time ballooned up to 4.85. 6/11-6/28 was a nightmarish two weeks for him, but since then he's been golden

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Carrasco doesn’t wow anyone (gives up his fair of hits, but does generally keep the walks down), but most nights puts his team in a position to win.  I’d probably slot him to the ‘pen come playoff time, to be honest.  I have more faith in Bassitt.  The two guys I can see being most likely to implode in a playoff start are Carrasco and Walker.

Re:  Carrasco and Bassitt, both have actually been quite Colon-like.  Bassitt has given up 3 ER or less in 15 out of his 21 starts, and Carrasco has done the same in 16 out of 22 starts.  Most of the time, they are doing their jobs, but ya gotta live with some rough outings (Carrasco's implosions have typically been worse, as he'll get lit up right away).  Of course, what makes their bad outings stand out so much more is that Mad Max and Jake damned near NEVER have one of those 3-5 IP, 5-8 ER kind of starts...they just don't.

And it's funny, in fairness to Walker, out of 19 starts, he's only had two this season that could truly be considered outright disastrous...but when one of them comes against the Braves in a huge series (another came against the Phils, though he was solid in two other starts against Philly), it sticks in your head.  And of course, the massive tail-off last season...he's that guy you just keep waiting to see completely fall to pieces.

Speaking of Walker, for a guy who's 9-3 (team is 11-8 in his starts) with pretty solid numbers, today feels like a big day for him.  If he gets rocked again, we're all going to forget about his largely successful body of work in 2022 in a hurry.

Casual fans might see the Mets sweep this series today and think "Well the Mets should sweep a team like that", but fair to point out that the Reds came in on a 16-9 surge, and were likely playing their best ball of the season.  Included in that run:  a sweep of the Rays, a 2-out-of-3 series win against the Yankees, playing the Cards fairly tough (went 2-3 in a five-game series), and winning a series (2 out of 3) against an upstart Orioles team.  Also took 2 out of 3 vs the Brewers.

Obviously Castillo was moved, which hurts, but the Reds did have a little something going.  Kudos to the Mets for not taking them too lightly, or having a letdown after the Braves.  Even if the Mets lose today, no complaints...they've won 14 out of 16.  Eventually there will be some losses.

Next 12 games:  3 at home vs Phillies, 4 at Atlanta, 3 at Philly, 2 at Yankees.  If the Mets split this group of games I'd be OK with it.  They should still be in good shape in the East if that were to happen.  

Edited August 10, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Not that I was ever worried about this being a possibility, but at least this guy definitely won't be here for a third time:

Red Sox sign ex-Mets, Phillies reliever (msn.com)

['7']

I'd say 6-6 is about what I'd expect. They're prob due to cool off a bit (though with our quality starting pitcher...tough to fall into any of those 7-8 game losing streaks when you have Scherzer/deGrom on the mound every few days) and we are continuing to play top competition. I can't see them taking both games from the Yankees again...so that's prob a split. Go 2-2 in Atlanta, Take 2 from Philly at home. Get at least 1 in Philly (figure they'll lose a series somewhere here). If they manage to go 7-5 I'd be ecstatic. Just don't do anything crazy like lose all 4 in Atlanta. You know the Braves were extra salty coming off the recent series and will be looking for revenge.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Yeah 7-5 or better and I'm pretty damned thrilled.

Mets already up 2-0 in this game...four more RBI for Pete and he's up to 100.  The SP that the Reds have going (Zeuch) has less than 50 IP experience coming in (and is already 27)...he has control issues.  Hit Nimmo to start the game, then walked Lindor...gave up an RBI single to Pete, then was behind 3-0 on Vogelbach (did get him to pop up).  Feels like the Mets should be able to chip away at this guy to the tune of 5 or 6 runs by the 5th or so.

Make that 4-0.  Lindor with RBI #80 and 81.  Guy's going to wind up with 100 easy.  And it's starting to feel less and less baffling as to how he has that many, which means he's been plenty steady as of late. 

5-0.  Yeah, just a sense that the Mets were going to be all over this guy.  The Mets of the past would somehow let a guy like this shut them down for 5-6 innings, but these Mets have a way of beating up on the "should beat them up" kinds of arms more often than not.

Guess I was being kind with the 5 or 6 runs by the 5th.  They needed all of 2+ innings to do that.  Naquin with the solo dinger.  6-0.

 

Two more Mets hit by pitches today.  When exactly is enough enough?

Kind of a big inning here for Taijuan...big difference between going 6-7 innings and allowing 2-3 ER, as opposed to hanging on just long enough to qualify for a win (having allowed, say, 4 ER in 5 or 5+ IP).  Hopefully this isn't turning into some meh-ish kind of game for him.

Weird game for Walker...5 IP and 2 ER so far and not too many pitches thrown, but far from pretty.  Lots of baserunners over the past couple of innings.  At least Mets are still up by four.

Edited August 10, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Yeah 7-5 or better and I'm pretty damned thrilled.

Mets already up 2-0 in this game...four more RBI for Pete and he's up to 100.  The SP that the Reds have going (Zeuch) has less than 50 IP experience coming in (and is already 27)...he has control issues.  Hit Nimmo to start the game, then walked Lindor...gave up an RBI single to Pete, then was behind 3-0 on Vogelbach (did get him to pop up).  Feels like the Mets should be able to chip away at this guy to the tune of 5 or 6 runs by the 5th or so.

Make that 4-0.  Lindor with RBI #80 and 81.  Guy's going to wind up with 100 easy.  And it's starting to feel less and less baffling as to how he has that many, which means he's been plenty steady as of late. 

5-0.  Yeah, just a sense that the Mets were going to be all over this guy.  The Mets of the past would somehow let a guy like this shut them down for 5-6 innings, but these Mets have a way of beating up on the "should beat them up" kinds of arms more often than not.

Tack on runs against other teams bullpens have been rare till this year too…but they’re sure adding on now.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

And this was one of those games where you had a hunch that the Mets were just going to keep pouring it on (even after Zeuch was done)...which they most certainly have in abundance.

It's funny, I gotta think the Reds were probably a little excited to see how competitive they could be with the Mets, given how they'd been playing...very much a "Let's go get 'em!" kind of feeling.  Instead they get completely smoked.

If anything it shows how prepared and professional the Mets have often been this season.  Teams are going to slump, go through funks...it happens, and it will happen to the Mets at some point this season, I've gotta think.  But how easy would it have been for the Mets to have been caught between a letdown and looking ahead to the Phillies, and lost, say, 2 of 3 to the Reds?  Hell, if that had happened, I wouldn't have even been annoyed...I actually would've understood it, under the circumstances.  Instead, they more or less blow the doors off on the poor Reds.

Probably a good move to take Walker out, even at only 91 pitches through 6 IP...let him finish his day with respectable numbers, and try to put that Atlanta start a little further back into his rearview.  

 

 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

And man I know this is extremely short sample stuff, but Eppler must feel like a genius right now, heh heh.  Vogelbach, Naquin, and Ruf have done much more than possibly ever could've been asked of them.  What were supposed to have been "improve the margins" deals have made the Mets offense suddenly feel that much more formidable...these guys are all getting just the right amount of playing time, in favorable situations.  All three obviously have limitations, but something to be said for putting guys in the best possible position to succeed...and the Mets have definitely done that with these new bodies. 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

So as much as I know the danger in doing this...if the Mets go just 25-25 over their remaining 50 games (that would give them 98 wins on the season), the Braves will have to win 33 or 34 out of their remaining 50 (pending their game tonight) to pull ahead.  Basically the Mets are REALLY going to have to fall to pieces to blow this thing...they're not showing many signs of doing so.  And the Braves are going to have get on another extended roll...I can see them winning 90+, but 95 or more feels like a tall order.

Sure thing?  No, not yet.  But looking pretty damned good.

A well-deserved off-day comes tomorrow...go get the Phillies on Friday!    

[NJDevs4978]

4 hours ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

And man I know this is extremely short sample stuff, but Eppler must feel like a genius right now, heh heh.  Vogelbach, Naquin, and Ruf have done much more than possibly ever could've been asked of them.  What were supposed to have been "improve the margins" deals have made the Mets offense suddenly feel that much more formidable...these guys are all getting just the right amount of playing time, in favorable situations.  All three obviously have limitations, but something to be said for putting guys in the best possible position to succeed...and the Mets have definitely done that with these new bodies. 

Yeah I admit even though I had a pretty good read on what Eppler was trying to do vis-a-vis the offense I was STILL skeptical it would actually work, and still wonder how it’ll play out when teams use their pens left and right in the postseason. But so far not only has it worked hittingwise, but these guys all seem to be fitting in pretty seamlessly, especially Vogelbach who’s already become a Bartolo-esque cult hero lol

[NJDevs4978]

We are talking about two weeks (somehow it seems longer) but damn what an improvement over the erstatz JD/Dom tandem

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

55 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Yeah I admit even though I had a pretty good read on what Eppler was trying to do vis-a-vis the offense I was STILL skeptical it would actually work, and still wonder how it’ll play out when teams use their pens left and right in the postseason. But so far not only has it worked hittingwise, but these guys all seem to be fitting in pretty seamlessly, especially Vogelbach who’s already become a Bartolo-esque cult hero lol

Yeah on paper I knew what he was going for (a lefty bat who’s good against righties, a righty bat who’s good against lefties, etc), but in this short sample it’s worked out much better than I expected…and yeah, they’ve all just jumped right into the lineup and it’s been seamless.

Dom who?  That’s really the point it’s reached.  He quickly became obsolete here…it’s a shame, because his trade value is pretty much nil, based off his last two seasons.  

[NJDevs4978]

Not Met related unless we play them in the playoffs but now Tatis suspended for the rest of the season after failing a drug test...holy hell what a year for him between the motorcycle accident(s) and now this.  It's still early but jesus this guy might be their version of Matt Harvey, a meteor that flames out almost as quick as he sprouted up.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Damn stupid move sending Marte there…that ball was NOT deep enough.

Phillies came to play.  

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

And the ump completely fvcks Naquin.  But that will happen.  Can’t say the Phillies didn’t deserve to win.  

[NJDevs4978]

Maybe Keith did fire them up with his dopey comment lol...but yeah the Phillies have been playing well.  They pretty much have no margin of error in terms of trying to make a miracle comeback for the division (again) but they'll make the playoffs at least and may well be our first opponent.

Edited August 13, 2022 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I don’t want to get on a team that’s won 15 out of 18 games, but goddamn could these guys support deGrom just once?!  It’s like they’ll break out in hives if they dare to give him just a few runs to work with.  

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Oh boy…Trevor May.  No way not to be nervous when he takes the mound.

More than did the job…excellent work Trevor!  

Edited August 14, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Edwin clearly wasn’t on point today but gets it done.  Huge win, especially with the Marlins laying down for the Braves.  

[NJDevs4978]

Yeah the Mets' offense has been put in the deep freezer by the Phillie pitching after feasting on the Reds but at least they avoided the potential mini-disaster of a sweep and losing both the Max and Jake starts.

Edited August 14, 2022 by NJDevs4978

[NJDevs4978]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

I don’t want to get on a team that’s won 15 out of 18 games, but goddamn could these guys support deGrom just once?!  It’s like they’ll break out in hives if they dare to give him just a few runs to work with.  

It's gonna take us all a while to trust he's gonna come out of every start without a 'oh something's strained, gotta get an MRI' update but hot damn he hasn't exactly been rusty in his return at least.

And yeah Diaz wasn't gonna strike out the side every time out but boy, he got one when he really needed it there.

Edited August 14, 2022 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

And serious kudos to Diaz for finding a way…in past seasons, those two baserunners would’ve both scored, and we’d all be lamenting how Diaz just blew another crucial save…and as far as this season goes, even if that had happened, not like we would’ve (or should’ve) bitched much…eventually Diaz is going to fail to convert.  But at least it didn’t happen last night.

Mets already clinch the season series with the Phillies (now 10-4 against them)…they had already done the same with the Nats and Marlins.  Two more wins against the Braves and they’ll join the club.  Mets are 38-15 against the East…they really dominated within the division, to say the least.  

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Oh and Kelenic has been sent down AGAIN after going 2-for-27 (11 K) during his latest callup.  Read an article that showed how anyone to get off to THIS bad of a start over this size of a sample (.575 OPS over 500 plate appearances and 133 games) usually doesn’t figure things out enough to become anything more than a very limited player…he’s hitting .124 this year.  That incredibly promising September from last season (.854 OPS) seems like a hundred years ago.

Not sure how the Mariners get him right or how much they can.  Even though he hits whenever he’s sent to the minors (hello PCL), he still strikes out plenty at that level too.  At least it’s not the Mets’ problem now.

Edited August 14, 2022 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

https://deadspin.com/mariners-outfielder-jarred-kelenic-has-been-off-to-a-hi-1849394841/amp
 

Found the article.  I had also forgotten that even his defensive metrics in CF aren’t terribly good.

If anything, doesn’t exactly suggest that Sandy is really all that good at anything anymore.