Strolling around Denver might have made for a lovely off day Monday, but I’d guess the Mets were happy to be called into the St. Louis satellite office to catch up on some work when all was said and done. What’s an extra time zone’s travel when you can pick up a win?
Sean Manaea [1] looked unbothered at having to take to the Busch Stadium mound on what was originally an immaculate space within August’s scheduling grid. He also looked like somebody you’d think about penciling in as your Game One starter down the road if all works out. Ah, getting ahead of ourselves as we try to get ahead of a few other teams. Details, details, including the detail of making up a rainout. Downpours back in May and tight squeezes amid a 162-box checkerboard ensured the Mets would have to be interrupted on their already arduous road trip and add a date to their crowded summer itinerary.
But what a swell date [2] it turned out to be.
Manaea scattered six hits over seven innings, walked nobody, and struck out ten. This is what we’re coming to know as a typical Sean Manaea outing. Great control, total command — just get him a couple of runs and we’ll be fine. The Mets got him six. Tyrone Taylor [3], your new two-hole hitter, drove in three. Jeff McNeil [4], the second-half slugger, homered for another. Most of the lineup looked alive in support of what Steve Gelbs referred to as The Sean Manaea Show, which made me think of Gilda Radner bouncing up and down on her bed as the star of The Judy Miller Show [5], and what Mets fan wasn’t at least figuratively jumping for joy from what had just transpired this early evening? Manaea’s showcase started at 5:15 and the game was over before eight o’clock in the East, yet I’d say this lefty is ready for prime time.