Before Friday night’s absolutely useless 9-2 defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, the Mets’ record in their previous 13 games stood at 9-4. Over a span of 45 games, their mark totaled 30-15. For the season as a whole, the Mets entered Friday 76-70.
Each of the “4” in the 9-4 was presumed to have ended their year. Same for most of the “15” in the 30-15 as well as many of the 70 among the “70” portion of the largest aforementioned cohort. The Mets’ year has ended so many times, it’s a wonder it’s still in progress.
Yet it is, despite Clayton Kershaw’s traditional mastery, Noah Syndergaard’s battery-operated discomfort and the general malaise that enveloped Citi Field, save for J.D. Davis homering early. Hence, we’re stuck with 9-5 for our last 14, 30-16 for our last 46 and 76-71 for all of 2019. We’re also three games behind the Cubs with 15 games to play, though only two more of those will be against the preternaturally dominant Dodgers, with none of those versus Kershaw.
So thank heaven for small favors. And for the inability of Kershaw to pitch daily. And for resilience (or its unnecessary cousin resiliency), which has been cited in Mets wins about as often as the bullpen has been sighted imploding in the bulk of those Mets losses that ended the Mets’ year, but didn’t, because, again, it’s still going on.
There are lots of yesterdays. I revel in examining them, you may have noticed over time, but for the purposes of this surprisingly ongoing playoff chase, I have taken the position that there is no yesterday, at least in the sense that it’s worth regretfully rehashing all that went wrong in those myriad losses that seemed to end our year, and oh if only we could have back this pitch or that swing or dozens of highly questionable managerial decisions. We can’t, so don’t sweat it. We can sweat it in winter should we feel the need. Working up a good regretful sweat in the cold is what helps keep us warm.
Also, there is no tomorrow, not in the sense of “the Mets need to take ‘x’ out of ‘y’.” Don’t even. The Mets need to take 1 of 1. Concentrate on the 1 in front of us. Yes, we are the fans and not players, and no, our thoughts do not technically affect the action…but you and I know better than to think in ways harmful to our team.
To sum up then:
1) Think positive if not presumptuous thoughts for tonight’s game, the most important game there is, because it’s the only game the Mets are playing tonight.
2) Somebody get deGrom some runs.
3) Whatever will be will be.
Baby Hold On…I see what you did there. My wife and I are going to tonight’s game. Hopefully we have two tickets to paradise and not just section 333.
Take a win home tonight.
deGrom is always Money.
I’m shakin’.
I actually have two tickets to Citi Field tonight. Not quite Paradise but close. And I think the Mets are taking the Dodgers for the big crash.
Syndergaard is our little baby.
Mets announcers mocking the Thor /Ramos claim after he pitched a couple scoreless early on. Silent when he gave up 4. Did hey mock Greg Maddux and others who have gotten their wish for a catcher often or always after stats indicated there was something to consider there? The stats are truly shocking–almost 6 ERA with Wilson and almost 2.5 with Nido and Rivera. You’d think it’s not just coincidence. They say, “well Scherzer never had trouble with the Buffalo.” Well, big big catchers really age fast and move even slower in reaction times. And I think there is respect now for “framing” claims. And man, I can throw better to second than he can now. When they don’t bounce they are lollipops. Maybe it’s mental now with Thor but there’s something there.
I love the imposed brevity of this piece, Mr. Prince– and also see what you did there. I would love to see a cartoon graveyard of all the times this team’s been buried this season.
For those stuck looking in the rearview mirror, let me add “What happened, happened.” Now let’s get 2 out of 3.
Looks like you were right on the Money.
I disagree with resting your best hitter and heart/soul of team in a playoff race. I don’t like that.
I agree that sitting Ramos every time Thor pitches is not do-able but the notion he is below par is not a joke. Complaints about his catching/pitch calling have gone on all year and from others in first half. Pitching staff overall has 3.95 ERA with Nido and 4.50 with Ramos–half a run per game is no laughing matter.
Mike Petriello did a nice breakdown of what Ramos’ relative weaknesses are as a catcher compared to Nido.
The main things he points to: Syndergaard throws his slider significantly more to Nido (27% vs. 13%), and with more success.
Ramos’ framing of low pitches is the worst in the league. One telling stat:
Ramos — 32.5% of non-swings become strikes
Nido — 47.2% of non-swings become strikes
https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/ramos-or-nido-syndergaard-choice-isnt-quite-so-clear
Now, the Buffalo has hit extremely consistently over the last month and half, so it’s not crazy to want to keep him in the line up, but I think on balance, I’d rather maximize our strength — dominant starting pitching.
Ramos has had success as a pinch-hitter, too. So you don’t completely waste his bat on a off-day.
Totally agree, Daniel. Only some 15 games left, and a young bull like him needs to play from yesterday on out.
Maybe with Kershaw pitching against us, maybe Mickey figured he could afford to lose this one. The way he thinks sometimes. I would not put that past him.