So much good stuff, and I missed every second of it. Through a process of the fates, every attempt to watch or follow this game failed, and I was felt with simply a final score. A wonderful, fantastic final score, but one in which only the numbers can tell me what happened. Jacob deGrom was apparently legendary in his dominance of the Padres hitters, pitching a perfect game through five innings before surrendering just two hits over eight innings. He also struck out eight and walked no one. Meanwhile Daniel Murphy was 4-5 with three runs, three RBI, and a home run. It was a fine day to be a Mets fan, and hopefully a great way to start off a more successful month of baseball.
Obviously, I’ve missed a great deal, so please fill me in on some of the highlights.
Obviously, Duda is not that important.
Oh, and Murphy up to .282. He’s a machine. Think Curtis went down looking three times. Jake was crazy sharp and San Diego very undisciplined. Ruben and the Metsssss! Kemp looks unhealthy out there, moving gingerly; if I was the Padres, I’d be worried about that guy, big-time. Ceciliani got a hit that a real CF catches, but then he stole 2B, so that was nice, something to tell the grandkids about someday. He might have a fringe MLB career if everything breaks right, too soon to tell, but my vote remains “unlikely.” I think today, right now, this minute, Recker is better than Plawecki. Carry on!
The bad stuff you missed: Mets batters struck out 16 times, and Cashner was the first pitcher in baseball history to strike out 12, allow more than 10 hits, and not make it through the fifth. Or something like that. Also, Jacob was fidgeting with his hip in the middle of the game, which made me fidgety in turn…
JdG is about to lose his A in his 1A designation. That #1 may have to be shared on this staff.
I am also uncomfortable with the fidgeting in the fifth inning. Cross your fingers .
Tejada is unexpectantly on fire. He is not just getting hits but driving the ball.
Murphy is expectantly on fire and will get a nice moderate three year free agent contract somewhere. He deserves it.
Catch Recker more even if you don’t send Plawecki down.
Mets will have four #1 starters soon: Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, and Matz! And a #2 in Wheeler! (or is he a 1A?!)
According to Adam Rubin, deGrom is fine, since he just “slipped” on one pitch.
Tejada may be a keeper as a reserve infielder in the future.
Murphy is hot now, but I doubt someone will give him a 3-year/$30-million contract.
Plawecki will be sent down—or traded—soon, I believe.
Jake!!!! “A”? Im no stinkin’ “A” — unless you mean 1 A…..ce!
Tay-Tay!
Murphy!
and yes, Lagares…Im glad to hear some loud contact young man.
Andrew Cashner for Mike Rizzo. Perfect example of why we must wait for our hitters to develop, and throwing 98 is still nice but there’s more to it.
JUpton hit a bomb to center that Lagares caught on the warning track; a home run in the Grand Canyon. Only two players have ever hit a home run to center there, JUpton has already done it once.
Two observations on the game:
Looking at Cashner’s line, he got 12 out of 14 outs by Ks. The Mets BABIP must have been off the charts ( I’m just guessing since I don’t dabble in refined stats—I leave that up to Brian and his cohorts).
JdG is an outstanding fielder. He probably saved three shots up the middle from becoming hits. Not taking anything away from his pitching, but his defense is a tremendous asset.
Cashner’s BABIP was .833
I always believed that Greg Maddux saved at least .5 off his ERA annually (I know, totally random number) because of his Gold Glove fielding. It’s a huge factor.