This was a night of getting just what was needed.
Terry Collins needed to give the bullpen a rest, so Bartolo Colon gave the Mets seven innings of five-hit ball. Needing to get off to a fast start, the Mets put up three quick runs in the first inning. And finally, when some insurance was needed, when it looked like the Phillies were going to creep back into it, when the Nationals were mounting a heroic comeback of their own down in DC against San Diego, the Mets plated another three runs in the ninth.
At the start it looked to be a short night for Philly starter Jerad Eickoff. Curtis Granderson led off the game with a long, catchable fly to center field, but somehow the ball leapt out of Odubel Herrera’s glove for a two-base error. Yoenis Cespedes followed with an infield hit and Daniel Murphy grounded out, plating Granderson. Michael Cuddyer continued his renaissance with an RBI single and after Wilmer Flores singled, Michael Conforto drove one into right for another RBI base hit. All told, the Mets made Eickoff throw 38 pitches that inning and it looked like another rout was on.
For his part, Colon was his usual Buddah-like self, surrendering a hit here, a walk there, but basically imperturbable for seven innings. Actually, both pitchers settled in quite nicely as Eickoff retired sixteen straight Mets between the first and the sixth. That run ended in the sixth, though, as the Mets would widen their lead on a Conforto two-out double and a Juan Uribe single. It looked like the Mets had salted the game away in the eighth, when Cuddyer followed a Murphy single with a blast into the upper tank in left field for a seemingly insurmountable 6-0 lead.
Not so fast…
Collins summoned Eric O’Flaherty from the bullpen, specifically to get out left handed hitters Herrera and Ryan Howard. He got neither. With one out, they both singled. Andres Blanco hit a slow grounder to Uribe at third and the Phillies were on the board. O’Flaherty then walked Cody Asche before giving way to Carlos Torres. Torres immediately surrendered a two-run double to catcher Cameron Rupp. Suddenly, Collins had to go to his horses. He waved in Tyler Clippard to face Domonic Brown, who hit a squirmy grounder off the back of the mound that tore up Flores. Then, pinch hitter Jeff Francoeur hit a bloop into center to make the score 6-4. Finally, with Jeurys Familia warming up behind him, Clippard struck out Darnell Sweeney to end the inning. I think it’s safe to say the Eric O’Flaherty experiment is just about over.
Familia got to sit back down pretty quickly, though, as the Mets mounted a reflexive rally in the top of the ninth. Facing a crowd of Philly bullpen flotsam, the Mets were able to turn two errors by shortstop Freddy Galvis, a Cespedes triple and a Murphy sacrifice fly into the additional three runs they…well…needed.
Oh, and Washington ended up losing. The lead is six & a half games.
I’m starting to get a little concerned about O’Flaherty,
What’s your hurry?
Omg, that was priceless DED!
Well played!
Just so long as the lead isn’t 7 games with 17 to play. Maybe O’Flopperty needs to be in a tight situation to pitch half decent?
I think he should be acquainted with Las Vegas, meself.
Josh Smoker. That’s the guy I’m ready to see. He cannot be worse than O’Flaherty.
The Player to Be Named Later in the Eric O Trade should be Eric O!….and it’s Late enough!!!!
Collins didn’t get the memo that O’Flaherty is a LOOGY.
Collins is simply trying to get a good look at this guy, quickly, before they cut him loose.
The critical issue here is that a player must be on the 25-man roster by the end of August or he is not eligible for the postseason (exceptions: he’s currently on DL, like Duda, or if he replaces a player who legitimately goes on the DL).
If Mets truly want a LOOGY, they need to act now.
Or . . . Matz becomes that guy, though less narrowly defined. Along with Clippard, I think that gives the Mets enough weapons to face any left-handed threat after the 6th inning.
Well, I’ve decided.
Mets need to do everything in their power to sign Yoenis to a big-time contract. I don’t know the numbers, but let’s guess 6/$130 million. I could be way off. Last year:
Ellsbury signed for 7/$153 million.
Choo signed for 7/$130 million.
That’s got to be what Cespedes is looking at, and can rightfully expect on the open market.
The two big questions: How willing is Sandy to make this work? And how smart is Cespedes?
For Yoenis, one guess is that he’s looking around and happy about what he’s experiencing in NYC. All the components seem to be in place. So maybe he could get more money via true free agency, but could he possibly get himself into a better situation? I don’t think so. This guy fits, and NYC fits him.
I’d hold up the Jose Reyes Story as a cautionary saga. He got the most money and screwed his life & career in the process.
As for the Wilpons, money is coming off the books and more money is coming in via revenue. Granderson comes off in two years; Murphy money goes away; Colon goes away; and so on. I think the money is there and that it can be done. He plays CF for two years and then slides to RF to replace Curtis.
I don’t expect this to happen, but it’s probably going to be the most interesting debate affecting the 2016 team. Unfortunately, it’s not a discussion that can wait until the off-season. The Mets will have to sign Yoenis within 5 days of the World Series, or likely lose him entirely.
James, since you brought up Cespedes, I have a question. We know that a law cannot be enforced that is deemed unconstitutional. Can a contract be written that goes against the MLBPA agreement? The contract not only says that he cannot be offered a qualifying offer, it also says he must be released on the last day of the team’s season. If I were the Mets, I would argue that and offer it anyway.
I was looking at some articles regarding comparable players’ contracts, and the names that come up seem to suggest Hunter Pence’s deal, Nick Swisher’s and Melvin Upton’s. Most articles suggest that a 5/100 would be enough, but if the player is set on going free agency,it doesn’t matter what you offer him. Try to slap a QO to get back a Michael Fulmer player.
IANAL but my opinion is that you’re pissing in the wind here and that this has zero chance of being overturned. Certainly, the MLBPA has no interest in fighting this and it’s extremely hard to imagine the commissioner’s office fighting it, either.
I understand your point, but I would fight it and here’s why:
It creates a bad precident. If Cespedes is part of the MLBPA then he needs to stand by the agreement. Why shouldn’t Upton and Gordon and even Gomez next year want the same? So, why even have an agreement? Having your cake and eating it too brings problems to one side or the other. I understand that others have also thought of this before, but I would fight it. What’s there to lose?
Do you really want to tie up that much of your player budget, and for six years, on a guy who will probably be regressing in the last years of the deal?
Don’t get me wrong, I love what he’s brought to the team. But, I think the money would be better apportioned on the young arms in the system.
Anyway, I think this is academic. After all, we are talking about the Wilpons. As others have pointed out, the Mets will be out bid by others who see Cespedes as the key to their success (ala the ’15 Mets).
I see the scenario playing out with the Mets making an offer that they know will be turned down, but will save face with the fans. Cespedes will get higher offers elsewhere.
Well, the way it works with his contract is that he’d have to extend his contract with the Mets before being released for free agency. There would be no one bidding against the Mets in real time.
In regard to the amount of the budget: 1) I think the budget must increase; 2) I think, percentage-wise, it would be roughly equivalent to Granderson’s deal.
Look, I hear you about free agency in general. There are more failures than success stories. But when I look at the Mets in 2016, the only places for upgrade are at SS & CF & bullpen. Wright at 3B makes for a difficult situation. Cespedes slots in perfectly, and I prefer him over Justin Upton.
I don’t think this is an easy decision, or without risk.
Cespedes is a perfect fit for this team. He would be an all star centerfielder.
He also has to see that by signing with the Mets would enhance his career in that they should be a playoff team the next five years and he would be the offensive centerpiece. The Mets should start at 5/100 and negotiate from there. They should at least try to make an offer, the fan base deserves it.
I agree Metsense. IM not sure hes a 20m$ player, but its NY and 5/100$ is certainly reasonable. Id prob start at 5/90, but he really could come into his own in NY as a Met. I saw SA said he is not even entertaining a contract for Yo at this point. Its my guess if he does we will all be shocked…like 5/60 or something.
O’Flaherty can’t even get lefties out!
I’d like a 4 year deal with Cespedes.
Rumblings of him being a head case, making insane and narcissistic contract demands, being tough to coach, refusing plate discipline…all can be weighed against…
he seems to actually like playing in New York and can probably handle the intense media scrutiny.
He is not going to accept a short contract, though. Someone else is going to have him in his mid to late 30’s, wishing they didn’t.
I cannot help but think that if he was more teachable, or coachable, his tools could have produced much more than we’ve seen. He seems to have it all but the head. I’ve taken the time to read some of the local news reports from where he’s played. He can hit a triple like he did last night, with good running skill, and then the next moment refuse to run out a dropped ball and resent a coach for telling him to do so. His ego may overshadow his talent.
He did bring us a few chuckles with his slower home run trot or his “injury pause”…he takes his sweet time. I wonder if his agent has coached him on this!
I know that team chemistry is no longer considered a factor in the world of mega statistics, but Juan Uribe’s presence has been something that they have talked about in a very positive, uplifting way. I still believe in it. Watch after Cespedes is high five’d after hitting a home run. It is not always as enthusiastic as one might imagine.
OT: I did not find Murph’s “stance” to be extreme. I am not a fan of stances, slow trots, posing, or quick pitching, but Bowa’s reaction was not measured to the event. Perhaps he projected his anger at being a bench coach?
Colon pitched a much needed good game, to save his rotation spot and rest the bullpen. Speaking of the bullpen, Oh-No has got to go-go. Verritt should start to be used as a 7th inning man in preperation of the playoffs. Matz should do some September spot starting to get the rotation rested and set up for the playoffs. Matz should then also slide into the bullpen later in the month as another 7th inning option for the playoffs. Colon should be the long man out of the bullpen for the playoffs.
6 1/2 games up and putting a lot for pressure on the Nationals to have to win everyday. LGM
I don’t see Colon as having value in the pen. Or as a starter. It’s sad from a personal point of view, he’s been a part of this team for two years, services rendered in good faith & cheerfully. But this is math. Gilmartin has done a great job as a long man all season, plus you get to slide in Matz (if you wish), plus maybe you already have Verrett.