Entering the final series before the All-Star break, the Mets stand at 44-42, in second place and three games behind the Washington Nationals. They also sit three games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card. A sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks at home would give the Mets momentum heading into the second half. It would also leave us devoted fans, who’ve been anxiously riding this roller coaster first half along with them, a Tic-Tac to cut that sour taste in our mouths.
While we were all dancing in the streets during the 11-game winning streak and for the exciting debuts of pithing phenoms Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, we all threw up in our mouths a little when we got news of David Wright’s career threatening spinal stenosis, saw a number of key players succumb to injury and watched the club go into a prolonged, collective batting slump. We’ll all look back with rose colored glasses and ahead with hope if the Mets can pull out a home sweep this weekend. It’s quite possible.
Home Field Advantage
The Mets enter the series 29-14 at Citi Field and with three hot pitchers taking the mound. Syndergaard (1.16 WHIP, 59 Ks in 58.2 innings) takes the hill in game one, followed by Matt Harvey (1.07 WHIP, 100 Ks in 104.1 innings). In game three Jon Niese (just three earned runs in his last three starts combined) will fill in for Matz, who’s nursing a partial lat muscle tear.
The Diamondbacks will trot out righty Chase Anderson (4-2, 3.71 ERA), lefty Patrick Corbin (in his second start in a season and a half since coming back from Tommy John surgery and rehab) and righty Rubby De La Rosa (6-4, 4.89 ERA). The Mets clearly have the pitching advantage.
Hitting is another story as the Diamondbacks are led by MVP candidate and triple crown threat Paul Goldschmidt (.349 avg, 20 HRs, and a major league leading 68 RBI). He’s joined in a solid lineup by .300 plus hitting outfielders AJ Pollock and Yasmany Tomas. We have Kirk Neiuwenheiss, Jon Mayberry, Jr., Eric Campbell and Johnny Monell – a quartet of sub .200 hitters getting at-bats. We also have the formerly thumping, currently slumping Lucas Duda and the beaten up Michael Cuddyer and Juan Lagares getting regular at bats (maybe). The Mets have the second worst offense in the majors by several metrics and have been shut out 10 times already this season. On the bright side, Wilmer Flores has been hitting, Daniel Murphy is healthy and Syndergaard can hit!
Arizona sits at exactly .500 heading into the series, having won seven of their last 10 games. The Mets are coming off a 4-2 West coast road trip against tough teams and top pitchers so they’ve got momentum going into the series as well. This may not be the playoffs, but this series is quite meaningful for both teams as they try to end the first half on a high and determine if they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
A clean sweep would put the Mets at 47-42, five games over .500 heading into the break. They’d likely gain ground in the standings as well with the Nationals and Cubs playing tough series against cross town riavals – the Nationals at the surging Orioles and the Cubs at home against the White Sox and the unhittable Chris Sale.
Here’s hoping our pitchers can carry us to a three-game sweep and a sweet, minty taste in our mouths heading into the break.
After a much needed four-day break, the Mets are faced with a 10-game stretch against three of the best teams in the National League in the St. Louis Cardinals, Nationals and Dodgers. No rest for the weary. Nor the frustrated fan.
A sweep would be great but 2 of 3 is a must because Arizona is charging forward and the Mets don’t need them to get any closer. Cuddyer should have been disabled inititially and Sandy should have made a full court press on the out of the race Brewers for Gerardo Parra at that point. They have the prospects in the minors to have done this and make it appealing enough for the Brewers. Then Sandy would have only needed to aquire another infield bat going into the All Star break. The competition after the break, as you pointed out, is daunting and it would be nice to have all our ducks in place. Nice analysis of the upcoming series and schedule. I always enjoy these articles.
Metsense, I’ve been lobbying for Gerardo Parra for months, before his hot streak and Cuddyer’s knee flared up. He’d be a perfect fit. This team should have had a solid 4th OF from day one. With a guy like Parra, you could let Cuddyer platoon with Duda and DH, rest Lagares and Grandy more and, *gasp*, have a good pinch hitter available on the bench.
I think you’ve been right on this all along. Some folks argue for the “big bat” and the “difference-maker,” but incremental improvements can make the difference between having a post-season or not.
After the David Wright injury, I’m not sure what made me throw up in my mouth more – Steven Matz’s trip to the DL or Matt Harvey buddying up to Donald Trump.
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It scares me to hear the sweep-the-series talk because it is ever so Met-like for the team to take the weekend off and move into the break on a major downer. After all the media is all over the Alderson/Wilpon front office for its chronic unwillingness to help a feeble offense. I can imagine the players feel like the Texans left at the Alamo waiting for crucially needed help and knowing that if it’s coming at all it won’t be nearly in time.
Larry, great historical reference and excellent point. This is a two-pronged issue. 1) Disenchanted fans will stop coming buying tickets.
2) Deflated players lost motivation
Little bit off topic, but since you’re talking about success…
When people think back to early days of Alderson, they consider those seasons “lost” and a dismal failure and that he inherited a roster filled with no talent.
Oh wait, but looky here.
In his first year, the Mets were 44-42 (gasp!) on July 5th!
And in his second year, the Mets were as high as 46-40.
Anyone who still respects Alderson and what’s he done is just brainwashed by the crap he spits out everyday.
aint it true Name.
The things that happen when dreams replace reality.
Name, Chris F,Brian> that about sums it up. We have sat through too many September chatters together just the four of us to buy Alderson’s BS. Nice research Name, but subconsciosly I remember the dates oh so well.
2 down. 1 to go.