Two days in a row the Mets have gone toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the National League. Two days in a row they have played into extra innings. Two days in a row the Mets have come up short. In a season plentiful with statement games, tomorrow is another chapter of the 2015 Mets oddball story.
Even through the loss, there were bright moments for the Mets. Jon Niese threw his fourth quality start in a row, and 12th QS of his last 13 starts. Yoenis Cespedes, despite a circuitous route, got to the baseball just in time and beamed a laser to third baseman Juan Uribe, robbing speedy Sean Rodriguez of a triple with one out in the top of the ninth. Huge play. Hansel Robles came into the game and threw three innings of one-hit baseball, and struck out three. Very positive. Michael “I still have no picture up on BR” Conforto had a liner home run in yet another big moment, and his first homer at Citi Field. The Mets had a strike ’em out, throw ’em out. Keith Hernandez was a parking attendent. This game had everything. Except the proper result. Tomorrow has to be different.
Punch in the gut loss. Still, like you said, the Mets went toe-to-toe with a great team. Even without Wright and Duda in the lineup. Just not going to win many games against the Pirates when it gets so deep onto the BP, unfortunately.
It was a well played baseball game against a playoff bound team. I hate to lose but I did enjoy the game. Two rookies performed admirably in Robles and Conforto and will take the experience into 2016. Plawecki and Matz needs this experience also. I hope they are on the roster Aug 31st. Defense is important as we watch Uribe and Tejada make nice plays in the infield. Cespedes with that arm belongs in right. I hope the Mets realize that they have the missing piece in Cespedes and push hard to sign him. We will get them today !
Just curious what kind of deal you think would get it done with Cespedes?
According to Buster Onley, the 2016 QO is expected to be $15.7 m or a 12% increase. If the qualifying offer maintains the 12% increase for the next 5 years then it would equal 5/100. Cespedes would be worth a QO (but he avoids this with his unique contract) so logically he would be expecting a 5/100. That would be the neighborhood I would negotiate in if I were the Mets.
If I were Cespedes’ agent I’d be looking to maximize (both in years and $) what could be his last big contract. The Wilpon pocket book will have to go up against a lot of other teams. Knowing that, the Wilpons could try to look good by making an out-of-character big offer that would probably be trumped by other teams.