Sometimes, the package comes as advertised.
Oftentimes, we baseball fans are promised terrific pitching matchups that turn out to be duds, with both starters gone by the fifth. When Jacob deGrom and the Mets took on the Yankees and Sonny Gray, we got what we paid for. Both pitchers brought their A game. Of course, this being 2017 and all, the longball held sway.
The Yankees broke out against deGrom in the third, when Ronald Torreyes hit a grounder just past the glove of Wilmer Flores at third. He fell before he got to first, but made second anyway when Yoenis Cespedes was tardy getting to the ball. Brett Gardner pushed a bunt to Flores and Torreyes crossed over. He would score on Aaron Hicks’s single to short right. In the fourth, deGrom walked Chase Headley with two outs and forgotten man Jacoby Ellsbury hit a tracer into the low right field stands, upping the Yankee lead to 3-0. It became 4-0 in the sixth, when Gary Sanchez hit a bomb into the left field seats.
For his part, Gray was impenetrable, mowing down Mets in bunches. Until the seventh, that is. Flores led off with an eight-pitch walk. Rookie Dominic Smith took a ball, the hit a long fly to left center, just over Hicks’s leap, the first homer of his major league career. That was all the play for Mr. Gray. His line: six innings, five hits, two walks, five strikeouts and two earned runs. In the last of the eighth, Aaron Judge legged out a double to left, barely beating a strong throw by Cespedes. Didi Gregorius hit a busted bat popup barely out of the reach of Flores and it was first and third. Sanchez then launched a shot to center that Juan Lagares was able to run down as Judge walked home. deGrom, despite feeding his gopher, got into the eighth, surrendering nine hits, walking two and striking out four before giving way to Jerry Blevins and Chasen Bradford. The Mets battled back the ninth off Aroldis Chapman, no less, when Jose Reyes pinch hit for Smith — I cannot even begin to imagine why — with one and beat out an infield hit off Headley’s glove and Amed Rosario hit a laser into the right centerfield seats. Chapman got Travis d’Arnaud on a grounder to short and Lagares bounced out to first.
It’s Jaime Garcia vs. the returning Robert Gsellman tomorrow night as the Subway Series makes its Flushing stop.
Charlie mentioned something in the Gut Reaction and I’d like to take it a bit further. Collins said that he felt it was too aggressive an assignment for Smith to face Chapman – since Chapman mows lefties down – and Smith will get his chances. Well, debatable, but whatever…
Since we are playing for the future, it was telling that Flores was playing second when Walker was activated with Walker at third. However, after making a big deal about Cabrera not willing to move to third, what’s with Flores there in consecutive games and Cabrera at second? Are they wanting to see Flores long-term with second sacker could stay open for Checcini and TJ since both those guys have very weak arms? However, props to my buddy on the bare handed play on the bunt. I believe in you Wilmer, but you better practice there everyday!
Like watching the kids. I’m not surprised that they are holding their own. Wish this could have happened sooner. Lagares at CF and Rosario at SS should lower the team ERA at least a full run, at least. Is it not worth letting Lagares play everyday and bat him eighth? The Giants won three World Series with one big stick, a couple of good sticks, everyone playing fundamentally solid defense, clutch hitting and a manager that was always on alert. Sandy Alderson read the little known book “offense wins championships”, loves windmills, and keeps puppets.
Problem is he totally missed what was a fairly easy play for a double the batter before resulting in a run. if he makes that play the next better doesn’t bunt. He also flat out missed a soft liner the night before also resulting in a run. Few players outside of Beltre have the offense to make up for Wilmer’s train wreck at 3B. I can’t for the life of me understand why they are playing him there except that they have no other choice for 3B because they want to see if Cabs and Rosario match up well for 2018.
I don’t understand Flores at 3B and Cabrera at 2B either.
Maybe someone wants to see Cabrera at 2nd.
BTW…I don;t see the big deal about where Wilmer Plays—he can’t play either position well. The fact that you’re convinced that he cannot play 3rd isn’t evidence that he can play 2nd.
He’s a valuable platoon guy who will do best when he and the team are protected from exposure to his glove—and if he Hits Like a Gorilla…….
Eraff, the ratings on 2B aren’t bad. His UZR has graded out about average in the four years’ data has been compiled. And, in the year when he played the most innings there, 2015, he had a bit above average showing. Maybe if he could be left alone to just work on one thing…
So we are going with defensive strength up the middle to help pitching ERA, and then put a concrete footed, slow armed, poor thrower at 2B? So one of the critical DP anchors is can barely catch and cant throw, and is slow as January molasses…and his partner is a rookie. He will never be passable at any defensive position; its an experiment where the outcome is already known.
he’s going to get Rosario injured when he muffs an easy DP ball and takes too long to get it to the bag… he’s fouled up so many DP’s at 2B & 3B its incredible. he messes up far more than he gets right. he doesn’t belong anywhere in the infield except possibly 1B on any semi-regular basis
yes. Totally agree. His only purpose on this team is as insurance for Smith in 2018 and PH.. and the occasional spot start at an infield position when someone gets hurt and they cant fly the replacement in fast enough from Vegas. If that’s not going to be his role in 2018, the he should be traded to an AL team that can use him more effectively. I suspect that’s where he lands when he becomes an FA
I’m not attacking Wilmer—I like Him. He’s usable and he can be a nice piece—he can’t field….he doesn’t have the physical Talent.
Sad but true.
I like him too.
But!