After sleepwalking through most of the game, the Mets put up five runs in the final two innings to pull out an improbable 7-4 win over the Rockies in Denver. The win gave the Mets the series and kept their scant playoff hopes alive. The Mets are now 39-23 in the second half, a 102-win pace over a full season.
After scoring their first two runs thanks to solo shots by Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso – his 49th of the season, a 448-foot blast – the Mets bunched together hits and walks to score their final five runs. Brandon Nimmo had an RBI single, Alonso added a bases-loaded walk (after nearly getting hit in the face with a pitch) and Seth Lugo, in his first PA of 2019, delivered a run-scoring single.
Before Lugo batted in the ninth, Mickey Callaway tried his best to put terror in every fan’s heart by having Edwin Diaz warm up in the pen and putting Joe Panik in the on-deck circle. Fortunately, neither of those players got into the game.
Lugo came on in the eighth inning, even with the Mets trailing by a run. He looked very sharp, even throwing some nice breaking balls in the thin air. He allowed just one hit and fanned three while earning his seventh win of the season.
With a two-run lead at home, the Rockies had an 87% Win Expectancy after the Mets went down in the seventh inning. It was a game the Mets seemed destined to lose. This win doesn’t make up for losing a six-run lead in the ninth inning against the Nationals – especially since the Nationals are really scuffling at this point and that game might prove to be a difference-maker – but it sure is nice to be on the winning end of a big late-inning comeback.
Not pinch hitting Ramos for Rivera in the 6th had a lot of us shaking our heads. Despite our strong 2nd half, I have to believe Mickey is a goner. And from what we have witnessed from Thor lately, I don’t see him returning either. I just pray we get a lot in return.
Don’t give up on Thor yet; he’s only 27, and he’s had only one season where he wasn’t at least very good (this one). Despite this, his FIP currently ranks him 10th in the NL, which means he’d benefit from better defense.
Brian, do you agree with my reasoning?
As for MC, Maddon’s contract is up after this season. and the Cubbies’ brass are disenchanted. If the Mets pick him up, I promise to hate the Wilpons by at least 20% less
It may not be a case of giving up on Noah but rather the understanding that he and Michael Conforto are the two players likely to bring back the most in a trade.
The reality is that the Mets’ 2020 payroll is shaping up to be significantly higher than the ones they’ve run recently. Cot’s has their under contract 2020 payroll number at $128.5 million and that’s not counting the following players eligible for arbitration: Stroman, Syndergaard, Conforto, Panik (dear god – non-tender, please), Matz, Diaz, Nimmo, Lugo and Gsellman. That’s roughly $40 million, which puts it $10 million ahead of last year’s Opening Day payroll number and that’s still not taking into account the non-arbitration guys and any FA they might sign.
Either the payroll goes up or they trade someone. And 2019 OD payroll was the highest in team history.
Three out and ten to play. Keep the faith. So many games that slipped away over the course of the season have brought us to where we are today instead of much higher in the standings. Frustrated with Thor as well but not quick to give up on this under control talent. Need to sweep the Reds and put a hurting on the Fish who historically feast on ruing our season. One game at a time.
Gut reaction: despite Mickey Callaway the players rallied and won the game. Ramos was the obvious choice to pinch-hit for Rivera. Lugo was the obvious choice to Bat when they had the lead. The Mets have their backs against the wall and should be playing their best players in these situations. As a Mets fan I want the manager to put the best players on the field. Unfortunately this manager is uncapable of doing that.