From the Game Chatter:
Name – can Dom play hero?
Me – C’mon Dom – don’t make me list you with Cano in the recap
Dominic Smith came up as a pinch-hitter with two runners in scoring position and two outs, with the Mets down a run in the ninth inning. Smith ripped a ball that Paul Goldschmidt made a terrific play to field the ball. But Cardinals closer Giovanny Gallegos didn’t get off the mound quickly. Smith made a dive and beat Gallegos to the bag. Roughly 99 times out of a 100, it’s a bad play to dive to first base. But this might have been the exception, as it’s possible that Gallegos might have been able to tag him if he thought in time to do it. Smith took that off the table, even if maybe he dove too soon.
While Smith was beating the throw to first, Jeff McNeil ran hard the entire way and scored from second on the ball, the second run of the play, which gave the Mets the lead. And none of this would have been possible if Mark Canha didn’t battle back from 0-2 to run the count to 3-2 before he hit a ball that Gold Glover Nolan Arenado sailed a throw to first, keeping the inning alive for McNeil and Smith.
The Cardinals went to a lefty to face Brandon Nimmo after Smith’s hit. Nimmo greeted the reliever with a homer on the first pitch, giving the Mets a 5-2 lead, with all five runs being unearned due to the Arenado error.
The final score belies the fact this was a pitcher’s duel. Both Max Scherzer and Miles Mikolas pitched seven shutout innings. Scherzer allowed just two hits and a walk and struck out 10 batters. He threw 101 pitches.
Trevor May gave up two runs in the eighth inning and deserved the loss but got a gift win, instead. Edwin Diaz came on in the ninth and picked up his second save of the year.
McNeil picked up two doubles in the game and now has an .855 OPS. Robinson Cano went 0-4 and has a .488 OPS. He doesn’t get any credit for it but one of the first things Buck Showalter did after the lockout ended was to say that McNeil was his second baseman. Now he just needs to say that Smith is his DH and Cano is his 26th or 27th man.
Everyone rightly points out all of the games the Mets have played against weak clubs. But they’re now 6-2 against the Giants, Phillies and Cardinals.
Gut Reaction: Wow…that was a great win !!!
McNeil was everywhere tonight, on the defense, in the base paths and in the batter’s box. He should be batting 3rd and Lindor 2nd.
Nice hustle Dom….Cano wouldn’t have beat it out, or wouldn’t have slid either.
Oh yeah, Scherzer had another dominant game.
Gut reaction: Didn’t see it coming. Sure I’d already figured out multiple ways of clawing back those two runs and was thinking if we could pull it out it would be a sign, as it’s too early for a turning point. Especially when we are heading forward. Yes I was thinking will we lose and then lose the series? Boy are we pleasantly spoiled. Kudos to Max for making us see we have as good a pitcher on our team as there is, and we’re not even thinking Jake. Would have loved to see a big hit from Dom but how great was his hustle and dive for the bag.
Except for Cano and Guillorme too frequently being in the lineup, Buck has done a nice job of getting players some time and keeping them fresh. Lots to be happy about.
While this still sinks in, the Cardinals tonight must be stunned. Goldschmidt, after Gallegos not only didn’t get off the mound but then never bothered looking to see where the trail runner was, looked sick to his stomach. Arenado was too arrogant on that, but he’s a platinum glove, so who can blame him?
I can’t believe it and it’s numbing right now. With the news that JdG is cleared to ramped it up, in late May the Mets may be unbeatable!
Speaking of May… wow, does his stuff look straight or what? Is he overthrowing, is he needing more work? He sucks right now, and McNeil made a great play to get him an out he didn’t deserve because he’s the one that could not handle the comebacker.
Before Cahna’s at bat, Cano is up with man on first and one out…. A player slower than molasses that hits it on the ground 58% of the time, tell me what you’re thinking… Winning cures many ills, but karma catches up to you at some point.
Ok, correction: JdG not cleared to throw but rather to start strengthening the shoulder (Physical Therapy?). New MRI in three weeks. And so it goes on…
One of thr best defensive teams in the league choke in the bottom of the 9th.
One of the best bulllens in the league gave up 5 runs in the 9th.
These are not things that typically benefit our Metsies. Something special brewing.
We definitely have a Cano problem. And a May problem. And probably a Jake problem. And yet here we are. Like thr Braves winning without Acuna last year great teams find a way. We re not great yet…but we re on the road to greatness.
Dear Buck,
Robinson Cano does not get another start until Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis are given a full un-interrupted week’s worth. Please accept that Cano not the player he was.
Love,
Dave
Good one Dave.
Buck ball is fun to watch. Im just catching the replay now. A couple things seem clear, the team seems to not get rattled in tough times. The Canha AB was really fabulous, and took a toll on Gallegos, who you can just imagine him saying, 1 more swing/miss and its dinner time. Loses control and comes unglued. I like the professional ABs that Escobar and Canha continue to provide. I like that the offensive plan is so much more than the bankrupt bloop-blast. I mean Canha is no slouch and to run Jankowski who is crazy fast shows Buck is on the game 110% at all times. These are the wins, that winning teams win. Smart move by Dom to dive there. That was heads up. M A X imum-nuff said.
Pete Alonso: 2 walks in 78 PAs. So far this season, he’s much less than Duda.
The idea was to give Cano every opportunity to succeed. It’s very clear to all what needs to happen next.
Buck sees what we all see — and more.
Not sure why Buck is getting a lot of praise for this particular win, he really didn’t have much of a mark yesterday. Mets grinded in the 9th but really it’s the collapse of the Cards defense that was the main star.
Lost in the shuffle of the 9th inning comeback was Trevor May. Given up runs in 4 of his 6 games already. He needs to be moved down in the pecking order for the time being and used in some lower leverage spots, especially since Smith and Ottavino are capable of putting up zeros right now.
If Canha doesn’t get on base the story becomes why didn’t Buck PH for Cano. It should still be a question asked but I get with all of the positive vibes coming from this win why it wasn’t.
i was definitely asking it when Cano was at bat. Of course, what happens if Smith pinch hits there and grounds into a double play? Or makes the same out Cano did – then you’ve got Guillorme or Davis left to pinch hit. Fascinating to think about all of the permutations – but it worked out the way Buck played it, so I guess it was the “right move”
How often is the topic of Cano brought up pre/postgame? I don’t really follow so i don’t know. Maybe someone who does can chime in.
I imagine the media falls into two groups. Those who question Cano being here incessantly because they want to badger them until they publicly admit he sucks. Or those who just avoid the topic because they know none of the guys in the locker room has anything to do with him still being here and it’s a waste of time asking.
Like me, Buck appreciates a guy who does not give away his ABs. Canha is the poster child. After 0-2, he could have easily half-swung on these sharp breaking balls in the dirt… Dom and JD, even Guillorme would have.
Down two, you need a baserunner… Canha is the best option(OBP !!!).
Cano is done, there is no need to belabor it. Buck is playing it the way the front office is asking him to, straggled for. Make it obvious, then pull the plug. No way he sees July in a Mets uniform, unless he gets hurt, which prolongs the issue… hope not.
This win is a big boost. Now we need Bassett to nail down the series. The Cards are really strong. I’m not sure how anyone beats them most days… took a miracle today. Top 5 in the NL.
Let’s see, now…
2 out, runner on second, 0-2 on the batter… yeah, I can see 5 runs coming out of that scenario, sure…
Ya gotta believe??? LOL!
Charlie, I felt like I fell asleep and was dreaming. The Arenado mistake wasn’t where I was giddy, because there were two outs already, but when Goldschmidt fielded that ball, I just felt a buzz kill. To see Smith beat the pitcher to the bag was even more incredible than the Arenado throw. I screamed louder than Gary Cohen did.
Thinking About It Thoughts : (instead of Gut Reaction)
Cano should not have been playing. It is longer if but when.
May should not have been playing because more deserving pitchers for that spot.
McNeil should have been batting 3rd not 8th.
The Cardinals gave a gift win to the Mets.
Look…Showalter is learning his team. There some players are getting overpaid and are underpreforming. Showalter is balancing the clubhouse and the front office but some day soon things will change. Buck is in control and he doesn’t repeat mistakes. It’s still early .