Game Score is a Bill Jame creation developed to rate how good a starting pitcher’s outing was. It’s designed so that a score of 50 is an average performance for a pitcher. The highest Game Score is 105, recorded by Kerry Wood on the night he pitched a one-hitter and struck out 20 batters. The worst Game Score this century belongs to Colby Lewis, who posted a (-16) when he gave up 13 hits and 11 ER in 2.1 IP back in 2014.
In April of this year, there were 204 instances where a starter posted a Game Score of at least 60 or an average of just under seven per team if these were distributed evenly. The Mets have had 15 games where a starter posted at least a 60, with Max Scherzer’s last start against the Cardinals being the best, with a Game Score of 82. In 15 of 22 games, the Mets’ starting pitcher has turned in a well-above average start.
Three more games the starter had an outing in the 50s, meaning there have only been four games where a SP gave a below-average performance. There was the start where Trevor Williams was thrown to the wolves and Carlos Carrasco’s bad outing last time out. Those were the only times where the starter out-and-out didn’t get the job done. The other two below-average outings were the starts by Tylor Megill and Chris Bassitt against the Giants. But each of those pitchers battled to give the team six innings and ended up with Game Scores in the 40s, which is far from awful.
FUNKINESS ON THE FIRST PITCH – Everyone knows Brandon Nimmo is a patient hitter, one known for turning a bunch of PA into a 3-2 count. But Nimmo is not afraid to jump at the first pitch. And the results have been very good when he does. In 186 lifetime PA where the at-bat ended with the first pitch, Nimmo has a .403/.421/.682 triple-slash line. In April this year alone, Nimmo has 2 HR when swinging at the first pitch.
Still, it was a surprise when Nimmo swung at the first pitch and put the ball in play three times Saturday night. He was 0-3 when that happened, including a ground out that ended the eighth inning with the bases loaded. The two times Nimmo didn’t make contact with the first pitch, he had a single and a walk. It would have been nice to have had one of those in the eighth inning yesterday.
CLOSING WITH K’S – Friday night’s combo no-hitter was finished off by Edwin Diaz, who struck out the side to finish the Mets’ second no-hitter in franchise history. Strikeouts are a common thing for Diaz, who has 17 Ks in 10 IP this year, good for a 15.3 K/9, the eighth-best mark in the majors among relief pitchers. Diaz essentially throws two pitches – a high-90s fastball and a wipeout slider. Last year, the slider was very good but hitters had success versus his fastball. So far this year, the fastball has been a plus pitch, too. Of course, the two go hand-in-hand. When Diaz can’t get strikes with his slider, batters sit on the fastball knowing it’s the only pitch he has. That’s rarely been the case here early in 2022. What is some concern is that Diaz has allowed 2 HR in 10 IP. The past two seasons, Diaz has been stingy with the gopher ball. But he was lousy in that regard his first year with the Mets and will always be a concern with him going forward.
THE STRUGGLING STARLING – The Mets signed Starling Marte to a four-year deal in the offseason, coming off the heels of a 5.5 fWAR season in 2021. Few expected him to duplicate that performance for the Mets this year but most expected he would be a solid 3-win player. While there’s still plenty of season left, Marte has been off to a poor start, with a .224/.290/.318 line in 93 PA and just a 0.1 fWAR. Marte has still managed to drive in 15 runs, thanks to a .389 AVG with RISP. With that type of production with runners in scoring position, it’s easy to see why Buck Showalter has kept him at the top of the lineup. Still, it seems off to see Marte bat that high while Jeff McNeil bats that low.
SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES – The Mets look for their seventh straight series win to open the season when they play Sunday night against the Phillies. Most Mets fans are less than thrilled to find them playing on ESPN’s Sunday night game and not just because we’re subjected to ESPN’s lousy announcers. The Mets simply don’t have a great record in these games. In the past three years, the Mets are just 3-8 when playing on Sunday nights. A couple of those were the back end of day/night doubleheaders, so we may not be able to blame this all on ESPN. It likely has more to do with those games coming mostly against the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees. Hopefully Scherzer against the 11-11 Phillies results in a win and a turning of the tide in Sunday night results.
Nimmo’s bases-loaded ground out last night was especially annoying because the reliever had only faced one batter at the time and had walked him. If Nimmo had shown more patience the pitcher might have walked him or if behind might have had to get one over the middle where Nimmo could drive it.
I Just love when hitters grind out ABs. Especially in high-leverage situations, I fell the more pitches a hitter sees the more likely a good outcome occurs.
I was frustrated when Nimmo jumped on the first pitched and bailed out a reliever who had yet to find himself. I hope Nimmo is watching Canha closely… registering the good things that happen late in the count.
Marte does hit the first pitch a lot. He hit into some bad luck early in the season, with many very well struck balls finding gloves. Lately he is off, likely pressing a little. Still, he is too good a player to stay down.
I will reiterate: McNeil is thriving because he is down in the order. It is far too easy to project the same effectiveness if he is elevated. I like McNeil hitting behind Canha and his high OBP. Bringing McNeil to the plate with Canha on first base has to benefit McNeil, and it adds some punch to the end of the order.
I’m sure Buck will figure it out, but I like McNeil hitting 7, 8 of 9. Like Marte anywhere 1-6. He needs loose reins and a chance to stretch his legs…
Nimmo should’ve taken a pitch because of the walk and only because of that.
The starting pitching has been the best in the league and it enjoyable to watch. Buck also doesn’t have a short hook which is more enjoyable.
Because of the lefty/righty balance that Buck is fond of, Marte and Canha should switched in the batting order. The lefty/righty balance will be out the window when Buck realizes JD needs and deserves more ABs at DH.
SRF injury makes the pitching decision for the cut easy. The decision for the player position is hard. IMO send Smith to Syracuse. Cano is hitting better. Jankowski is hitting better, a speed threat and a excellent fielder. Guillorme is hitting better and a good fielder. Smith needs AB to find his stroke.
I love that we have Max going tonight against the Phillies. Should be fun to watch.
McCann and Smith both have anemic .167 batting averages. If Smith keeps it up, he may find himself on his way to Syracuse. And if McCann continues like this. It may hasten the call up of our prized prospect catcher.
Thanks for the article. N9w I will be watching Nimmo’s every at bat to see if he swings at the first pitch.
Metsense… Maybe you haven’t actually seen Cano’s ABs in the last few games… not exactly what you’d call hitting “better”… he’s lost, and the easiest out the league… a man at the end of the road…
But I don’t disagree with you about Smith. Dom needs to establish soon that he is ML hitter. His two half-seasons of success are in the past, and his career is hanging in the balance. Just needs to strike some balls hard… have not seen more than maybe once twice since ST.
Yes, I saw them…,and there horrible but Smith is doing worse. Smith needs at bats and won’t get consistent at bats in the majors. So Cano stays a little longer, Davis gets more at bats and Jankowski gets more playing time too and Cano picks splinters from his ass instead of Smith doing that.
BTW, why are you thinking that Nimmo should change his batting approach when he has a 1.103 OPS on first pitches? In the Gut Reaction you want him to stop swinging on first pitches. I like his batting approach just fine. He is a grinding and also an ambusher….. and the statics prove it.
McNeil 3rd tonight
Marte 7th
Cano bench
As it should be for now At least
Yes, I’m hoping Mad Max has a nice little Sunday night gift for his buddy Joe Girardi.
Mets up 6-4. Let’s hold onto the lead and get another great win. I actually have a good idea. Can we use the DH for the catcher ?
Those in the chatter know i’ve been monitoring the Mets during 3-1 counts.
They are an astonishing hitless 0-12 in those counts this year when putting the ball in play in that count. And that doesn’t even include all the bad swings i’ve watched them attempt on what should be a good hitters count. I don’t know what’s wrong.
The league is hitting .318 with a .332 ISO in 3-1 counts, so other hitters are squaring up when it gets in their favor, just not the Mets.