Happy David Wright day!
Snapped this picture of him after he exited his last game ever on Sept. 29, 2018
He came strolling through the area outside the press box and said “what inning are we in?”
Brandon Sproat fired 7.0 shutout innings tonight for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing three hits, walking none, and striking out three
He hasn’t allowed a run over his last three starts
Would’ve been interesting to see what he could’ve done Sunday vs. Yankees or today vs. Orioles
Ronny Mauricio is starting to get comfortable at the plate
He’s reached base safely in his last nine games
During that span, he’s hitting .370/.452/.556 with one homer, two doubles, six runs scored, two RBI, and four walks
OPS for the season is up to .720 (107 OPS+)
Here are five things to watch as the Mets and Yankees play the Subway Series at Citi Field
Included in here: Brandon Sproat really should be an option to start on Sunday
Mets are so close to having Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, and Jesse Winker back
They just need to persevere without them for a bit longer
4-4 over their last 8 games is baby steps toward stabilizing things after that awful stretch
Carlos Mendoza said Sean Manaea was *not* in consideration to pitch Sunday vs Yankees
So plan is:
Manaea pitches tonight
Manaea makes another rehab start next Tuesday, because there are no minors games on Monday
So earliest he’ll return is July 13, day before All-Star break
After Mets fell behind in 6th inning, here’s what they did at the plate:
13 batters
41 pitches
0 hits
0 walks
The only runner was a Pete Alonso HBP
This has been a theme during the 3-14 stretch
Mets fall behind, Mets don’t fight back
Nolan McLean last pitched on June 27 for Triple-A Syracuse
Brandon Sproat last pitched on June 28
Theoretically, in world where Mets consider calling either of them up, McLean could start Friday or Sunday
Same goes for Sproat
Currently Blackburn on Friday and TBD for Sunday
Mets have David Peterson listed as tomorrow’s starter against Brewers, so seemingly no plan to call someone up for tomorrow and push Peterson back
Mets need someone to fill in on Sunday
Current outlook vs. Yankees:
Friday: Paul Blackburn
Saturday: Frankie Montas
Sunday: TBD
Unless Mets alter rotation or do bullpen game, they’ll need spot starter Sunday vs Yankees
That’s because tonight’s postponement pushes Holmes (who would’ve started tonight & Sunday) to tomorrow
Options on 40-man for Sunday:
Waddell
Hagenman
Non 40-man options:
McLean
Sproat
Here’s how Mets’ rotation should evolve over the next few weeks, barring more injuries…
Current:
Peterson
Blackburn
Montas
Holmes
Tidwell
In about 10 days:
Peterson
Manaea
Montas
Holmes
Tidwell/Blackburn
Around the ASG:
Senga
Peterson
Manaea
Montas
Holmes
Juan Soto in 109 plate appearances over 25 games since May 30:
BA: .333
OBP: .486
SLG: 774
HR: 11
RBI: 20
Runs: 24
BB: 24
His OPS for the season is up to .899
Soto is now on pace to finish season with 38 homers
He’s also pacing to be an All-Star
Remember when he was sad?
He can come back on July 5
Apropos of nothing, but the fact that Jonah Tong hasn’t been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse yet is wild
In 67 innings over 13 starts, here’s what Tong has done:
1.75 ERA
0.91 WHIP
31 hits
107 strikeouts (14.4 per nine)
He’s toying with hitters at the level he’s at
Jesse Winker sliding to the 60-day IL is a paper move to fit Frankie Montas on the 40-man roster
Winker landed on the IL on May 5
It’s June 24
There was no shot he was returning before July 5
He’s making progress, though. Was running on the field yesterday
Dicky Lovelady is the second Dicky in Mets history
Let’s not forget Dicky Gonzalez, who pitched for the Mets in 2001
Dicky Lovelady will be the Grimace event for the 2025 Mets
Phillies’ schedule is very difficult in 18 games between now and All-Star break, so it would behoove the Mets to snap out of it now — they’ll likely be able to do some damage in standings if so
Phils from today through 7/13
3 @ HOU
3 @ ATL
3 vs SD
3 vs CIN
3 @ SF
3 @ SD
Mets picked an interesting time to option Francisco Alvarez to the minors
Coming off a 2-for-5 performance with a 450-foot homer
But his overall offensive production — and defensive shortcomings lately — were obviously a huge issue
Legacy media is failing on an epic level re: how US strikes on Iran are being covered
This was an unnecessary, wildly dangerous act of war done without congressional approval, despite DNI saying Iran wasn’t close to having nuclear weapon
That’s the story here. Wake up
Here’s something that makes Mets not turning to Starling Marte in place of Jared Young leading off the 10th inning last night even more puzzling…
Marte has reached base 13 times in his last 29 plate appearances
Truly bizarre that he wasn’t called on in that spot
Carlos Mendoza has been terrific for Mets
But two questionable decisions he made last night contributed to maddening loss to Braves
1. Reed Garrett should’ve been ready when 8th inning started
2. Starling Marte should’ve hit for Jared Young in 10th
Mets will need someone to fill in for Tylor Megill on Friday against the Phillies
Nolan McLean last pitched on June 14, meaning he would be lined up for that start
Mets could always turn to Brandon Waddell or an opener
But McLean is certainly an intriguing option
If Kodai Senga misses time, it’ll suck
Sucks more because that injury didn’t have to happen
But Mets have more than enough depth to make up for his absence if he hits IL
Blackburn
Montas (after one or two more rehab starts)
Manaea (in a few weeks)
McLean
Sproat
Tidwell
David Peterson shutout
The last time I felt that kind of energy at a random weeknight Mets game in June — at Shea stadium or Citi Field — is never
There’s been a lot less between pitches music tonight at Citi Field
Letting the game breathe a lot more, which is perfect considering how invested and buzzy the crowd is
Seeing lots of “look what Jeff McNeil is doing in June* stuff
How about what McNeil is doing *this year*
In 128 plate appearances over 36 games, he is hitting 266/359/532 with an 891 OPS & career-best 154 OPS+
McNeil being an impact bat could take Mets’ lineup to another level
Is Juan Soto still sad or nah?
Broken toe?
More like broken tie, amirite?
