Amed Rosario Reminds Everyone Why Hustling Counts In Walk-Off Win Over Nats

22 May


Listen, the Mets knew what they were getting in Robinson Cano and that included his well-earned rep for not hustling at times. Sure, you had every reason to think that with age, maturity and possibly wanting to show leadership with a new and younger team, that Cano might change his loafing ways, but that hasn’t always been the case and he deserved to be benched the other day for lack of hustling on those two plays. Going forward, maybe Cano really will ‘get the hint’ and change his lackadaisical ways…or maybe not.

Yoenis Cespedes Suffered Ankle Fractures After A Fall On His Florida Ranch

21 May

Yoenis Cespedes
NYPost.com:

Cespedes communicated to the team that, “He stepped in a hole and twisted his leg and foot into a difficult position,” Van Wagenen said. The rookie GM added it was his understanding that Cespedes didn’t fall off a horse.

While Van Wagenen wouldn’t say as much, the serious injury clearly means Cespedes will miss at least the duration of this season, with his availability for next year in question.

Van Wagenen made a point of noting that Cespedes suffered his injury from “non-baseball-related activity,” thereby leaving the team’s options open regarding an attempt to recoup some of Cespedes’ salary if it can prove the accident resulted from actions outlawed in the 33-year-old’s contract. Asked whether Cespedes’ activity might have compromised his right to be paid, Van Wagenen said, “We haven’t even thought about implications to the contract.”

Hey, with the help of Cespedes’ mighty bat, we got to a World Series in 2015 and a wild-card playoff game the following year. Since then Cespedes has barely played and the Mets coincidentally or not coincidentally have suffered greatly without him. And now with yet another setback that will presumably kill any chance he had of returning this season, I think it’s time for the Mets, if they can, to just close this chapter for good.

Why Wasn’t Tomas Nido Catching Jacob deGrom Last Night?

18 May

Tomas Nido
MetsBlog.com:

As rough as things have been for the Mets, if they can’t get consistency out of deGrom, they’re going to have serious issues.

Wilson Ramos, who went 2-for-4, was Friday’s catcher, and after what transpired it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tomás Nido is behind the plate for deGrom’s next start.

DeGrom is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three starts pitching to Nido, but is now 1-5 with a 6.39 ERA when pitching to other catchers.

Callaway had no regrets about sticking with deGrom as the game got away from him.

“He’s your ace,” the manager said. “He’s gonna throw his pitches. You’re gonna win or lose with him. That’s the right thing to do. He’s the leader of the staff and he gets that chance.”

Listen, deGrom still has to make the pitches, but when you look at the difference in results on deGrom between when Nido catches him and when Wilson Ramos does, it’s worth having a conversation about.

As Wilmer Font Struggles Again, Gio Gonzalez Continues To Shine

16 May

Gio Gonzalez
NYPost.com:

Gio Gonzalez has been more than a marginal upgrade for the Brewers since the Mets passed on him again after he opted out of his minor-league contract with the Yankees last month.

The 33-year-old lefty owns a 2-0 record and a 1.69 ERA in four starts for Milwaukee after allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings in a 5-2 victory Wednesday over the Phillies. Gonzalez signed a one-year deal worth $2 million with the Brewers, the team he finished last season with, on April 24.

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The Mets made a minor trade for Wilmer Font earlier this month, but he’s posted a 9.95 ERA in two starts. Chris Flexen also has made one spot start this season.

“The addition of Gio, ‘consistent’ is the word you’d like to use because the line scores look the same every time out,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters Wednesday. “It’s more than consistent; he’s been really darn good. He hasn’t given up more than two runs in a start yet. That’s really good.”

Some head-scratching moves made by Brodie Van Wagenen so far this season (mind you, it’s only May): signing the journeyman Font over Gonzalez, not letting Dominic Smith get reps in the outfield, Todd Frazier still being on the team and failing to make an offer to Dallas Keuchel, who’s still available and reportedly willing to accept a 1-year contract.

“All-In” Mets Acquire Pitcher With Lifetime 6.51 ERA To Help Pitching Woes

7 May

Wilmer Font
NYPost.com:

With their pitching staff under siege by injuries, the Mets worked the trade market for relief.

The Mets acquired Wilmer Font from the Rays on Monday for a player to be named later, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.

With relievers Jeurys Familia (shoulder soreness), Luis Avilan (elbow soreness) and Justin Wilson (elbow soreness) all on the injured list, and starters Steven Matz (nerve irritation) and Jason Vargas (hamstring) potentially joining them there, Font will provide depth and versatility.

The 28-year-old righty had a 5.79 ERA in 10 appearances with the Rays this season — four of which were multi-inning outings — while striking out 18 and walking five.

RELATED: 3 things Mets can do to turn season around, including better roster management

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Mets DFA Travis d’Arnaud, Should’ve Kept Devin Mesoraco

28 Apr


ESPN.com:

The New York Mets designated Travis d’Arnaud for assignment Sunday, one day after the slumping catcher was booed repeatedly by fans at Citi Field.

D’Arnaud missed most of last season because of an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He had gotten off to a slow start this season, with only two hits in his first 23 at-bats.

The Mets announced the roster move before Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Catcher Tomas Nido was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move.

Mets fans booed d’Arnaud before his first-at bat in the second inning and again after he struck out in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 8-6 loss to the Brewers.

A rough night got worse three innings later, when d’Arnaud was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, drawing more boos.

I’ve said this before. It was a huge mistake for the Mets to let Devin Mesaraco go this past off-season. Huge. Mesaraco was great with Jacob deGrom last year, could hit with power and wasn’t a defensive liability behind the plate. Instead they went with the injury-prone d’Arnaud, degrom is now struggling mightily and now d’Arnaud is gone. SMH.

Jacob deGrom Delivered Another Stinker Last Night

27 Apr

Jacob deGrom
NorthJersey.com:

Maybe the Mets should have done another rain dance.

Intent on playing Friday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field and pitching ace Jacob deGrom, they had to live with the results after a rain delay that lasted nearly three hours. And the results weren’t pretty.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner blew up for five earned runs in the third, giving up more in one inning than he did any singular outing last season, and the Mets were blown out yet again 10-2. It was deGrom’s third straight loss.

“My arm feels great, that’s what’s really frustrating about it,” he said. “It felt good warming up, it felt really good in the bullpen out there so to go out there and do that, that’s embarrassing.”

You can’t go from just winning a Cy Young to be being this bad so soon, can you?