3 UP
1. I Remember Those Guys
So far this season, the starting pitchers have not pitched to their hype or standards. Finally, after a month and a half of relative futility, we saw some of those starters deliver the goods:
- Jacob deGrom (W) – 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
- Zack Wheeler (W) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
- Robert Gsellman (H) – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
If we see similar results from these pitchers, the Mets will be a vastly improved team. If the rest of the Mets rotation responds to the gauntlet thrown down by deGrom on Friday, this team just might get back into the NL East race.
2. Conforto Is Great
At what point, we have to question what is it Michael Conforto can’t do? He hits for power and average. He has a high OBP and slugging %. He had two outfield assists in the series against the Angels. More than that, he played in a three game series playing against Mike Trout, and he was the better player.
Conforto certainly isn’t a better player than Trout overall, but out-shining him in a three game set shows how Conforto keeps taking his game to new levels.
3. Milestones Met
On Saturday, Terry Collins surpassed Davey Johnson on the Mets All-Time list for games managed. In the same game, Jose Reyes singled to left in the first inning giving him 2,000 career hits.
It was a throwback performance from Reyes that saw him go 3-4 with a walk, two RBI, and a stolen base. The Mets are going to need more of them if Collins and Reyes want to reach some postseason milestones this year.
3 DOWN
1. Bruce No Longer The Boss
In April, Jay Bruce was the best player on the Mets. In May, he has been their worst. In the month, Bruce is hitting just .191/.282/.426, and he looks more and more like the guy who struggled when he first joined the Mets. Hopefully, the homer he hit on Sunday gets him going again.
2. That Hansel, He’s So Cold Right Now
It had looked like Hansel Robles had turned the corner and now was a dominant reliever. Through his first 18 appearances, he was 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 1.053 WHIP, and a 9.5 K/9. Over his last three appearances, he has pitched 2.2 innings, allowing 12 earned runs. That’s good for a 40.45 ERA.
Whether it’s fatigue, mechanics, location, or luck, Robles has to rediscover what he was doing right, and fast.
3. Sunday, Bloody Sunday
The Mets are 1-5 in their six Sunday games. They have lost five straight on Sundays getting out-scored 65-24. The losses have been a mixture of disheartening losses and blowouts. They have made you feel worse about series losses, and they have overshadowed series victories.
After an off day on Monday, the Mets begin a three game set against the San Diego Padres who have the worst record in baseball. This presents a good opportunity for the Mets to put some wins together and inch closer to .500.
