3 UP
1. Bruce Increasing His Trade Value
After a great April, Jay Bruce appeared to have regressed in May to be the player he has been over the past few seasons. When the calendar flipped to June, Bruce has turned the corner, and he has been playing at an All Star level yet again. In 18 games this month, he has hit .329/.370/.658 with seven homers and 13 RBI.
If we’re being honest, with the Mets getting outclassed by the Dodgers this series, the Mets focus right now should be on selling. With each and every big game Bruce has, he is helping the team maximize the return for him in a potential trade deadline deal.
2. Simply Grandy
Lost in his dreadful April is how great Curtis Granderson has been since May. In that time, he’s hitting .280/.389/.545 with 12 doubles, a triple, eight homers, and 21 RBI.
He keeps getting stronger as the season progresses. In his red hot June, he’s hitting .295/.436/.614. He’s led off the past two games with a homer reclaiming the Mets all-time record away from Reyes.
Of course, the hot streak coincides with Michael Conforto‘s back issues and slump thereby giving Terry Collins his justification for keeping Granderson’s hit bat in the lineup.
3. Cabrera No Longer The Shortstop
When Asdrubal Cabrera comes off the Disabled List, the Mets are going to move him to second base. This is needed with Cabrera having clearly lost yet another step in the infield, and with his sure hands suddenly not so sure anymore. In fact, his -9 DRS and -5.5 UZR are second worst in the majors among shortstops.
Moving Cabrera to shortstop should clear the way for Amed Rosario to play short. Just not now. Instead, the move is being made to allow Jose Reyes to be the everyday shortstop for reasons that cannot possibly be explained.
Still, moving Cabrera off shortstop was a necessity, so that end, this is a step in the right direction.
3 DOWN
1. Mets Are Closer To The First Overall Pick Than the Postseason
Going into the pivotal series agaminst the Nationals, the Mets were 8.5 games back with an opportunity to once again be relevant in the National League East race. They have now lost six of seven pushing them to new lows this season. They are now 10 games under .500, 11.5 games back in the division, and 13.5 games back of the Wild Card. They are now closer to the Philadelphia Phillies for the first overall pick in the draft than they are to the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Mets team is more concerned about a perceived slight from Yasiel Puig than fixing what needs to be done to play a better brand of baseball.
2. Historically Bad Pitching
How is it possible the Mets have a team 5.07 ERA. They entered the season with Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Addison Reed, and Jeurys Familia. Sure, injuries and some under-performances are to blame, but 5.05?!?!? That is the worst ERA the Mets have had since 1962, which as well all know was the worst team in Major League history. When viewed through that prism, there is no excuse for any of this.
3. Sandy’s Old Second Baseman Beating Up On the Mets
Back in 2013, Justin Turner was a surprise non-tender by the Mets. As he looked for work, the Mets defended their position by criticizing his night life and hustle.
Since leaving the Mets, he’s hitting .308/.377/.498. In 20 games against the Mets, he’s hitting .292/.387/.523 with six doubles, three homers, and 11 RBI.
After being crowned the NLCS MVP, the Mets did not negotiate a contract with Daniel Murphy. Since that time, Murphy has been an MVP caliber player for the Nationals.
Since leaving the Mets, Murphy is hitting .346/.393/.588. Against the Mets, Murphy is even better hitting .350/.435/.575 wire four doubles, a triple, a homer in 10 bands.
Both Turner’s and Murphy’s teams plastered the Mets effectively putting an end to the Mets season.
The Mets travel to San Francisco for a rematch of the Wild Card Game against the Giants. Who would have thought when Syndergaard and Madison Bumgarner were matching zeros last October, this would be a match-up between teams fighting for the top overall pick in the draft?
