3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Win Series, Cardinals Lose Their Cool

3 UP

McCannon

Entering this season, the biggest issue for the New York Mets seemed to be what they were going to get out of the catcher position. After a very slow start, James McCann is showing he can really be the guy the Mets hoped he would be when they jumped the market to sign him.

Over his last seven games, McCann is hitting .300/.348/.550 with two doubles, a homer, and four RBI. That included a key three-hit game in the Mets 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of this series.

More important than the hits has been his work behind the plate. After regressing last season, McCann’s framing numbers are once again elite. When looking at how Mets starters are the best in the game right now, we should not discount McCann’s role behind the plate in that.

Real Deal McNeil

There was some debate over whether Jeff McNeil would ever return to his All-Star form. So far this season, McNeil has responded by playing the best baseball of his career.

So far this season, McNeil has a 163 wRC+, which is on pace for the best of his career. He’s back to making contact with everything, and he’s doing it while showing more patience at the plate. It’s also not just getting hits; it is when he gets the hits. For example, his ninth inning double against the Cardinals.

On top of that, McNeil has played solid defense at both second and left. Overall, this is the McNeil we came to know and love over his first two seasons. It seems like he is that player again, and he is here to stay.

Mad Max

When the Mets got Max Scherzer, they knew they were getting a great starting pitcher. They also knew they were getting one of the fiercest competitors there is. That was on full display in this series.

Scherzer struck out 10 over seven scoreless. He would not pick up a win as it was a pitchers’ duel. That said, his start paved the way for the Mets to be in a position to make that epic come from behind victory.

As noted by MMO‘s Mathew Brownstein, Scherzer became the first Mets pitcher to begin his Mets career with a sub 2.00 ERA and post 30+ strikeouts. He’s all over the top five statistical categories just like how he always is.

More than that, he’s been a leader. When the nonsense was happening during this series, Scherzer was in the dugout yelling at the Cardinals to be quiet. When the benches cleared, he was the first one over the railing. All told, this is a leader not just in how he pitches but in how he supports his teammates.

He’s helped bring an edge to this team, and he’s a major reason why they are in first place.

3 DOWN

MLB’s Balls 

Chris Bassitt had a start where he had some issues with his control and went up-and-in a little too much a few times. Pete Alonso was again hit in the helmet this season, and the Mets have been hit 19 times, more than any other team in the majors.

After the game, Bassitt went on a rant. It wasn’t about needing to protect his teammates. Rather, it was about the inconsistency of the baseballs and the difficulty getting a grip. In total, Bassitt laid the blame at the feet of MLB, and he demanded better.

As an aside, what a power move from Bassitt. After dominating the Cardinals, he went out and basically said he could’ve done even better if he could’ve gotten a better grip on the ball.

Frankly, we all should. It is incumbent on MLB to figure out how to make the balls consistent and safe for pitchers. If not for the c-flaps, Alonso and Francisco Lindor would have been very injured. Losing star players in the biggest market in the world should be a nightmare situation for Major League Baseball.

Instead, Rob Manfred seems content on ignoring the pleas of players to make the game safer. Instead, he’ll just focus on whatever the next version of the Bose headphones will be.

Power Outage

Mark Canha busted it out of the box, and he was thrown out trying to stretch a single to a double. That leaves him without an extra base hit on the season.

Over his past 10 games, Alonso has pretty much done nothing but hit opposite field singles. He hasn’t had an extra base hit since April 17, and he has just three homers so far this year.

Eduardo Escobar and Francisco Lindor each had prolonged stretches without an extra base hit until they doubled in the series finale. Starling Marte only has one extra base hit over his past 74 plate appearances.

In some respects, this is a good thing. The Mets are able to win games even without big hits from their top players. That said, sooner or later, this is something which catches up with a team and will be a problem if things don’t change.

Cardinals Need to Shut Up

After the Cardinals were done throwing at Mets batters, Bassitt threw them a life line and blamed MLB. Miles Mikolas responded by saying that’s just an excuse and pitchers need to take responsibility. Of note, Mikolas hit Canha in that game so take what you want from that.

After Yoan Lopez threw a pitch up-and-in and not at Nolan Arenado‘s head, the Cardinals freaked out. The benches cleared, and first base coach and presumed Jimmy Duggan enemy, Stubby Clapp, attacked Alonso from behind dragging him to the ground.

After a series where the Cardinals hit the Mets with pitches repeatedly, and saw Steven Matz throw one up at Brandon Nimmo‘s head, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol took to the press to whine about how Lopez could possibly throw a pitch to Arenado, and then he defended Clapp and his actions. Of course, there was no mention of how J.D. Davis had to leave the game with a foot injury after getting hit by a pitch.

All told, the Cardinals told us what they are. They’re the people who can dish it, but they can’t take it. Really, they’re the opposite of the Mets. The Mets just go to first base and beat you. The Cardinals whine about it and throw away games.