3 UP
1. Montero’s Gem
In what has been a truly unexpected emergence from Rafael Montero, he finally has a signature moment as a starting pitcher, well at least one that doesn’t involved you ripping your hair out.
Montero was absolutely brilliant over 8.1 innings in a win against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. In the game, he allowed just three hits with only one of them coming before the ninth inning. In essence he was nearly un-hittable with him pounding the strike zone and utilizing his change-up to strike out eight batters.
The night wasn’t ruined even with Terry Collins understandably going too long with him. With the bases loaded and two outs, AJ Ramos came out and struck out the final two batters sealing the Mets 2-0 victory.
Just to put in perspective how good this game was, Montero had a game score of 81, which made this one of the top 40 pitching performances in the majors this season, and according to game score, it was the best pitching performance by a Mets pitcher this season.
2. Ramos Perfect as Mets Closer
As discussed above, Ramos came into an extremely difficult situation. He dug deep down, and he struck out the two batters he faced to save Montero’s gem and a Mets 2-0 victory.
In Ramos’ brief tenure with the Mets, he is a perfect six for six in save opportunities. While it was initially believed he was brought here as the replacement for Addison Reed, he could find himself as the replacement for Familia, who has really struggled this season.
3. MLB Players Stepping Up
Old friend Jay Bruce has joined Twitter, and he is now doing all he can do to raise money to help people devastated by Hurricane Harvey and the ensuing flooding:
https://twitter.com/JayBruce87/status/903265883950383104
Bruce is far from the only player or person doing things to help the recover efforts. As discussed during the radio broadcast on Thursday, the Mets players will look to help in anyway they can during the three game set against the Astros. To that end, good job by the Mets agreeing to the doubleheader on Saturday to allow these games to be played in Houston.
While not related to the natural disaster in Houston and while it came to the detriment of the Mets, Joey Votto should be singled out as well. After his home run off of Jeurys Familia, he immediately pointed over to a young fan. He would later bring that fan his jersey and his bat. That fan was six year old Wally Herber, who was diagnosed with high risk stage 4 neuroblastoma in September 2015.
Hopefully, the example led by Bruce and Votto inspires us all to do better and help those in need.
3 DOWN
1. Mets Didn’t Scout Otani
Despite having years of control over the pitcher, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have indicated they will post Shohei Otani this offseason if he wishes to pursue his dreams of being a Major League Baseball player. With his ability to hit 100 MPH on the gun, teams are understandably salivating.
That is except the Mets; the same Mets team that both scouted and signed Tim Tebow last year. The Mets couldn’t even be bothered to send out a scout to see him pitch.
The Mets are giving us the song and dance they plan on being competitive next year. Time and again, they indicate they have enough money to be a competitive ball club. Given how the team has been run since the Madoff scandal, fans understandably are not taking the Mets at face value.
If you are a fan who is skeptical of the Mets willingness to do all that is required to be competitive next year, the team has failed the first test.
2. Familia Struggling
This has been a completely lost year for Familia. First, he was suspended 15 games to start the year under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. After a brief return, he went on the disabled list with a blood clot in his pitching shoulder that had to be surgically removed.
Since his return, Familia has made three appearances pitching 3.1 innings. In those three appearances, he has walked three batters, and he has allowed four earned runs. To no one’s surprise, he has not looked sharp, nor has he looked anything like the Familia of old.
Overall, on the season, Familia is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA and no saves.
3. Cabrera Remains
Well, Asdrubal Cabrera thew a temper tantrum over switching positions for the good of the team, and he demanded a trade. Since that time, the Mets have moved every veteran with an expiring contract except him and Jose Reyes. This leaves a disgruntled Cabrera behind. It also leaves the Mets with a decision over whether the team wants to pay him an additional $6.5 million to be a Met next year, or whether the team wants to give him the $2 million buy out for him to play elsewhere.
This wouldn’t be such a bad situation for Mets fans, but Terry Collins continuously insists of playing Cabrera everyday at the expense of young players who need to be playing and learning at the major league level.
