3 UP

1. New Half, New Cano?

Arguably, the biggest disappointment this year has been Robinson Cano. In the first half, he hit .240/.287/.360 with a -0.9 WAR.

With some time off with the All-Star Break, Cano got to rest and come back a different player. In the three games against the Marlins, he was 6-for-13 with a double and two homers. Those two homers are half of his first half total. He also recorded his second four hit game as a Met.

As noted by MMO‘s Tim Ryder, Cano is now 11-for-31 (.355) in July. Maybe there’s something to Cano being further removed from getting hit on the hand multiple times. Maybe, there’s something still left in the tank.

2. THOR!

With Noah Syndergaard looking to put together a big second half, he took the mound in Marlins Park, the National League East ballpark where he has the best ERA.

Syndergaard looked like Syndergaard again allowing just two runs on five hits in seven innings while walking none and striking out nine. One of the more pleasant surprises in the Game was Syndergaard’s slider was much more effective than it had been all year, and he threw it with more confidence.

This was the Syndergaard we expected to see this year. Doing this against the Marlins in a pitcher’s park was a great start. Let’s see how he builds off of it.

3. Finally

On April 2, the Mets beat the Marlins. With that victory, the Mets would begin the season by winning back-to-back road series. They would not win another road series in the first half finishing with a 17-31 road record. That was the worst road record in the National League.

Even though this was the Marlins, winning on the road is no easy task. After all, the last time the Mets were in Miami, they were swept losing by a cumulative 13-6 score.

The Mets return was not nearly as embarrassing as the last. They won a series they not only should win, but one they needed to win.

3 DOWN

1. Conflicting Messages

Before Sunday’s game against the Marlins, Mickey Callaway told beat reporters Amed Rosario was getting a scheduled day off. He would also tell SNY Rosario was being benched for not hustling on a pop up which would up falling due to an error.

This is reminiscent of earlier in the year when he told reporters Cano was sitting for not hustling. That would be news to Cano who was informed by Callaway he was getting a scheduled day off.

On the topic of not hustling, when it was Cano earlier in the year, Callaway went out of his way to defend him. When it was Rosario, a player who hustles quite often, he got slapped on the wrist for what was seemingly his first transgression.

These conflicting messages aren’t helping with Callaway’s credibility gap. Who knows how it’s being received in the clubhouse.

2. Smith Struggling

One of the best stories of the first half was the re-emergence of Dominic Smith. Not only did he earn his way onto the Opening Day roster, but he would also grab a claim to the left field job. He really did earn it not just with his bat, but also with his glove (1 DRS).

In July, he’s cooled off considerably. In seven games, he’s 3-for 24 (.125) with just one walk and two doubles.

This is not Smith’s first rough patch of the year, and it’s certainly not the first one of his career. Hopefully, Smith responds to this slump the way he’s responded to all the obstacles in front of him this season.

3. Bullpen Issues Still Remain

Seth Lugo had to enter a 5-1 game because Jeurys Familia got himself into a jam. In the series, Robert Gsellman made two appearances and allowed an earned run in each outing.

There were other issues as usual like Edwin Diaz getting hit hard again. If the Mets are having difficulty getting anyone out with their bullpen, they can lay to rest any delusions that they can get back into the Wild Card race.