3 UP
1. Gsell-Gem
It’s funny how much different a sinkerball pitcher looks with a good defense behind him. With a much improved defense, Robert Gsellman looked like the pitcher we all expected to take the next step instead of the one who didn’t care.
For Gsellman, it wasn’t just his hitting his spots, but also his willingness to pitch inside. He not only kept the Braves off balance, but he also kept them on the ground.
His incredible final line was seven innings, three hits, one unearned run, no walks and three strikeouts.
2. Cabrera the Third Baseman
Well, we’ve seen many different Asdrubal Cabreras. Easily, the best one has been the third baseman.
In his 33 games as a third baseman, he is hitting .368/.383/.552 with 17 doubles, two homers, and 17 RBI. He’s also tallied 1 DRS in 262.0 innings.
This is all part of an incredible September he’s had with him hitting .438/.481/.729 with eight doubles, three homers, and 10 RBI.
With how Cabrera is performing now, and his performance at the end of last year, he is putting himself in the mix for the Mets third base position.
3. It’s Now Sunny in Atlanta
Turner Field was a House of Horrors for the Mets. In the 20-year history of that park, the Mets were 67-106 (.387). That record does not even begin to describe the soul crushing losses the Mets experienced there.
Perhaps, none was worse than Game 6 of the 1999 NLDS, which was capped off by Kenny Rogers issuing a bases loaded walk to Andruw Jones in the bottom of the 11th to end that series.
Well, SunTrust isn’t Turner. The Mets have just completed their first season series playing away games here, and they have won seven of 10.
Clearly, the Mets are quite comfortable there. Hopefully, this is something that continues into the future.
3 DOWN
1. No Thor
Noah Syndergaard was initially supposed to pitch out of the bullpen this weekend. That is until the Mets changed their minds… At least that’s what we hope.
When it comes to injuries and rehab, we really can never trust what the Mets are telling us. There are plenty of examples one can cite to show why the team shouldn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
With Syndergaard not pitching this week, we’re all allowed to ask why. Moreover, we’re allowed to not believe the Mets when they say they’re using an abundance of caution.
Hopefully, the Mets really are using an abundance of caution. It would certainly be a nice change of pace.
2. Cecchini Not Playing
With the Mets going nowhere, and Jose Reyes being an impending free agent, there is little reason to play him right now. That goes double when you consider he’s likely not returning next year to be a starter.
Even if you are not high on him as a prospect, the same cannot definitively be said about Gavin Cecchini. No one knows that until he’s given an opportunity, and he fails. For some odd reason, the Mets seem determined to not give him that opportunity.
The Mets decision making was all the more bizarre after Cecchini’s big Saturday where he was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI while playing a good second base.
Cecchini would not get rewarded for that game with another opportunity. Instead, Reyes would play second because apparently the Mets need to learn something about him.
3. Ramos The Cardiac Closer
In their history, the Mets have had more then their fair share of relievers who bend but don’t break.
Hyperbolically, AJ Ramos is one of those relievers who are constantly in trouble.
It can be difficult to watch, but at the end of the day, all that matters is Ramos gets the job done. It would be nice if he could mix in the occasional 1-2-3 inning, but as long as he keeps nailing down saves, the ends justify the means.
