At the beginning of 2006, second base was a major weakness for the Mets. They received little production from both Anderson Hernandez (.407 OPS) and Kazuo Matsui (.505 OPS), so on May. 13, Willie Randolph decided to make a change. He turned to 36-year-old, Jose Valentin, who unexpectedly became a vital piece for the NL East Division Champions with a .271/.330/.490 triple slash line and 18...
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Coming off a devastating collapse in 2007, the 2008 Mets needed a jolt. Their star-studded roster that featured David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and newly acquired ace, Johan Santana, was underperforming with a 25-26 record on May 28. On that night, the Mets were locked in an extra inning battle with the Marlins, until the unlikeliest of heroes delivered a walk off hit. Fernando Tatis,...
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In his first spring training outing of the season, Dellin Betances didn’t pitch like his usually overpowering self. He walked two batters, allowed three runs, and most significant of all, he only reached 88-90 MPH with his fastball. While it might seem concerning to see Betances labor through his first appearance, it’s not time to worry just yet. Some rust should be expected because Betances...
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With the rise of analytics throughout the MLB, every team is looking for cutting-edge ways to gain an advantage over their competitors. While some teams, such as the Astros, have gone to unethical extremes, other teams, like the Mets, are using technology in productive and innovative ways. A report by Tim Healey of Newsday details how pitching coach Jeremy Hefner has implemented motion capture...
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After producing a 4.76 ERA and 5.61 FIP in 2019, a strong spring training is exactly what Michael Wacha needed. The former all-star – and 2012 first round pick – tossed two scoreless innings in his first start against the Tigers, and he fired three scoreless yesterday against the Marlins. While these outings are encouraging first signs, he needs to keep impressing in order to pry a...
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