With the 4-1 win over the division rival Phillies, the Mets move on to the National League Championship Series for the ninth time in franchise history! It was a spectacularly improbable run for a team that was 11 games below .500 at the end of May. Local sports talkers (and MMO commenters) were starting to stir about which Mets might be traded at the deadline, including future playoff hero Pete Alonso.

“We’ve been through a lot,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “And this is not it. You know, we gotta continue to ride the wave. We gotta continue to believe. It was hard. It’s been hard. Nothing has been easy for us. Nothing at all.”

New York went on a run. They won 27 out of 40 to enter the All-Star break at 49-46. And a 39-26 record post-break brought the Mets to a must-split doubleheader in Atlanta. Francisco Lindor hit one of the biggest regular season home runs in Mets history in the playoff clincher.

Three days later, two outs from elimination in Milwaukee, the slugger some fans wanted traded in May hit a home run in the Wild Card round so big that it made Howie Rose go viral. (I have listened to this, give or take, 86 times.)

And less than a week later, Lindor hit another home run in a clincher, this one a game-changing grand slam in the Division Series to help send the Phillies home.

“I want to win it all,” Lindor said. “I want to be a team that comes back every 10 years and they eat for free anywhere they go.”

Referring to his superstar shortstop’s contract, owner Steve Cohen quipped: “That 341 (million dollars) is looking pretty freakin’ good right now.”

For many teams, the turnaround from May to Wednesday night would be unprecedented. For the Mets, well, the nicknames Amazin’ Mets and Miracle Mets were earned. Where does the ’24 team rank in Mets history when it comes to LCS surprises?

Photo by Brad Penner of Imagn Images

’69 is No. 1

The 1969 club was 10 games back of the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 14 when they went 38-11 to win the division by eight games. That team also shook the baseball world because up until 1969, the Mets, in seven years of existence, had never finished higher than ninth place in the 10-team National League. They lost at least 100 games in five of those years.

So, with apologies to Candelita, Grimace, and Pete’s playoff pumpkin, the ’24 Mets aren’t the biggest surprise NLCS team in franchise history.

Second Biggest? OMG, no!

The 1973 Mets were 12 games under .500 with 44 games to go on Aug. 16. New York was in last place as late as Aug. 30, though the division was so mediocre that they were just 6.5 games out of first. This was the year that reliever Tug McGraw coined “You Gotta Believe” and less well-known is how he backed it up, earning five wins and 12 saves in his last 19 appearances while pitching to a 0.88 ERA.

The ’86, ’88, ’99, ’00, and ’06 Mets were all special in their own ways, but none would qualify as a bigger surprise than the ’24 bunch.

Battle for Bronze

That leaves this group in a debate for third place in a battle with the 2015 team.

The ’15 Mets were 52-48 on July 29 when Wilmer Flores broke down on the field when he thought he was traded. But the deal fell through and two days later he hit one of the most famous regular season home runs in Mets history, walking off the Washington Nationals in the 12th inning.

Flores remained, but the Mets did complete a trade for Yoenis Céspedes, who blasted 17 home runs in 57 games as the Mets finished the year at 90-72 and beat the favored Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

Was that run to the LCS a bigger surprise than ’24? I’d say no, but local sports talkers and MMO commenters will have their own thoughts.

Up Next

The NLCS starts Sunday, with time and whether it’s on FOX or FS1 is to be determined. By clinching Wednesday, the Mets have many options when it comes to setting up the starting rotation. The ’24 Mets will try to become the sixth team in franchise history to advance to the Fall Classic.

“That’s our goal,” Edwin Díaz said in the jubilant locker room. “Our goal is to get to the World Series and win it. Right now we got another step ahead. Let’s win the National League series and go to the World Series.”

The post A Citi Field Celebration, Finally, Amazingly appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Wright had been sidelined since April 14, initially with a hamstring injury, then a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, a condition that would ultimately end his career. But his return on Aug. 24, 2015, sparked the Mets’ lineup during their magical year.

Before the Mets barrage in the city of brotherly love, the Phils had raced out to a 3-0 lead off Mets’ starter Jacob deGrom. Philadelphia grabbed the early lead from Mets’ killer Ryan Howard, who launched a first-inning three-run dinger.

Wright led off the top of the second inning against Philadelphia’s starter, Adam Morgan. Wright hit an absolute bomb to left, announcing his return to the lineup in dramatic form.

The Mets, who were in the midst of a battle with the Nationals for first place in the National League East division, still trailed the game 3-1. And that lead widened on a rare night where deGrom struggled against the Phillies.

Cameron Rupp hit a round-tripper to put the Phillies ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the second, and then Dominic Brown hit a three-run shot in the third to give the Phillies a 7-2 lead. It seemed like this was not going to be a the Mets’ night.

But the Mets chipped away before putting down the hammer. Juan Lagares went yard in the third inning to cut the Mets’ deficit to 4-2 and then the runs came crashing down afterward.

9 years ago today, David Wright returned from injury with a thunderous home run.

pic.twitter.com/NANNstOPWi

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) August 24, 2024

In the top of the fourth inning, Wilmer Flores and Travis d’Arnaud went back to back to bring the deficit to 7-5. Then in the top of the fifth, Flores struck again, along with Michael Cuddyer who added a solo shot to jump the Phillies. The three-run homer and solo shot gave the Mets a 9-7 lead, which they never succumbed.

Daniel Murphy got in on the fun in the sixth inning with a two-run homer. D’Arnaud doubled in two runs in the same inning, giving the Mets a 13-7 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Yoenis Cespedes weighed in in the top of the ninth inning, smacking a two-run home run, putting the Mets ahead 16-7 and ending the scoring for the night. The eight home runs were a club record, and winning the game put the Mets up by five and one-half games in the division. Sean Gilmartin recorded the win, pushing his record to 3-1 on the season.

The Mets would go on to sweep the four-game series in Philadelphia, staying red hot after sweeping three from the Rockies in Colorado in their previous series.

The post OTD 2015: Mets Pound Eight Home Runs, Drub Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Unfortunately, things went south for the lefty quick, and the Mets couldn’t climb out the early hole.

Quintana’s rough outing began in the second inning. The Giants loaded the bases behind singles from Jorge Soler and Michael Conforto, and a walk to Thairo Estrada.

Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

After Tom Murphy struck out, Nick Ahmed delivered a two-out single up the middle to drive in Soler and Conforto, giving the Giants a 2-0 lead.

The early lead for the Giants didn’t seem insurmountable at the time. The Mets had played the comeback card early all season long and it was only the second inning. Quintana, however, continued to struggle.

The very next inning, the Giants tagged the southpaw for two more runs. A Wilmer Flores walk and Jung Hoo Lee single put runners on base with no outs, and set up Matt Chapman, who doubled home both to extend the lead to 4-0.

The 4-0 hole the Mets into was too much for the offense to overcome. Pete Alonso hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-1, but Quintana allowed a solo shot to Conforto in the sixth to bring the score to 5-1.

Overall, Quintana allowed five earned runs on seven hits in his start on Monday. He also struck out four in the five innings pitched.

The lefty was dancing around the zone the entire night and had trouble putting away batters, which was something he brought up to the media after the game.

“Yeah, that’s what I feel,” Quintana said on his lack of command.  “And I made a couple adjustments later in the game …  but I think I can be better (at) throwing more strikes early (rather) than be around and get traffic on base.”

His current 12.1% walk rate is the worst of his career, and he’s striking out fewer people than he ever has before. It’s not a great mix.

However, despite the rough outing and lack of command, his batted ball statistics on the night leave a little hope. Five of the seven hits recorded by the Giants had exit velocities under 86 miles per hour, with three of them below 80.

But Quintana will have to hone in the walks if he’s going to find any sustained success this year. His expected numbers have so far been much worse than the actual results, and tonight was representative of his true performance catching up to him.

The post Jose Quintana Continues Struggling With Command appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Blade Tidwell. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Monday, September 25, 2023 • 6:05 PM
Mirabito Stadium • Binghamton, New York
RHP Wilmer Flores (5-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. RHP Blade Tidwell (3-3, 4.72 ERA)
MiLB.TV

September is the new October. While the New York Mets may have missed out on the playoffs, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A) face-off against the Erie SeaWolves for the Eastern League Championship.

The Rumble Ponies were the second seed in the Eastern League’s North Division, and upset the powerhouse Somerset Patriots to advance to the championship series. The SeaWolves faced the evenly-matched second seeded Richmond Flying Squirrels in the Eastern League’s South Division and defeated them to advance as well.

Rumble Ponies Lineup

Blade Tidwell has been named the starter for Game 1 of the three-game championship series. Tidwell is the Mets’ ninth-overall prospect (MLB.com), but has struggled since moving up to Double-A.

He has a 4.72 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings pitched with Binghamton, which is significantly higher than his 3.09 ERA and 1.240 WHIP at High-A. Despite the struggles, Tidwell still maintains a 10.8 K/9 rate in Double-A.

Tidwell has never faced the SeaWolves in his career.

SeaWolves Lineup

The SeaWolves announced right-handed pitcher Wilmer Flores as their starter for Monday. Flores is the Tigers’ seventh-overall prospect (MLB.com) and stands at a towering six-foot-four.

Despite his presence, his fastball sits in the lower 90s and he’s not a strikeout pitcher. Flores instead relies upon an arsenal that includes a fastball, cutter, changeup, and curveball, the latter being his signature off-speed pitch. The curve sits in the lower 70s and generates whiffs and ground balls.

Earlier in the year, Flores was the Tigers’ third-overall prospect and No. 83 in all of baseball. The Rumble Ponies got a taste of Flores on July 20, where he struck out seven batters across five innings pitched.

Only two Rumble Ponies remain from when Flores pitched. Here is how they hit:

• Agustin Ruiz 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI
• Rowdey Jordan 0-for-2, 2 K

Game Notes

The Rumble Ponies are in the Eastern League Playoffs for the first time since 2017, where they lost to the Trenton Thunder in the semifinals. The Rumble Ponies haven’t won the Eastern League Championship since 2014, which is also the last time they won the league.

The Eastern League Championship Series will star some big names on both sides. The SeaWolves roster six of the Tigers’ top-30 prospects, including Jace Jung who is the No. 67 overall prospect (MLB.com). The Rumble Ponies roster ten of the Mets’ top-30 prospects, including Luisangel Acuña (No. 38), Drew Gilbert (No. 57), Jett Williams (No. 78), and Kevin Parada (No. 89), all of whom are top-100 prospects.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Blade Tidwell. Monday’s start is easily the most important outing of Blade Tidwell’s career. The matchup will be tough for the Mets’ top prospect, as the SeaWolves were the second hardest team to strikeout in the Eastern League this season. Tidwell has a 10.8 K/9 rate in Double-A and a 12.4 K/9 rate in High-A.
2. Future Stars. The Rumble Ponies currently roster four of the Mets’ top five prospects and four top-100 prospects. Acuña, Gilbert, Williams, and Parada are a special group and are the next wave of exciting position players heading towards Queens.
3. Jace Jung. Baseball runs in the Jung family. Jace is the younger brother of Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers and is the fourth-overall prospect in the Tigers system. He slashed .282/.373/.563 (.936 OPS) with 14 home runs in 47 games with Erie.

The post MMO MiLB Game Chat: Rumble Ponies vs. SeaWolves, 6:05 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Here are a few who suited up in blue, orange, and black.

Willie Mays – Giants (1951-72), Mets (1972-73)

For six seasons, Willie Mays‘ diversified skill set established him as a New York legend. Fans were enamored with the hitting, running, and fielding ability of the ‘Say Hey Kid. Among them was Joan Payson—a shareholder in the Giants organization when they occupied the Polo Grounds. Mays continued to build his exemplary resume out west, surpassing 600 homers and 3,000 hits while collecting All-Star appearances, Gold Gloves, and MVPs.

At age 41, with his days as a Giants starter limited, the Mets’ original owner brought him home. A trade made in May ’72 turned Willie into a Met. He homered in his debut at Shea, ironically against San Francisco. He was more of an old Willie Mays than the Willie Mays of old, but there was something appropriate about him finishing where he started.

Kevin Mitchell – Mets (1984-86), Giants (1987-91)

He was in New York for a good time, but not a long time. Kevin Mitchell was a versatile piece on the 1986 club (playing six different positions) showing flashes of his ability. Traded to San Diego not too long after the championship celebration for Kevin McReynolds, it was a deal that, in retrospect, chipped away at the swagger and personality of the title-winning club.

It wasn’t long before Mitchell went from his hometown team to San Francisco, where he got a chance to truly showcase his talents. His 1989 season was among the best of the decade: 47 home runs, 125 RBIs, a 1.023 OPS, and a 192 OPS+. All of those stats led the National League and he deservedly earned the MVP Award.

Gary Carter – Mets (1985-89), Giants (1990)

‘Kid’ is in the Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo and is a World Series champion as a New York Met. While his career ended back where it started in Canada, he spent two twilight seasons in his home state (beginning with the Giants and then with the Dodgers).

Gary Carter arrived in New York in an unexpected blockbuster deal. The Mets suddenly had the game’s best catcher, a player who could nurture a pitching staff and provide power at the plate. He did both right away, with an emerging young staff led by Dwight Gooden while surpassing the 100-RBI mark in ’85 and ’86. The wear and tear of a grueling position started to become apparent, and with his contract expiring after the 1989 season, he said farewell to Queens and hello to San Francisco, where he set the National League mark for games caught.

Darryl Strawberry – Mets (1983-90), Giants (1994)

The first eight years of a career loaded with expectations showed plenty of promise and fulfillment but still left fans wanting more. Darryl Strawberry expressed displeasure several times with the details of his contract, especially once it was nearing its end after 1990 and Strawberry expressed great interest in playing closer to home in Los Angeles.

When granted free agency, Strawberry did just that—signing with the Dodgers. Strawberry’s tenure in L.A. went downhill and as he moved up the coast for ’94, his off-field troubles only got worse. Darryl played a mere 29 games as a Giant, hitting just four homers and driving in 17.

Jeff Kent – Mets (1992-96), Giants (1997-02)

He’s the most prolific home run hitter among second basemen. Jeff Kent deserves more Hall of Fame consideration, and his performance in San Francisco is the main reason why. He was hard to get along with (just ask Barry Bonds) but his numbers were more than worth any trouble—averaging 25 homers and 115 RBIs with a 136 OPS+ over six seasons. It would’ve been hard to believe during his days in New York that the 2000 NL MVP would rise to that level.

Arriving from Toronto in a trade that sent David Cone north of the border, Kent was a solid contributor to a terrible team. In 1993, his first full season, he tallied 21 homers and drove in 80 runs. A slightly better-than-league-average player, Kent eventually made it to the bay via Cleveland—where he part of an infamous deal for Carlos Baerga.

Edgardo Alfonzo – Mets (1995-02), Giants (2003-05)

“Fonzie” went from undrafted free agent to Mets Hall of Famer. He became an established regular by 1997, an overlooked star by 1999—the year he hit 27 homers, drove in 108 runs, and batted over .300, and a clutch postseason performer by 2000—after several key home runs and an October hit streak that reached 13.

By 2002, Edgardo Alfonzo‘s back problems took a toll on his production. He slahshed .308/.391/.459 but barely showing much in the way of power. He departed New York on good terms but still without a fully healthy body. That was more apparent as a Giant. In three years with San Francisco, his OPS+ dropped to 88 and he managed just 26 home runs.

Armando Benitez – Mets (1999-03), Giants (2005-07)

A look at Armando Benitez‘s regular-season statistics with the Mets indicates he was an elite reliever. A review of his postseason performance shows why evaluating a closer on the regular season alone is misleading. Benitez was among the best bullpen arms during the years in which New York was in contention—including 84 over a two-year span (2000-01). But the consequence of being a closer is that it’s not how many you save, it’s when you save them. Or don’t.

Once Benitez wore out his welcome in Queens, he headed to Florida for a year before joining the Giants. The Mets got a small measure of satisfaction in June 2006 their old friend came in to protect a two-run lead at Shea and gave up a tying homer by promising outfielder Lastings Milledge.

Carlos Beltrán – Mets (2005-11), Giants (2011)

He averaged 30 homers, 108 RBIs, and 39 doubles per 162 games over six full seasons complimented Carlos Beltrán‘s outstanding outfield range that resulted in three Gold Gloves. If he ever makes the Hall of Fame with one team, it would be as a Met. His Giants career, on the other hand, was almost forgettable. Not because it was bad, but because it was short: 44 regular-season games in which he slashed .323/.359/.551.

If anything, Mets fans remember his time in San Francisco for the simple fact that he was traded there near the 2011 trade deadline. Also, too, because of who he was traded for. The return on Beltrán turned out to be pretty good even if he’s thriving in a rival town: Zack Wheeler.

Wilmer Flores – Mets (2013-18), Giants (2020-present)

Even when he’s not a Met, Wilmer Flores still feels like one. Any hit against his first team still doesn’t sting too bad. That speaks highly to Wilmer’s likability. It was clearly apparent in July 2015, when an apparent trade caused him to shed tears on the field and the game-winning home run against the Nationals kickstarted the team’s run through October.

Flores became the team’s all-time walk-off king before he was off to Arizona for a year and then ended up at his current home. His numbers with the Giants are pretty similar to what they were in New York. Knowing how badly they needed a right-handed designated hitter last year, his presence would have been useful. And as far as emotional ties go, Wilmer is very much missed.

The post New York/Giants: Players Wearing the Same Shade of Orange appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Peterson. Photo by Ed Delany of MetsmerizedOnline

The New York Mets (14-8) and San Francisco Giants (7-13) continued their four-game series at Oracle Park Saturday on a beautiful, cool day in San Francisco. The Mets had a 2-0 series lead going into Saturday afternoon’s game and were looking to take the series win on Saturday.

David Peterson took the mound for the visiting Mets against right-handed pitcher Logan Webb of the Giants. Unfortunately, for New York, Peterson continued to struggle as he gave up seven earned runs across five innings. The Giants scored four quick runs in the first inning and did not look back, ultimately cruising to a 7-4 win.

The only big hit the Mets had on Saturday came in the third inning as Brandon Nimmo hit his second home run of the year. Brett Baty, Starling Marte, and Daniel Vogelbach each drove in runs as well.

A huge positive for the Mets was relief pitcher Edwin Uceta. Uceta threw three scoreless innings of relief on Saturday. Most importantly, he helped preserve the bullpen for Sunday’s rubber game.

As for the game, the Giants teed off on Peterson in the bottom of the first to take a big early lead. Thairo Estrada opened the bottom half of the inning with a single to second. Two batters later, former Met Michael Conforto singled to center field to move Estrada over to third and into scoring position. Wilmer Flores then walked to load the bases.

After a sacrifice fly, the very next batter, Brandon Crawford, hit a hard three-run home. It ballooned the Giants’ lead to 4-0 headed to the second inning.

The Mets got one run back in the top of the second. With two outs, Vogelbach hit a deep double to right-centerfield that got past Conforto scoring a run. New York cut the Giants’ lead to 4-1.

The Giants answered back immediately in the bottom of the inning. Heliot Ramos doubled to lead-off the inning, then Ruf singled to right field and to score Ramos. Then, Conforto hit into a fielder’s choice, but Alonso’s throw home was late making it a 6-1 game before the inning concluded.

The Mets once again got a run back in the third. This time it was off the bat of Nimmo. He sent a ball over the wall in the deepest part of the ballpark to make it a 6-2 in the third inning.

In the fifth inning, former fan-favorite Flores hit his third home run of the year to extend the Giants’ lead to 7-2. Peterson’s day was subsequently done after five rough innings. His final line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO. Peterson’s season ERA now sits at a staggering 7.36.

Uceta replaced Peterson and excelled quickly. He ended up finishing out the game, tossing three innings and striking out three while holding the Giants hitless. A nice change of pass from Peterson’s woeful performance prior to Uceta’s entrance.

Brett Baty. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

The Mets tried to once again get some offensive momentum in the eight. Baty and Nimo hit back-to-back singles to lead off the eighth. With one out, Marte singled to score Baty and the Mets made it a 7-3 game in the eighth inning. Though, that was all the damage they would create in the inning.

New York made a little more noise in the ninth inning against Giants’ closer Camilo Doval. Canha tallied a one-out single for his second hit of the day. Baty – who finished 2-for-4 – then singled on line drive to left field to score Canha (he advanced to second base on defensive indifference) to make it a 7-4 game. However, Luis Guillorme grounded out to end the game as the Giants were able to preserve a 7-4 win over New York.

Player of the Game: Edwin Uceta

The 25-year old right-handed pitcher, Edwin Uceta, made his New York Mets’ debut and pitching very well. Uceta threw three scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. He walked two and struck out three across 51 pitches. Most importantly, as mentioned above, he preserved the Mets’ bullpen for the rubber game of the series Sunday.

On Deck:

On Sunday, the Mets and Giants will finish the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 pm ET and is nationally televised on ESPN. The probable pitcher matchup is Tylor Megill (3-1, 3.00 ERA) against right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.30 ERA).

The post David Peterson Struggles As Mets Lose 7-4 To Giants appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

Entering the 2023 season, the Mets were projected to have Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, José Quintana, and Carlos Carrasco in their rotation. On Friday night, four of those five pitchers were out of the lineup, and Joey Lucchesi, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since June of 2021, gave the Mets some much-needed length as the Mets beat the Giants, 7-0.

Lucchesi was simply electric on the mound on Friday, giving the Mets both quality and quantity in equal measure. What made the outing all the more special was the fact that it was Lucchesi’s first start in the big leagues since June 18 2021 after a long road back from Tommy John surgery. And, to cap it all off, Lucchesi grew up 30 minutes from Oracle Park. So, to have pitched a gem in-front of his family in his own backyard was meaningful in more ways than one for the lefty.

“I mean, two years since surgery, a lot of momentum building up,” Lucchesi said after the game. “It was my first outing, back at home too, all my friends and family here. I was a little nervous in the beginning and this outing just feels so good to get under my belt. I’m super grateful to be up here with the team and to be able to pitch like I did for the team. My family was here, my parents were here, and to have them see me pitch like that, man, I’m just super grateful. Just super happy.”

Joey Lucchesi with his family after his tremendous performance tonight.

(Pic via @MichelleLucche2) pic.twitter.com/sAZeMob8TO

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 22, 2023

Lucchesi got into trouble in the first inning, allowing a double to Wilmer Flores before walking Darin Ruf. However, he got J.D. Davis to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame. Lucchesi walked David Villar to lead off the second inning but escaped trouble again, getting Heliot Ramos on his signature “churve” to end the inning.

“You think about all the things he’s gone through to this point, it’s got to be a special night for him and his family,” manager Buck Showalter said in a postgame interview. “You try and take in what that meant to him.”

Lucchesi allowed another base runner to start off the third inning, but he again sidestepped trouble thanks to a double play, this time from another former Met in Flores. Lucchesi finally got his first clean inning of the night in the fourth, striking out Davis and Villar in the process. The southpaw allowed a single to Joey Bart in the fifth but struck out Brett Wisely, Ramos, and Mike Yastrzemski – getting Wisely and Yastrzemski on the churve and Ramos on a cutter.

“You saw his confidence grow as the game kept going,” Showalter said.”A lot of it is the deception in his delivery, he throws it all out of the same window.”

The Giants got another lead-off base runner in the sixth inning on a single from Thairo Estrada – but Lucchesi induced another double play from Flores to ease through the sixth inning – the fourth of the night for the Mets. Lucchesi concluded his night by striking out the side in order in the seventh – getting Davis, Villar, and Yastrzemski all on fastballs. By getting through the seventh inning, Lucchesi became the first Mets pitcher to get through more than six innings this season. He allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out nine – the most punchouts he’s recorded since 2019. Lucchesi earned his first win of the season, and his second as a Met, with the other coming on May 8, 2021 against Arizona.

Just sensational stuff from Joey Lucchesi tonight.

He was dotting the strike zone all night. Nine strikeouts in seven innings, including striking out the side in the seventh.

4-0 #Mets, top 8. pic.twitter.com/7lQi3e1JE3

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 22, 2023

“Since the moment he showed up to the yard, he was locked in,” Pete Alonso told Steve Gelbs after the game. “Joey was lights out. His execution and his location was fabulous. This is so special for Joey – It’s really cool to be a part of it. I’m happy he got the win and the way he was able to pitch the way he did.”

Lucchesi’s fastball averaged just 89.9 miles per hour, but he registered six whiffs and 19 called strikes, giving him a called strikes plus whiff rate of 42 percent. While Lucchesi didn’t rely on his churve very heavily, he racked four whiffs on 12 swings on the pitch. His churve also averaged 2,197 revolutions per minute, which is up from the 2,081 it averaged in 2021. Lucchesi didn’t get any whiffs on his cutter, but he didn’t allow an exit velocity over 80.5 MPH on the pitch.

Dating back to June 13, 2021, Lucchesi has tossed 17 straight scoreless innings. It’s unknown how many more starts the 29-year-old will get at the major league level, but this outing won’t go unnoticed, especially given how much the Mets have struggled to get length out of their starting rotation so far this year. As it lines up right now, Lucchesi is slated to make his next start against the Braves on Saturday. But, whatever happens in the future, the 29-year-old will always have Friday night.

“I’m just super grateful to be up here,” Lucchesi said after the game. “I think it is my best outing.”

The post Joey Lucchesi Carves Up Giants in Triumphant Return appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Wright stepped up to the plate in the top of the second inning at Citizens Bank Park preparing to take his first swing in 133 days.

Once a mainstay in the Mets lineup, “The Captain” missed over four months. Initially he was diagnosed with a hamstring injury. But it was soon discovered he suffered from spinal stenosis, the ailment which would ultimately cause the premature end to his career. It wasn’t a certainty at first he’d ever return to the field as an active player.

He had witnessed his team’s transformation into a frontrunner, especially as his return date drew near and New York had taken control of the NL East.

Now Wright was facing Phillies starter Adam Morgan. The 1-1 pitch went over the heart of the plate. David swung and did not miss. Not just a home run, it was a moonshot.

“I almost pulled a Wilmer Flores out there,” said Wright in reference to the Mets shortstop crying on the field that July when he thought he’d been dealt to Milwaukee. “You’ve got to keep your emotions in check. You’re proud you got back to this point; you’re happy; you’re satisfied. But at the same time, you realize we’re in the middle of a pennant race.”

Over the years, Wright led the Mets with both actions and words. On this night, his colossal home run was a cue for his teammates. What followed was the most prolific power display in franchise history.

Overcoming a rough outing from Jacob deGrom and a 7-2 deficit, New York made up the margin and then some.

Wilmer Flores led the charge with two homers, the first in the fourth (which also scored Wright) and the other in the fifth. Yoenis Céspedes also went deep. As did Juan Lagares, and Travis d’Arnaud, and Daniel Murphy, and Michael Cuddyer

In a 16-7 romp, the Mets established single-game team records with eight homers and 15 extra-base hits.

Wright would get his wish of returning to postseason play as the Mets finished and the franchise’s greatest third baseman was able to play into October. However, his days as a big-leaguer were numbered. After just 37 games in 2016, he was disabled list again. He then missed the entirety of 2017 and pretty much all of 2018 before returning at the end of the year for his emotional farewell.

Wright retired having delivered countless memories to Mets fans, and and August 24, 2015 in Philadelphia is certainly among the best.

The post OTD 2015: David Wright Hits Mammoth Home Run in Return appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Position: 2B, 3B & 1B
Age: August 6th, 1991 (30)
Traditional Stats: 96 G, 82 H, 15 HR, 55 RBI, .248 BA, .328 OBP
Advanced Stats: 1.5 WAR, .336 wOBA, 119 wRC+

Rundown

After the Mets acquisition of Daniel Vogelbach from Pittsburgh, the Mets are actively looking to improve their splits versus left-handed pitchers. Although names like Willson Contreras and J.D. Martinez are being thrown out there, another name could fill that void could possibly come from former Mets infielder Wilmer Flores.

The 30-year old played the better part of six seasons with the Mets and was a menace to left-handed pitching through most of his tenure in New York. In 2016, Flores became the primary starter at shortstop for the Mets and his numbers against left handed pitchers shined including putting up a slash line of .340/.383./.710 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI’s. Added to that, he put up a 1.093 OPS along with .351 wOBA and a wRC+ of 193 against lefties.

Currently in 2022, his numbers against lefties are down from his usual trends slashing just .228/.325/.436 with an OPS of .761 versus lefties this season. Overall though, Flores is still putting up decent numbers this season with a slash line of .248/.328/.445 with a 1.5 WAR, .336 wOBA and a 119 wRC+ combined. Now, why mention his Mets numbers against lefties as well as a slight downturn in that same category this season? As it stands, even with this slight downturn, Flores has kept his moniker of hitting lefties well in-tact sporting a career slash line of .273/.321/.495 with an OPS of .816, a WRC+ of 118 and a career wOBA of .343.

The Mets are looking to improve hitting against left-handed pitchers and players like J.D. Davis and Dom Smith haven’t been able to fill the void. Flores presents an option of familiarity on the right hand side of the plate, and could serve as a decent fallback option as well as a much needed upgrade for the designated hitter role.

Package

As it stands, Flores is on a 3rd year option of an initial 2-year contract signed before the 2020 season, thus making him a free agent after this season, so any type of trade would more than likely be seen as a rental option for New York. The Giants, are willing to ship off free agents to be, including Carlos Rodon and Joc Pederson and Flores fits that bill. A possible deal would more than likely demand a lower end minor-league or a fringe 40-man roster player for a possible deal to get done.

Albeit, not a flashy move by any means, bringing back Wilmer Flores to New York would certainly do a few things. It would be seen as an upgrade to a need against left-handed pitching. One would hope that returning to Queens could reinvigorate some of those numbers with a return to familiarity. Secondly, it would add another jolt of energy to the fan base, as to this day, Flores is still beloved by many after the no-trade and then subsequent walk-off home run versus the Nationals in 2015.

This would be one “friend” that would be welcomed back with open arms.

The post MMO Trade Profile: Wilmer Flores, IF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets needed more hitting and less drama. In late July 2015, they got both. 

The week leading up to the trade deadline, the Mets began seeking a bat that would jump-start a lifeless offense. This as New York teetered at the .500 mark yet had first place in its sights. It ended with the Mets landing that key bat and beginning their surge to the National League East title and, ultimately, the NL pennant. 

In between was a roller coaster of emotions: from hope to sadness to anger to euphoria. Those emotions weren’t limited to the fans. 

On July 27th, New York fortified its relief pitching by getting Tyler Clippard from Oakland, Anoher less-than-flashy but substantive move on top of recent utility player pick-ups Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson.

It appeared the need for a major piece to the batting order was filled on July 29th. This, when in the middle of a home game against San Diego, a deal had reportedly been made to acquire Carlos Gomez from the Brewers with Wilmer Flores among those being shipped to Milwaukee. The deal fell through over concerns about Gomez’s hip, but not before Flores had been notified by fans of his seemingly impending departure. 

Leaving the only organization he’d known since age 16 brought him to tears on the field at his shortstop position. Postgame press conferences over why the trade was nixed were justly perceived as an embarrassment for a franchise accustomed to public relations blunders. More heartbreak came the next afternoon. A 7-1 lead against the Padres washed away with a ninth-inning meltdown. This including two excruciating rain delays in between. 

Then came July 31st, and the looming 4:00 P.M. EST trade deadline. The Mets snatched Yoenis Céspedes from Detroit at the wire. In 102 games, the 29-year-old had a batting average of .293 with 18 homers and 61 RBI. In other words, it was just what the lineup needed. Hours after the Mets made one of their most impactful trades in years, the player they didn’t relinquish provided one of the biggest hits in recent memory.

The Mets were hosting the Nationals in a crucial three-game series. The team the Mets were behind by three games in the NL East standings. Energized by their newest addition, but without him until the next day, the spotlight shifted to Flores. He began with a diving defensive play that elicited a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd. They were standing with each at bat, too. And in the fourth inning, he drove in the first run on a single. 

That would be the Mets’ lone run for a while, as Washington tied the game in the eighth. The deadlock lasted into the bottom of the 12th with Flores leading off. He had already earned the empathy of fans, and then he added to the storyline further with a walk-off home run to give New York a 2-1 victory. This moved New York a game closer to first place, and cemented Flores as a Mets’ cult hero. On the same field where he shed tears two nights earlier, Wilmer had a far different emotion rounding the bases. As he neared the swarm of teammates at home plate, he tugged on the front of his jersey. He was definitely a Met. 

While Céspedes ultimately was the spark this team needed, with 17 homers, 44 RBI, and a 155 OPS+ in 57 games, helping to carry New York over the final two months of the regular season, it was Flores’ storybook homer that kick-started his team on their road to the pennant.

The post OTD 2015: Céspedes Trade Followed by Flores Walk-Off appeared first on Metsmerized Online.