I kick off tonight’s show looking at the week ahead and comparing the schedules of the Mets, Cards and Giants. I also talk about how this team needs to approach a ballgame differently without their strong starting pitching.
The tragic death of Jose Fernandez puts a monkey wrench into the series in Miami. The Marlins could certainly use their grief as a means to play some of their best baseball of the year. The Phillies aren’t going to just sit back and let the Mets celebrate on their field. Bad Philly bullpen or not, that series isn’t going to be easy. It’s possible the Mets are going to need to win out, especially with teams like the Rockies, Pirates and Cardinals standing in the way of their competition.
This Mets team needs to play more like the 2006 group. They no longer can rely on 7 strong innings from the rotation. Rather, they need to get 5-6 good innings and then mix and match to the Reed/Familia end-game. This type of scenario requires strong bullpen management and a feel for the game, two attributes that are not strengths of Terry Collins. Would you be surprised if we are sitting here next week lamenting another week of bad Collins in-game management? I won’t be.
Joe Trezza of MLB.com joins me to round out the show. Joe talks about how September baseball is exciting and he doesn’t agree with those who feel the 3+ hour games and expanded rosters are ruining baseball. We discuss AJ Cassavell’s Sports on Earth article suggesting 22-man active rosters in September and how the league can improve, not eliminate September baseball next year.
Joe also tells me what he’s heard from scouts regarding the struggles of Travis d’Arnaud, why Rene Rivera is a better option at catcher, and his prediction of whether there will be October baseball in Flushing.
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