All eight starting fielders for the New York Mets recorded a hit, including six Mets with multi-hit performances as the Mets took the rubber match of their three game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets remain 6.5 games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the National League East standings.
Here are seven takeaways from last night’s victory.
Matt Harvey: 6.1 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 9 SO, 1 BB
Another start, same story. Harvey throws well into the seventh, flashing an exceptional repertoire of pitches but lacking consistent fastball command. His fastball strike rate at 61.29% was well below the 70% fastball strike rate MLB starters consider above average.
Harvey is missing the strike zone with his fastball early in at-bats, taking away swing and miss potential resulting in higher pitch counts.
On the positive side, Harvey’s changeup and curveball induced swing and misses all night resulting in a combined 26% miss/whiff rate. Specifically, the curveball exhibited sharp 12 to 6 movement inducing a 40% miss/whiff rate.
Once Harvey’s superior pitch movement combines with above average fastball command, he will be dominant and pitch deeper into games. Until then, he will continue getting pulled in the sixth and seventh innings due to pitch count.
Ruben Tejada Hits Inside-The-Park Homerun
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, the Mets have two inside-the-park homeruns at Citi Field, both coming against the Phillies (Angel Pagan 2009).
Yoenis Cespedes Hits Eighth Homer in 13 Games
Cespedes’ eighth inning homerun is the definition of “an absolute missile”.
Additionally, Cespedes showed off speed and hustle, beating out a routine groundball to shortstop in the fourth inning for an infield single.
Kelly Johnson
Johnson had two runs and two hits including an opposite field RBI double last night.
One important piece of championship rosters is the success of part-time players like Johnson and Juan Uribe. These players will win a playoff game for championship teams, hopefully the 2015 Mets! (See 2014 San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals)
Michael Conforto Homers Again
Impressively, this is Conforto’s second opposite field homerun in as many days. Opposite field power is the best gauge for rating raw power and projecting consistent major league caliber hitters.
I will echo Keith Hernandez during the SNY broadcast. Conforto does a great job of letting the baseball get deep, almost past him before he makes contact with the baseball. Additionally, Conforto keeps his head stable and on the baseball until contact as well as any player in MLB.
During this 2015 rookie campaign, Conforto’s hard contact rate is 45.8%, medium contact rate is 40.3% and soft contract rate is 13.9%. To put these numbers into perspective, FanGraphs lists a 40% hard contact rate, 45% medium contact rate and 15% soft contact rate as an exceptional split.
Conforto’s contact rates are above the exceptional rating.
Addison Reed Throws Hitless Ninth
Reed looked sharp again. Although he keeps the ball low in the strike zone, Reed misses over the plate with his fastball.
This will eventually lead to a few shaky outings in the upcoming month but is an upgrade for the seventh inning.
Darnell Sweeney Impresses Again
After a multi-hit game last night, the Phillies leadoff batter hit a few balls solid including a man bomb homerun in the seventh inning. Sweeney will make an all-star within the upcoming two seasons.
Thanks to @BrooksBaseball and @FanGraphs for hitting and pitching rates.
Follow Chris Zaccherio on Twitter @ziography for more Mets insight going beyond statistics.
