GUEST
BRING ON THE BRAVES!
N.L. East Division
SHOWDOWN
Showing posts with label Carlos Carrasco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carlos Carrasco. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2022
Friday, August 12, 2022
The Metsian Podcast: Chewing Up the Dog Days of Summer with Phil Maillard
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
GUEST
The Great Pennant Race
2022
Tuesday, August 09, 2022
There's Great Joy in Metsville
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Back in the Summer of '22 ...
The Mets continue taking bites out of the dog days of summer. They survived the seasonal June swoon with a 13-10 record, followed by a strong 17-8 month of July. So far, they're off to a 7-2 start in August.
Except for eleven games, the Mets in 2021 spent nearly all of their first 110 games in first place. They teetered for another week in and out of first. But, by August 14, they were getting swept by the Dodgers and would never climb back atop the N.L. East standings again.
As we know, the division-winning Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros to become baseball's world champions. It was a disappointing season in Flushing, to say the least.
Welcome to 2022 ...
Through the first 110 games of this season, the Mets have occupied first place for all but one day back on April 11, when they fell a half-game back of the Phillies. They've remained in first place ever since. By June 1, the Mets had built a 10.5 game division lead. But, as expected, the Braves awoke from their slumber. Atlanta posted a 23-27 record in their first 50 games through May, then in June, caught fire with a 21-6 record to pull within three games of the Mets. They continued with an 18-8 record in July but gained no ground in the standings.
On Tuesday, August 2, the Braves defeated the Phillies to pull within 2.5 games of first. A year ago today, the Mets were traveling home from Philadelphia, where they initially ceded first place upon getting swept by the Phillies.
With a 3.5 game lead this past Thursday, the Mets hosted the Braves for the opening game of a mid-summer-defining five-game series at Citi Field. Carlos Carrasco won his twelfth game, and Edwin Diaz registered six outs to earn his 24th save. The Braves evened the series with a win in game two. But the Mets answered with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday and wrapped up their fourth win in five games on Sunday.
Highlighting the series was the unveiling of Flushing's dynamic one-two punch, Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, who, before his August 2 start at Washington, last climbed a major league mound on July 7 of last year. Through two starts, deGrom has allowed three runs on four hits and one walk with 18 strikeouts through 10.2 innings. On Monday, he struck out twelve Braves in a triumphant return to Citi Field. Max Scherzer pitched the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing no runs on four hits and no walks with eleven strikeouts for his eighth win against two losses with a 1.98 ERA.
I'd be remiss if I didn't laud the entire staff, a deep quality staff. The foursome of Chris Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, and David Peterson have joined together for a 36-16 combined record with a 3.43 ERA in 440 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, closer Edwin Diaz continues having a season for the ages. He has yielded only 27 hits in 45.1 innings with an eye-popping 91 strikeouts for a 5.4 H/9 and 18.1 K/9 average, respectively. Said another way, he has struck out 52.9% of all batters faced, which is reflective of his 0.860 WHiP, to go along with a stellar 1.39 ERA.
Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have been the clear leaders at the plate. Alonso tops the National League with 96 RBI, and Lindor is third. Brandon Nimmo has carved his niche as a premiere leadoff hitter, and Jeff McNeil has consistently maintained a .300 batting average.
In his first season, Billy Eppler's off-season acquisitions have been essential cogs in this machine we call the Mets. The performances of Chris Bassitt and Starling Marte have been exemplary. Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha have been nothing short of serviceable and, in Escobar's case, clutch. And while Eppler's trade deadline acquisitions were met with some criticism, extensive renovations were not needed. What Eppler did with the acquisitions of Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf, and Tyler Naquin was fix a leaky roof and replace the windows. Now the lineup at Flushing by the Bay is water-tight. As planned, they're all contributing to the Mets' fine play in August.
Above all else, I believe Buck Showalter plays a significant role in the Mets' success. His attention to detail and insistence on fundamentals is the team's bedrock. He's genuinely bucking analytical trends and transforming his team into savvy players. Buck's experience is vast, and his baseball intuition uncanny. Just the other day, they executed a suicide squeeze. Baseball is back, indeed. Buck Showalter corrects the years of novice managers and their inexperienced folly.
The Mets enter Wednesday night's game against the Reds with a 71-39 (.645) record. They've won four in a row. Moreover, they're winning at a historic pace for this franchise.
Last season, the Mets and Braves did not face each other in August, which proved a disadvantage for the Mets. This season, the schedule makers had something else in mind, and the Mets seized the moment. Their division lead over the Braves is now back up to seven.
It's been an incredibly entertaining summer. For better or worse, we'll be talking about this season for years to come as a relaunch of the New York Mets under the ownership of Steve Cohen.
In the meantime, the battle for the N.L. East flag rages on ...
Let's Go Mets!
Friday, May 13, 2022
The Metsian Podcast "Rat in the Grass" Episode
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
It's been said before but bears repeating. The first-place Mets lead the National League in wins and still have yet to lose a series this season. They're getting it done with solid pitching, fielding, and timely hitting. However, we've seen this before. The season is about a fifth of the way through. So, let us pause and ask what differentiates this team from last year's Mets, who, on Aug. 14, 2021, dropped in the standings behind the Phillies and Braves and never recovered. Please join Sam, Rich, and I, as we recap the week and chase down the "rat in the grass" on another getaway day edition of The Metsian Podcast.
seventy-three minutes
Friday, July 16, 2021
The Metsian Podcast: Minor League Report & Second Half Preview with Jacob Resnick
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT & SECOND HALF PREVIEW
with
SNY-TV Contributor
#LGM
Carlos Carrasco Looks Sharp in Coney Island Debut, But Cyclones Get Wiped Out By Jersey Shore
From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS
II - JS 3; BRK 2
III - JS 13; BRK 3
No Comment ...
Let's just say the Cyclones are lucky this evening that I have more pressing matters requiring my attention.
The good news is Carlos Carrasco toed the slab Thursday night against the Jersey Shore Blue Claws at Coney Island and pitched effectively. He retired the side in order in the first, followed by a scoreless second. Carlos faced seven batters and threw 27 pitches, with 17 going for strikes while allowing just one hit, no walks, and striking out two batters.
In a best-case scenario, Carrasco is in fine form by mid-August. He helps create a fearsome foursome featuring him, Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and Taijuan Walker, in time to play 13 games against the Dodgers and Giants that can effectively make or break this season.
The Cyclones?
Pfff ...! That's a horse of another garage.
Without naming names, five Brooklyn pitchers allow 13 runs on 13 hits, including three home runs, seven walks, and twelve strikeouts. Against Jersey pitching the Cyclones muster three runs on six hits and four walks with ten strikeouts.
Brooklyn now trails the series two games to one.
That is all ...
Monday, March 15, 2021
A Metsian Podcast: Just Basking in the Florida Sunshine w/ Guest, Baseball Author Brian Wright
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
w/ SAM, RICH & MIKE
GUEST
seventy-seven minutes
#LGM
Friday, February 19, 2021
A Metsian Podcast: Ringing in Pitchers & Catchers with Baseball Analyst Ernest Dove
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
with SAM, RICH & MIKE
GUEST
one hundred-three minutes
Northeast weather remains frightful, but down in Port St. Lucie, it's far more delightful. For everything you want to know, baseball writer and analyst Ernest Dove joins this evening's show. In the spirit of Pitchers & Catchers, the starting rotation and bullpen are up for discussion. Also on the docket are front office maneuverings and/or lack thereof, this year's non-roster invitees, and speculating who breaks north to Flushing and who starts the season at Syracuse, along with other minor league-related issues.
#LGM
Thursday, February 18, 2021
N.Y. Mets: Difference Between Good and Great Could Be Carlos Carrasco
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
MORE SNOW ON TAP FOR NYC
PITCHERS & CATCHERS
- Off-Season: Like a Nor'Easter Over Flushing Bay
- Pitchers & Catchers: deGrominator Rising
- Pitchers & Catchers: Pressure on Marcus Stroman to Form One-Two Punch
On the Resilient Carlos Carrasco
In 2011, Carlos Carrasco underwent Tommy John surgery. After missing all of 2012, he returned in April 2013 to pitch fifteen games in which he posted a 6.75 ERA, a 1.757 WHiP, a 12.3 H/9 average, and a 5.6 K/9 average over 46.2 innings. Carrasco returned to form the following season, from 2014 through 2018, he posted a 3.26 ERA with 963 strikeouts through 856 innings pitched.
Then, in 2019, Carlos was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (blood-related cancer). With medication, he has been in remission for over a year now. Last season at 33-years of age, Carrasco rebounded with a 2.91 ERA and 10.9 K/9 average through twelve starts, and 68.0 innings pitched. He also recorded his lowest BABIP since 2016, and his .219 average against was the second-lowest of his career. Despite his condition, Carlos has maintained a steady fastball throughout, clocking in at 94.8mph while averaging a 10.7 K/9 average over his last four seasons.
Carrasco appears craftier than ever. The only outstanding concern about Carlos is his stamina. Last season he averaged 5.2 innings per start - no issue there. However, Carlos turns 34-years old in March and is entering what we all hope is his first full season since 2018, the year before his diagnosis.
Along with Marcus Stroman, he, I believe, are the two main keys in the Mets 2021 quest for post-season glory. Although both have yet to firmly establish themselves in the National League, their respective pitching performances have the potential to either make or break the upcoming season. It's no stretch to say the Mets can still get by should one or the other falter. However, they will not survive substandard performances from both.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
N.Y. Mets: Sandy Alderson Still Acting Like Smartest One in the Room
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Things That Make Go You Go Hmmm ...
The Washington Nationals recently signed Brad Hand to a one-year $10.5 million contract. We know the Mets certainly could have used him. Toronto also recently won the George Springer sweepstakes as the Mets refused to up their bid by another $25 million or so. Then if you rewind back to December, the Mets acted (hastily?) quickly in signing free-agent catcher James McCann to a bargain rate $40 million over four years rather than pursue J.T Realmuto (who remains unsigned) at a higher premium.
HOT TAKE ALERT: This all wreaks of Sandy Alderson's sensibilities while under the Wilpons.
But, Mike, they traded for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco.
Indeed, but they still need to secure Lindor long-term, and Carlos Carrasco figures to be a fourth starter at best. I'd love to be wrong about the latter, but I'm just calling it as I see it.
An interesting dichotomy in the making ... the owner says go spend, yet they settle on McCann over Realmuto and do not up their ante for Springer. 🤔 I do not make Bauer a Met at his asking price.
— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) January 23, 2021
Here's more food for thought: Jacob deGrom's salary spikes to $35 million this year and next, and he holds an opt-out clause after the 2022 season. The aforementioned Lindor and Michael Conforto are both in need of contract extensions, and the presently suspended Robinson Cano also returns to the checkbook after the 2021 season.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining ... this is a transient mico matter, or so we hope.
It's just that the narrative since Nov. 6, 2020, coming from ownership, and the follow-up being pursued by Sandy Alderson is somewhat and strangely incongruent.
Friday, January 15, 2021
A Metsian Podcast: Gathering Round the Hot Stove With Director Phil Maillard
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
With SAM, RICH & MIKE
The band was back together again
GUEST
The return of video director, media content creator, Mets fan, and co-founder of
109 minutes
Special focus on Cleon Jones, his charitable work in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and his efforts toward the education and preservation of Africatown.
Friday, January 08, 2021
A Metsian Podcast: Kickin' Off The New Year With Mike Silva of Talkin' Mets Podcast
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
HAPPY NEW YEAR
With SAM, RICH & MIKE
HAPPY NEW YEAR
GUEST
of
thirty-eight minutes
!Hot Take!
"Gary Carter was a bad trade"
Give a Listen
#LGM
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