N.Y. Mets: Callaway Era Successfully Clears Launching Pad

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets lead series 2-0

I - NYM 9; STL 4

II - NYM 6; STL 2

Series Finale

St. Louis Cardinals

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

Roosevelt Avenue Grounds

QUEENS

New York Mets: Up, Up, And Callaway We Go...!

So far, so good ...

A pair of victories over the St. Louis Cardinals with a chance to sweep on Easter Sunday is a fine start to any regular season - much less Mickey Callaway's first as manager of the New York Mets.  If this keeps up, Mets fans should have little problem giving off-season changes their final stamp of approval.

Two games, though, is far from trend setting.  Yet, Coach Callaway has already made things quite discussion worthy nonetheless.  Although he was mainly hired to harness this team's pitching potential, his choice of line-ups thus far have made the greatest impressions, and impact.

Game One

• Nimmo; Cespedes; Bruce; Cabrera; Frazier; Gonzalez; Plawecki; Syndergaard; Rosario.

Game Two

• Cabrera; Cespedes; Bruce; Frazier; d'Arnaud; Gonzalez; Lagares; deGrom; Rosario.

Lead-off Hitter:

Once Michael Conforto returns, both the center field and lead-off hitter situations will obviously change.  In the meantime, we knew Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares would be platooning.  Therefore, I'm not fielding any gripes about both receiving a start each despite facing two right-handed starting pitchers.  Again ... two games does not a trend make.

Nimmo started Opening Day and went 2 for 3, with a walk, and two runs scored.  On Saturday, Juan Lagares did not lead-off, but went 2 for 4 with a run scored nonetheless.  Asdrubal Cabrera went from hitting clean-up on Opening Day to the lead-off spot on Saturday, and went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.  Through two games, the Mets lead-off hitters are 5 for 8 (.625) with a walk, RBI, and three runs scored.

Batting Second:

I understand why Mickey Callaway is doing it.  This is about manipulating the bottom of the order in anticipation of, and getting his most lethal hitter more at-bats and better pitches to hit, then providing maximum protection throughout the middle of the order behind him.  Coach isn't exactly breaking with conventional wisdom here.  It's been done before.  It's also an attempt at minimizing the pitcher's potential dead-spot in the line-up.  I'm just not a proponent of batting Yoenis Cespedes second.  Regardless what I think, Coach Callaway's decision is paying off.  Yoenis is 3 for 7 with three walks, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Questionable Three Strategy:

It's always been the unwritten rule that a team's best hitter bat third.  Coach Callaway has twice penciled in Jay Bruce, whom so far is 1 for 8 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.  In the spirit of Callaway's new ways, I would consider batting Asdrubal Cabrera third, and have Bruce clean-up.

Clean-Up Hitter:

Coach got every one's attention when he charged Asdrubal Cabrera with hitting clean-up on Opening Day.  In Cabrera's defense, he is a professional hitter, and provides more pop than Mets fans originally anticipated.  He's also been one of the Mets more clutch hitters since his arrival.  Alas he went hit-less in four at-bats.  Todd Frazier took his turn cleaning-up on Saturday, and went 1 for 3 with three RBI.

Batting Sixth:

What, me worry?  In the span of two games, Adrian Gonzalez is turning a worrisome spring training into a distant memory.  Hampered last season by a bad back while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gonzalez went 12 for 58 (.207) in Grapefruit play, with just three extra base hits and three RBI.  So far, he is 3 for 7 with two walks, a double, a run scored, and an RBI, through two games against the Cardinals.

Catcher:

We knew there would also be a platoon behind the plate this season, but thank Mickey Callaway for giving this a new spin.  It was very interesting seeing Travis d'Arnaud bat fifth.  He went 1 for 3 on Saturday, with a walk and home run.  Syndergaard prefers throwing to Kevin Plawecki.  That's no secret.  And so Plawecki started Opening Day and batted seventh, going 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI.  So far, the platooning backstops are 3 for 6, with three walks, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.

Batting Eighth/Ninth:

Coach Callaway has elected to bat the pitcher eighth in each of the first two games.  Let's see how long this continues.  Otherwise, the free swinging Amed Rosario is being positioned to precede the lead-off hitter and Yoenis Cespedes by batting ninth.  Until Rosario learns to be more selective at the plate, this may prove an effective ploy ... for now.  Amed went 2 for 4 in his first ever major league Opening Day, with two RBI and two runs scored.

Terrors on the Base Paths:

Mickey Callaway and third base coach Glenn Sherlock have made one thing perfectly clear.  They intend on being aggressive.  They'll attempt taking an extra base at every turn, challenge outfield arms and their opponent's ability to execute plays.

First Pitch:

The Mets top two starting pitchers seemingly launched their 2018 campaigns without a hitch.  If you look back, the most successful teams throughout history usually feature a terrible twosome that opponents dread facing.  Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom must be that for the Mets more so now than ever.  Noah started on Opening Day, allowing four earned runs on six hits, but walked none and fanned ten batters over six innings pitched for his first victory of the season.  Jacob deGrom lasted 5.2 innings in his first start, limiting the Cardinals to just one earned run on four hits and a walk, while fanning seven for his first victory.

The Firemen:

The Mets opened up on Thursday, were off on Friday, then resumed play on Saturday.  Despite a day off Callaway's utilization of the bullpen was no less curious.  The same trio which appeared on Thursday were the same three which appeared in Saturday's contest.  Coach's plan for Sunday's series finale will prove quite revealing.  Robert Gsellman seems to be embracing his new bullpen role, allowing just one hit and fanning four in 1.2 innings.  Anthony Swarzak pitched the eighth in each game, while Jeurys Familia closed out both, and earned his first save (of the four out variety).

N.Y. Mets: Grand Opening

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY

Cardinals   4

Mets          9

FINAL

So many variables factored into making this Opening Day one of the most anticipated events in recent Mets history.  And I'm happy to say, Callaway and Co. did not disappoint, as relaunch of Sandy Alderson's new order went off without a hitch.

They couldn't have scripted things any better.  Noah Syndergaard pitched six strong innings; the bullpen closed things out with three scoreless innings of no-hit relief; the line-up manufactured twelve hits and nine runs; and the defense played error free.

Thor's first outing of the season went well enough.  Efficiency wise, Syndergaard averaged fourteen pitches per inning, and threw 85 pitches overall with 59 (68%) going for strikes.  He allowed six hits, and surrendered a pair of home runs - one to Yadier Molina that careened off the left field foul pole.  Otherwise, he walked none and fanned ten batters en rout to his first victory of the season.

A rather gamely Robert Gsellman struck out the side in the seventh.  Free agent acquisition Anthony Swarzack struck out one during a scoreless eighth.  Jeurys Familia then closed out the game in a non-save situation.

Mickey Callaway's First Line-Up:

• CF - Nimmo
• LF- Cespedes
• RF- Bruce
• 2B - Cabrera
• 3B - Frazier
• 1B  Gonzalez
• C - Plawecki
• SP - Syndergaard
• SS - Rosario

I'd only question Cabrera batting clean-up, otherwise this order suits me just fine.  If Mickey Callaway insists on batting Cespedes second, then of course something has to give elsewhere in the line-up.  That said, Amed Rosario (making his first ever Opening Day start with the Mets) handed in a stellar performance as the free swinger went 2 for 4 at the plate, with an RBI.  But by batting him ninth Callaway might have realized a desired affect.  Amed scored two runs, driven in each time by Yoenis Cespedes whom went 2 for 5 with three RBI.  

Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, and Adrian Gonzalez, joined to go 6 for 15 (.400), with two runs scored and five RBI.

Kevin Plawecki is apparently picking up where he left off last season, making his mark against right-handed pitching by going 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.

I've spent all spring raving about Brandon Nimmo, if not longer.  He's such a throwback and self-made talent that I just can't help but root for him.  I do indeed believe he could potentially solve the Mets need for a lead-off hitter.  Unfortunately regular playing time will be hard to come by once Michael Conforto returns to the line-up.  Thursday's performance (2 for 3, with a walk and a run scored) was nevertheless a glimpse into how effective I believe Nimmo could some day be batting atop the order. 

The Mets are now 37-20 (.649) on Opening Day.

N.Y. Mets: Catching Hell

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets Still Waiting For Their Backstop of the Future

SPRING TRAINING

First Word: Year Sixteen After Doubleday

The Five Hurlers of the Metropolis

Jason Vargas is a Sensible Acquisition

Ninth Inning Closer Need Not Apply

New York Mets: Travis d'Arnaud still battling himself for the starting spot behind the plate.

We've been at this for five years now.

Travis d'Arnaud if far from being a novice.

He turned 29-years old earlier this month, but has yet to exceed 115 games or 400 at-bats in any season.  In fact, after his debut in 2013 Travis has only played in 362 of a possible 648 regular season games (56%) over the last four seasons.

Injuries are squarely to blame.  I hear (former Islanders goalie and present ESPN radio personality) Rick DePietro say many times an athlete's best ability is his availability.  Words never rang more true.

Travis d'Arnaud's medical chart is lengthy.

Minors:

• 2010 - herniated disk lower back
• 2012 - torn posterior cruciate ligament left knee

Majors:

• 2013 - fractured left foot
• 2014 - concussion; bone chip right elbow
• 2015 - fractured right hand; hyper-extended left elbow
• 2016 - right rotator cuff strain
• 2017 - right wrist

That's a lot of physical depreciation over a short span of time.

If nothing else, though, he has demonstrated offensive ability.  If you blend together his 2014, 2015, and 2017 seasons, he averaged 18 doubles/13 home runs/46 RBI in just 324 at bats.

But what good is that if he can't stay on the field?

Even then, offense is a secondary issue for me.  I'm a firm believer in having a supreme receiver behind the plate.  And quite frankly, his positional skills and ability to game-manage a rotation leave much to be desired.

The Mets main strength is their starting rotation.  It's a formula that has worked well for them in the past.  Therefore, I need a catcher who will be to Syndergaard, Harvey, Matz, deGrom, and Wheeler, what Jerry Grote was to Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, and Jon Matlack, and what Gary Carter was to Doc Gooden, Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling, and Rick Aguilera.  Whereas Grote and Carter actively helped their pitchers become better, today's clutch of Mets pitchers have gained their varying degrees of notoriety in spite of Travis d'Arnaud.

It's a badly kept secret that at least one Mets starting pitcher does not particularly like throwing to Travis.  Some pitchers seemed ambivalent over the years, while others appeared kindly agreeable at best.  That strikes me as problematic.

Granted, d'Arnaud has improved since leading the National League in 2014 with twelve passed balls.  But his inability to neutralize base runners can not be overlooked (unless he's hitting and producing runs).  Travis only threw out 17% of would be base-stealers last season - ten points behind the league average (27%) - and he only averages 22% for his career.  Jerry Grote, meanwhile, averaged 38 percent for his career.  At his best, he threw base runners out at a rate of 40%.  Gary Carter averaged 35% caught stealing for his career, and led the National League in caught stealing percentage three times.

Sandy Alderson has long defied one of the most fundamental team building precepts - being strong up the middle.  It has been one of my biggest gripes.  Travis is arbitration eligible through the 2019 season, so I don't expect Alderson addressing this anytime soon.

*     *     *

If a catcher can hit .260 in the major leagues, he's worth at least a discussion.  Kevin Plawecki did just that last season.  Perhaps he's finally becoming comfortable in his major league skin.  Now 27-years old, Kevin was 26 for 100 with five doubles, three home runs, and 13 RBI.  If you play along and multiply by five, that projects to 25 doubles, 15 home runs, and 65 RBI over 500 at-bats.

Like d'Arnaud, however, Plawecki only threw out runners last season at a rate of 17%.  His career rate is 23% over 158 total games.

N.Y. Mets: MetsMusings Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Talkin' Mets Baseball

with Gary Mack on 

MetsMusings.com

(episode #270)

STUFF..

The lukewarm Hot Stove

Mets outfield situation

A poor free agent pool?

The bullpen and re-signing Jerry Blevins

THIRD BASE and DAVID WRIGHT

Travis d'Arnaud/Kevin Plawecki/Rene Rivera

First Base

TJ Rivera and Brandon Nimmo

Starting Pitching and The Dark Knight

The N.L. East

N.Y. Mets: Time for the Annual June Amateur Draft

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

Should Mounting Injuries Influence the Mets 

Upcoming June Amateur Draft Strategy?

A review of the 2011 amateur draft, 

and potential strategies for this weekend's 2016 June amateur draft.

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: The Good, the Bad, and the Harvey

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

METROPOLITANS BASEBALL CLUB

First Quarter Performance Report

NEW YORK METS: Injuries and Inconsistencies Holding the Amazin's Back From Achieving Greater Gains.

Entering their 43rd game of the season on Sunday, the Mets have veered left and are well into the first corner turn of the 2016 campaign, but, already are experiencing problems to many of their key horses.

After closing to within a nose of the N.L. East leaders, the Mets recently lost 2 of 3 against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field, in turn pushing them back into the pack with Philadelphia and Miami.

Thanks to a pair of victories over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, the Mets improved to 9-11 in May, with nine games remaining in the month.  Sunday, the Mets will attempt a sweep of the Brewers, while entering the game 1 1/2 games out of first place.

The Outfield is Yielding a Mixed Crop

Yoenis Cespedes is admittedly surprised he's hit this many home runs this soon, noting he's been a notoriously better second half performer throughout his career.  That's a good thing I suppose..

After hitting an opposite field home run on Friday, then doubling in Saturday's victory over the Brewers, Michael Conforto seems to be snapping out of his first prolonged slump as a Met.

While Curtis Granderson has earned the benefit of the doubt, and has found his home run stroke of late, he is nonetheless batting below the Mendoza Line, and hitting just .134 in May.  His .292 OBP is no less problematic as the lead-off hitter.  Perhaps, drawing a pair of walks and going 1 for 3 Saturday against the Brewers is a sign of better things to come.

This Diamond is Getting Rough

Travis d'Arnaud's latest injury (apparently one with no resolution is sight), his short term future, as well as his long term future with the Mets are no more or less clear today, than they were upon his arrival from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ideally, one player's injury is another player's opportunity.  But in the case of Kevin Plawecki, he's thus far failed to show the polish the Mets anticipated from their once highly regarded college amateur draft selection.  He's been the primary catcher for the Mets since April 24th, and in 20 starts since, he's slashing .206/.341, with four doubles and one home run.

Lucas Duda is hurt with one of those injuries that makes us all shake our heads at the Mets medical staff.  I mean, sometimes you just never know with these guys.  For the record, Lucas Duda is presently experiencing a lower back ailment.  It was reported Saturday his MRI came back clean.   Otherwise, little else explains his rather inconsequential 130 at-bats this season.  He's so far slashing just .231/.297/.431, with seven home runs and 19 RBI.  But, above all, his streaky nature continues boggling the minds of Mets fans.

With regards to second base and shortstop, Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera have allowed Mets fans to repress their former situation.  By no means, though, have they achieved nirvana.
Walker's and Cabrera's play this month have cooled ... and that's putting it mildly.  After slashing .307/.337/.625 in April, Walker is presently slashing just .170/.267/.245 in May with only one double, and one home run.

To date, there's a case to be made Asdrubal Cabrera has been the most consistent Mets player this season.  While his performance dip from April into May has been less precipitous than Walker's, it has been no less noticeable.  After slashing .300/.364/.400 in April, he's presently operating at a .257/.307/.357 rate of productivity in May.  Cabrera's play at times this month even offered very brief, fleeting glimpses that somewhat confirmed less than complimentary off-season scouting reports.

Third baseman David Wright stroked a 9th inning, game winning RBI Saturday against the Brewers.   Unfortunately, there's no hiding the fact his spinal stenosis condition has compromised his game, both offensively and in the field, and particularly on throws to first.

Pen Full-o-Bulls

The strength of the 2016 New York Mets has easily been their bullpen: Hansel Robles, Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins, Jim Henderson, and Antonio Bastardo have combined to throw 83 innings, in which they've posted a combined 2.38 ERA, 1.074 WHiP, with an 11.2 K/9 average.

The closer?  Very simply, Jeurys Familia has turned himself around.  In April, he allowed 14 hits with nine strikeouts in just 12 innings pitched.  This month, he allowed just three hits and fanned seven in just 7.1 innings pitched.

The Four Hurlers of the Metropolis

With the exception of Thor, the rest of the Mets Marvels are presently performing like mere mortals at best.

Super Matz is still battling his body and lack of mound experience, while the deGrominator is still searching for his mojo.  Meanwhile, the Dark Knight continues to fall further into the abyss.

Noah Syndergaard, 23, has been nothing short of brilliant.  Still fresh from out-dueling Max Scherzer, Thor is 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.994 WHiP this season, with 65 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched.

He has now pitched the equivalent of a full season in his brief career.  In 32 combined starts, Noah owns a career 13-9 record, with a 2.97 ERA and 1.033 WHiP, and 231 strikeouts over 203.1 innings pitched.

The 800 lbs. gorilla in the locker room is no doubt Matt Harvey.   Said another way, the Real Deal is in real trouble.  After nine starts, he owns a 3-6 record, with a bloated 5.77 ERA and unsightly 1.655 WHiP.  His 8.0 K/9 average is at a career low, and he's issuing a full walk more per nine innings over last season.  Most alarming, Harvey owns a 12.1 H/9 average this season.

His last start against the Washington Nationals was particularly disturbing, not because he allowed nine runs (six earned) in only 2.2 innings pitched, but because I watched a pitcher simply going through the motions.

I've watched more strenuous efforts from coaches delivering batting practice.

Winning Cures All

Matt Harvey wants the ball again when the Mets vs. Nationals resumes again this Monday in Washington.  There's ongoing speculation the Mets might withhold him for a start, but that seems unlikely at this point.

After losing 2 of 3 against the Nationals at Citi Field, a proper response is in order.  Nothing short of a series win will satisfy.

This is not last season.  This team has expectations to fulfill.

N.Y. Mets: Savannah Sand Gnats Served Organization like Champs

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

"Time can tear down a building, or destroy a woman's face..." - Rolling Stones

NEW YORK METS: The Savannah Sand Gnats and 89-year old Grayson Stadium left an indelible impression upon the greater Mets organization.

In May 2015, Savannah Sand Gnats' ownership announced the club's plans to move, and re-brand in South Carolina, citing a lack of municipal cooperation with regards to upgrading their outdated Georgian minor league facility.

Old Municipal Stadium was originally built in 1926.  After sustaining extensive damage in 1940, a major reconstruction was completed the following season.  By then, the park affectionately became known as "historic" Grayson Stadium - named after a military veteran instrumental in raising the necessary funds for its restoration.

Despite another renovation effort completed between 2007-2009, ownership ultimately determined the antiquated park was no longer a viable venue for their enterprise.

Prior to their affiliation with the Mets, the Sand Gnats had called Grayson Stadium home since 1984, although from 1984 through 1995, they were known as the Savannah Cardinals.

Throughout their time playing in Grayson, they won three Sally League titles.  However, following their third flag in 1996, the Gnats then endured a full decade without making the playoffs until reemerging under then Mets overseer Omar Minaya.

During Savannah's nine year affiliation with the Mets, the Sand Gnats made five post-season appearances, but as noted just once under Omar Minaya.  In contrast, Savannah qualified for the playoffs in 4 of last 5 seasons during Sandy Alderson's regime, and captured the South Atlantic League championship in 2013.

Enter the Columbia Fireflies whom step into their first season of affiliation with the Mets (albeit the organization's tenth season of affiliation).  Their player development agreement (PDA) remains unchanged.

The Fireflies will continue playing in the South Atlantic League Southern Division.  Their new home field will be named Spirit Communications Park.  It is city owned, said to seat roughly 8,500 patrons, and will be located within a skip from the University of South Carolina.

This season's field manager is once again slated to be Jose Leger.  He managed the Gnats last season after spending three seasons at Kingsport.

Once the regular season starts, I'm sure the eyes of Columbia baseball fans will fix their sights on outfield prospect Wuilmer Bucerra.

Recent Savannah Sand Gnats whom now own N.L. Championship rings:

Wilmer Flores - Juan Lagares - Jacob deGrom

Kevin Plawecki - Steven Matz

Honorable Mention > Michael Fulmer

N.Y. Mets: Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The Truck 'O' Stuff Has Arrived ...

NEW YORK METS: As Pitchers and Catchers report, defense of their National League championship starts now.

The AGE of WILPONianism

Year 14 A.D. 

(After Doubleday)

Roughly 4,802 days ago, former partners Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday parted ways, 
thus making Fred and Jeff Wilpon, and Saul Katz, sole owners of the 
New York Metropolitan Baseball Club.

Team ownership has been a rather neat and tidy history ... from Joan Payson, to Nelson Doubleday, to Fred Wilpon & Son.  We are now entering the 14th year of the latter's reign.

I couldn't resist...

Having secured the 2015 National League pennant, the Wilpons easily enjoyed their finest moment as sole owners of the Mets - for it was ownership whom stepped up at last year's trade deadline and dictated the short term course of the club.

With the off-season now officially behind us, the New York Mets enter Spring Training an improved team, with ownership's continued financial investment into Yoenis Cespedes largely to thank, which is not to say they've retired their massive debt - far from it.

Nevertheless, after a long rebuilding process the Mets are no longer underdogs, and instead enter the 2016 regular season among the favorites to win the World Series.

This blog created the WILPONian Calender in jest, and so, with a turn in team fortunes, ownership at least deserves straight forward credit.

If you think about it, the time spanning the respective firings of Bobby Valentine and Steve Phillips, through Art Howe, Jim Duquette, Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya, the 2016 New York Mets indeed enter the season on the highest of notes over the last 14 years.

So let it be done...

The Competition

With regards to the N.L. East, I think it's safe to say we're talking about a two team race between the Mets and Nationals.  Despite signing 2015 NLCS hero Daniel Murphy, many might argue the Nationals actually took step backwards this off-season.  As noted, the Mets on the other hand, are an improved team.  By how much is debatable, but they're improved nonetheless.

The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins are next in the division hierarchy, while the Philadelphia Phillies seem destined for another last place finish.  All three teams lost in excess of 90 games last season.  Perhaps only Miami, with the return of Giancarlo Stanton, seems equipped to break that trend this season.

Otherwise, I do not think much else has changed.  In the West Division, Los Angeles and San Francisco will battle for a lone playoff spot, because the N.L. Central will once again feature three of the circuit's top tier clubs.  Some believe the Cubs are the favorites to dethrone the Mets as N.L. champs.

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

The Team

Can you believe it?  No overwhelming issues.

Without getting into the real particulars, there are no positional jobs up for grabs per se, the bench is poised to be strong, the starting rotation is set, and outside of one remaining reliever spot there are no glaring needs to speak of.

Oh how the times have changed...

Behind the dish, Travis d'Arnaud simply needs to stay on the field and in the line-up on a more consistent basis.  His penchant for incurring fluke injuries is becoming problematic.  I'm still high on Kevin Plawecki.  The Mets have a good situation on their hands, but ultimately, one of these catchers needs to win the job outright.  That said, it's obviously TDA's to lose.

Will the real Lucas Duda please show up...  Are the Mets getting Dr. Jekyll from 2014, or last year's Mr. Hyde?  His 2015 regular season was entirely too streaky.  Perhaps he'll benefit from having Yoenis Cespedes in the line-up for a full season.  He has a lot of convincing to do.

Up the middle, Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker are more polished infielders than Wilmer Flores and Daniel Murphy demonstrated.  The Mets are better defensively, if only slightly.  Offensively, the Mets might be breaking even.  The acquisition of Cabrera, however, turns Wilmer Flores into a super-sub off the bench.  There's real net gain here.

Look no further than third base, where the Mets are looking towards limiting David Wright to 130 games.

Yoenis Cespedes will headline the outfield.  If only the Mets could convince him to play right field, where they'd maximize his freakish arm strength.  Curtis Granderson looks like he drinks from the fountain of youth.  Unlike last season, Terry Collins gets to figure a way of fitting Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares, and Alex De Aza, over the course of a full season.  Once again, it's a good problem to have.

As the starting pitching goes, so go the Mets - obviously.  And by the way, their lone southpaw starter, Jon Niese, got traded to Pittsburgh.  I wish him luck there.  Otherwise, there's a need for a fifth starter.

In the bullpen, the Mets perhaps need one more reliever in order to round out what seems like a capable bunch (for now...).

That concludes my first stretch...

Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day!

N.Y. Mets: The More Yoenis Cespedes Podcast

Here's our latest podcast at 

RisingApple.com

as of Tuesday

1/26/2016

The Rising Apple Report: 

Cespedes Special Part Deux

Sam, the Converted Met Fan hosted our 2-hour extravaganza.

Our guest(s) were Jaron and his dad Robert.  Jaron is a 14-year old wonder kid from Los Angeles whom has a 30k following on Istagram.  On Twitter you can find him @nym_news.  He's become a friend of the show, and is very knowledgeable, if I may say.  His father is a former NY'er whom raised his son to be a Mets fan on the Left Coast.  They are extremely engaging individually, and make a great team.  Obviously, we keep Jaron's dad on just to keep things copacetic, but he's a tremendous contributor in his own right - a man after my own heart.

We took a lot of calls, and even got pranked two or three times.
What can I say - we don't have a dump button or a call screener.
So, it got a little gonzo there for a few minutes.
Robert, however, took a few of those callers to task.
We even "outed" one of them.
It was great!

Otherwise, I think the show went extremely well, if not one of our best.
We left no stone unturned.

We even ended the show with positive things to say about
Jeff Wilpon!

Amazin'

N.Y. Mets: A Long Trip From Brooklyn to Kansas City

From the desks of:

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Coney Island to Kansas City: 1,230 miles

NEW YORK METS: What's a kid from Brooklyn doing in a place like Kansas City? Anybody know a good place for an egg cream?

For several Mets players, and many Mets fans, the trip to Kansas City for this year's World Series showdown against the Royals started in good old Brooklyn town.

Seven Mets prospects played in Coney Island to be exact, before eventually graduating to the big club in Queens.

Starting with Daniel Murphy back in 2006, and through last year when   Michael Conforto nearly led the Brooklyn Cyclones to the NYPL playoffs single-handed, Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores, Kirk Nieuwenhuis,  Kevin Plawecki, and Juan Lagares, all additionally called Kings County their transient
home.

I feel it is my great fortune to have the Brooklyn Cyclones playing in my back yard. Then again, Coney Island is every Brooklynite's back yard and playground.

Watching Mets young hopefuls get their first real taste of big market baseball has been a
rewarding experience over the last 15 years for me.

How can Brooklyn and baseball, and Baseball in Brooklyn, provide otherwise?

It's a natural!

Now we get to see and root for some our favorite Baby Bums on the biggest stage of all.  Cheering them on the way we do in Brooklyn sort of makes us feel like proud parents.

Represent us well, Boys, and Let's Go Mets!

N.Y. Mets: The Night Flight Podcast and the 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones

Here's some of my latest STUFF for 

RisingApple.com

Monday Night Baseball

Podcast: Monday, June 8

guests: Gary Mintz from the N.Y. Giants Baseball Preservation Society, Gary Mac from MetsMusings.com, and Sam, aka, the converted Met fan.

The six/five man starting rotation, Michael Cuddyer draft day remorse, split series in Arizona, preview of S.F. Giants series, the 2006 New York Mets season, the New York Giants baseball club, Coogan's Bluff, Mrs. Joan Payson, Californication... and other stuff. 

Episode #106 - The Rising Apple Report: Night Flight; Here Come the Champs

Monday's article:

  The 2015 Mets Are Eerily Imitating the 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones Season

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

Mets Podcast: Looking on the Bright Side

RisingApple.com
Episode #103

It was my turn to host.  

We covered everything, Memorial Day Holiday style.

Plus, a 2003 season rant!

No Mets fans were injured during the making of this podcast.

The Rising Apple Report: Looking on the Bright Side of the Mets

Added, May 22, 2015
Las Vegas 51s: Steven Matz was human, 
yet effective enough to earn his 5th victory of season

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets - The Friday Night Recap; Mets Fall in Philly

Here's my Friday Night Mets Recap

 for RisngApple.com

Cole Hamels Stymies Matt Harvey and the Mets; Phillies Win Series Opener 3-1

Join men every week 

for the Friday Night Recap.

Previously:

Wednesday, May 6th vs. Baltimore Orioles

Dilson Herrera and Jacob deGrom lead Mets in 5-1 Victory Over Orioles

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

For Rising Apple: Trading Kevin Plawecki Would Be A Bad Idea

Here's my latest for

RisingApple.com 

Trading Kevin Plawecki Is A Bad Idea

Podcast from Thursday, February 26th.
Fellow RA writer Rich and I talking Mets baseball for 90 minutes.

Episode #94, the Rising Apple Report: Camp Bravado Is Open For Business

Mike

senior writer/Rising Apple

Today For Rising Apple: Binghamton Mets Review

Here's My Latest For

RisingApple.com

Binghamton Mets Review: Matthew Bowman Pitches BMets Into 1st Place Tie

And, don't forget to return later tonight for my Mets Friday Recap.

Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Defeat Spinners; Take Lead In Wild Card Race

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 

WILD CARD STANDINGS:

Brooklyn.....45-29         *

Batavia.......44-30; 1 GB

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Back In Front With Two Games Left In Regular Season.  Seaside Sluggers Magic Number = Two.

Batavia finally lost for the first time in ten games.  Potentially, the Cyclones finally got the break they have been looking for.  In early Labor Day action, the Muckdogs lost to the Auburn Doubledays by a 5-3 score.  As a result, Auburn retakes a one game lead in the Pickney Division over Batavia.  That left the 'Dogs waiting around for the late game final out of Brooklyn.


Would the Cyclones take advantage of Monday's early development?  Under the threat of rain, the game in Coney Island started on time.  On the mound, Luis Cessa started for Brooklyn against Lowell's Francellis Montas.


Cyclones fans were hoping the first inning was not an omen of things to come.  Francellis Montas struck out the side, with all three batters swinging at strike three.  Back to back singles to lead off the second inning however, quickly calmed those fears.  The Brooks couldn't take advantage though.  Both base runners were stranded.


Each team scored in the fourth inning.  An RBI single by Jake Davies put Lowell on the board.  In the bottom half of the inning, Francellis Montas was pulled from the game after surrendering a single to Kevin Plawecki, and issuing a walk to Nelfi Zapata.  With two outs, the Spinners called on Francisco Tavares for relief.  A single by Juan Carlos Gamboa scored Plawecki from third to tie the game at one.


Brooklyn took a 2-1 lead in the fifth.  Kevin Plawecki's third hit of the game knocked in Dimas Ponce with the go ahead run.


Through eight innings, the Cyclones accumulated ten hits against Lowell pitching.  However, they only had the two runs to show for it.  That was okay, because Brooklyn's hurler, Luis Cessa, was still cruising late in the game.  He retired the side in order in the first, third, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings.  He allowed four scattered hits, and surrendered the one run back in the fourth.  Luis issued one walk and struck out one to that point


In the bottom of the eighth, Brooklyn increased their lead.  They loaded the bases with one out.  Brandon Nimmo's grounder forced the lead runner at home for out number two.  Lowell's Francisco Tavares, who was in his fourth inning of relief, then walked Dimas Ponce to force in Brooklyn's third run.  Phillip Evans followed, and delivered another insurance run with a single.


As he pitched so efficiently throughout the game, Coach Donnelly sent Luis Cessa out for the ninth inning.  The first batter he faced doubled.  After striking out his second batter of the game, and a 5-3 put out, a single set up a first and third situation.  That's when Coach Donnelly ascended from the dugout to go remove his starting pitcher.  In relief, Tyler Vanderheiden secured the last out of the game to preserve Brooklyn's 4-1 victory.


Vanderheiden earned his twelfth save of the season.  After a brilliant performance, Luis Cessa improved his won/loss record to 5-4, and lowered his ERA to a 2.49 mark.  The heart of Brooklyn's line-up; Phillip Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki; combined on nine hits in fourteen at-bats.


The Brooklyn Cyclones lead the Wild Card race again by one full game.  Two more remain on the schedule.  Their magic number is two.  Should Brooklyn defeat Lowell Tuesday evening, coupled with another Muckdogs loss, the Cyclones would clinch the Wild Card.  Otherwise, this race may very well get decided on the last day of the regular season.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Battle Of The Boroughs Resumes

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS:

 

 

 

GAME ONE FINAL:

Yankees   1

Cyclones  5

 

 

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

FROM

CONEY ISLAND

 

 

 

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Batavia Muckdogs Keep Pressure On Coney Island.

 

Brooks Defeat Baby Bombers

Preserve Their One Game Wild Card Lead.

 

 

The Brooklyn Cyclones defeated the Staten Island Yankees 5-1 Friday evening.  All they could do however was hold their ground, because both the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Batavia Muckdogs won their games as well.

 

With only five games now left in the regular season, the Cyclones trail the McNamara Division leading Hudson Valley Renegades by five games.  No room for error there.  So in the more pressing Wild Card race, Brooklyn remains a mere game ahead of the Batavia Muckdogs

 

Brooklyn starter, Hansel Robles, took care of the first five innings against Staten Island.  Three calls to the bullpen later, all Cyclones pitchers combined to limit Staten Island to a single unearned run.  Otherwise, the Yankees had six hits, and received three walks.  Brooklyn hurlers combined to strikeout eight batters.

 

The Cyclones did all their damage between the third and sixth inning.  Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 4 with an RBI.  Dimas Ponce knocked in two runs.  Brandon Nimmo and Alexander Sanchez also chipped in with an RBI each.

 

The Batavia Muckdogs refuse to lose, and therefore continue to force Brooklyn's hand.  The pressure is on the Boardwalk Bums to keep winning.  They have two more games against Staten Island before wrapping up the season against Lowell.  They will have the benefit of playing in Coney Island.  So the hope is they will not be the last home games of the season.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Saturday Night Winner

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

I - S.I. 5; BK 1

II - BK 11; S.I. 0

III - Sunday

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bums Gain Split on Home Turf.


The Yankees and Cyclones shifted to Coney Island for Game Two of the Battle of the Boroughs.  After dropping a tough game in Staten Island to the Bombers Friday night, the Cyclones jumped out to a first inning 1-0 lead on Saturday.  With one out, Dimas Ponce and Phillip Evans hit consecutive singles.  After Eudy Pina reached safely on an E-6 to load the bases, Kevin Plawecki's sac fly scored Ponce from third.


In the fifth inning, Brandon Nimmo's RBI double and Phillip Evans' RBI single gave Brooklyn a 3-0 lead.


The Cyclones finally knocked Staten Island starter Gabriel Encinas out of the box after 6.1 innings pitched.  But what Brooklyn started against Encinas, Staten Island reliever, Zach Woods, had an even tougher time finishing.  Brooklyn lowered the hammer on the Bombers with eight runs in the seventh inning, similar to the way Staten Island pulled away from Brooklyn late in Friday's game.  In all, Encinas was charged with six runs; five earned; before being removed.  Zach Woods surrendered another five runs, but none earned, even though Brooklyn's Jeff Reynolds tagged Woods for his second home run of the season.


Brooklyn starting pitcher, Hansel Robles, pitched seven full innings, and improved his record to a 5-1 mark.  He only allowed three hits and no runs.  He walked one batter, and struck out eight before giving way to Logan Taylor, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning, and closed out the Cyclones 11-0 combined three-hit, shutout victory.


You might want to put the celebration on hold however.  Brooklyn received no help.  In Batavia, the visiting Williamsport Crosscutters made their game close with a three run rally in the eighth inning.  But the Crosscutters never managed to push a tying run across the plate. The Muckdogs held on to post a 6-5 final.  Batavia remains three games behind the Cyclones in the Wild Card standings.


In Hudson Valley, the Renegades pulled out a 7-6 win.  They needed eleven innings to do it.  Their victory keeps them six games ahead of the second place Cyclones in the McNamara Division race.


Eleven games remain in the regular season.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Yankees Drop Late Hammer on 'Clones

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Drop Heart Breaker to the Richmond County Bombers.   Division Flag Is All But Out of Reach Now.

To open this latest engagement in the Battle of the Boroughs, Cyclones' starter Luis Mateo was given first crack at the Staten Island Yankees.  Brooklyn's starter kept the Bombers scoreless through his first six innings of work.  He allowed a mere four hits, walked one batter, and struck out five.  In the inning prior, his team mates finally staked him to a fifth inning 1-0 lead on consecutive base hits by Eudy Pina and Brandon Nimmo, which set up Kevin Plawecki's two out RBI single.


By the end of the seventh inning, the Cyclones went through two Staten Island pitchers.  Yankees' starter, Tim Flight, was gone after pitching three scoreless innings, in which he struck out five batters and surrendered two hits.  The Cyclones scored their run off Dietrich Enns who pitched four frames.


During Richmond County's bottom half of the seventh, the Yankees managed only their sixth hit off Luis Mateo, but nothing more.  And into the eighth inning they went with James Pazos on the mound for Staten Island.  He issued a lead-off walk to Phillip Evans, but was spared the consequences via a 6-4-3 double play.


Luis Mateo did not take the mound for an eighth inning.  Although Brooklyn fans in attendance wished he had.  Craig Hansen was summoned from the visitor's bullpen to advance the Cyclones' 1-0 lead forward.  Instead, he tossed Brooklyn's lead into New York Harbor.  Issuing a lead-off walk, then hitting the next batter, was a certain foreshadowing of things to come.  Six batters, two more hits, another hit batter, a grand slam home run, and another Cyclones pitcher later, the Yankees were proud owners of a newly minted 5-1 lead entering the ninth inning.


There was no comeback for Brooklyn; not against James Pazos working his second inning of relief.  After serving up a lead-off single to Julio Concepcion, the Cyclones went down on a 1-4-3 double play, followed by an unassisted put-out at first base.


Brooklyn's Craig Hansen suffered the double-whammy with a blown save, and a loss.  The Cyclones were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.  They only managed seven scattered hits; all singles.


And well done to Staten Islanders.  Over 5,000 fans attended Richmond County Grounds for Friday night's game.


In western New York State, the Cyclones finally caught a break thanks to a little help from the Williamsport Crosscutters, as they defeated the Muckdogs by a 7-4 score in Batavia.  That means the Cyclones keep their three game lead over the Muckdogs in the race for the Wild Card spot.  Batavia's loss only drops their record to 8-2 over their last ten games.  The Cyclones are 4-6 over that span.


In the McNamara Division race, the Cyclones began the evening five games out of first.  A five run outburst by Aberdeen in the top of the seventh inning, still couldn't help the Iron Birds defeat the Hudson Valley Renegades.  And so, the Cyclones now end their night, six games out of first place.


Twelve games remain in the regular season.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Sweep Monsters in Three; Four Cyclones Head to All Star Game

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES - The Coney Island Nine Slay the Vermont Lake Monsters 10-5, and Sweep Three Game Series.

Four Cyclones Heading to the All Star Game.

THREE STATEN ISLAND YANKEES SELECTED.

With the weekend's action complete, Brooklyn heads into the New York Penn League All*Star break one game behind in the McNamara Division standings to the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  Their lead in the Wild Card race now stands at six games over the State College Spikes.  When games resume again on Wednesday, there will be twenty-two games left in the regular season.


On Sunday, the Surf Avenue Sluggers completed a three game sweep in Coney Island over Vermont by pummeling the Lake Monsters 10-5, while Lowell helped the Brooks by defeating the Renegades 5-2 up in Peekskill, N.Y.


After four and a half innings, the game was tied at four apiece.  In the second inning, a double followed by an RBI single put Vermont on the board first against Brooklyn starter, Rainy Lara.  Vermont increased their lead in the fourth.  After a lead-off triple, another RBI single made it a 2-0 game.


In the bottom of the fourth, the Cyclones struck back.  Three consecutive singles by Dimas Ponce, Phillip Evans, and Kevin Plawecki, loaded the bases with no outs.  A double by Alexander Sanchez scored Ponce, and Evans.  And a sac-fly by Nelfi Zapata scored Plawecki from third.  Richie Rodriguez then drove in the fourth Cyclones run of the inning with a single delivering Sanchez.


In the top of the fifth, the Lake Monsters tied the score against Rainy Lara.  Three singles and a walk led to two runs.  But Lara, composed himself to strike out the last two batters of the inning and keep the score at four apiece.  The Cyclones allowed Lara to exit the game on the winning side with a go-ahead home run by Dimas Ponce; his first; in the bottom of the inning.


Rainy Lara pitched five full, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.  He walked one and struck out six before giving way to Logan Taylor in the sixth.  Taylor pitched two stellar innings, surrendering nothing, while striking out three.


In the bottom of the sixth, Brooklyn blew the game open with four more runs.  With one out, Eudy Pina singled, and Brandon Nimmo followed with a double.  Then Dimas Ponce stepped in, and continued his individual onslaught with another single driving home both runners.  Kevin Plawecki drove Ponce home with another RBI single.  And Alexander Sanchez continued his assault as well, with another single to drive in Plawecki.


In the bottom of the seventh, the Cyclones scored once more for good measure.  Eudy Pina scored on one of Vermont's three errors committed in the game.


After Logan Taylor, relievers David Wynn and John Mincone shared eighth inning duties flawlessly.  Then it was up to Tyler Vanderheiden to close out the game.  I do not know what it is about closers being ineffective in non-save situations, but VandyMan followed tradition.  He allowed three hits and one run before securing three outs.  But no harm done; Cyclones win by a 10-5 final score.


Starting pitcher Rainy Lara racked up his seventh win of the season against just one loss.  Today, Rainy Lara is now the New York Penn League leader in wins, and is only four strikeouts behind his team mate, Luis Mateo (67), for tops in the circuit in that category.


The Cyclones scored their ten runs on the strength of fourteen hits.  Dimas Ponce, Kevin Plawecki, and Alexander Sanchez all had three hits each.  And Brandon Nimmo is continuing right along in the lead-off spot, with two more hits in five at-bats.  Brooklyn batted 6 for 12 with runners in scoring position.  He is one of only seven NYPL pitchers with a WHIP below the 1.00 mark.  Not incidentally, four of those seven pitchers are Brooklyn Cyclones!  And to cap things off, the league's top three strikeout leaders are also all Cyclones.

2012 New York Penn League All Star Game

From Eastwood Field, Home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Ohio

New York Penn League All Star Game Rosters

The Brooklyn Cyclones are sending four representatives to the eighth annual NYPL All*Star game; all pitchers.  And that's only appropriate, as strong pitching has marked the Cyclones' season, and dominated the League so far.  Three starting pitchers; Luis Mateo, Gabriel Ynoa; and Hansel Robles will perhaps take a turn on the mound.  And if things go well, reliever John Mincone; Brooklyn's fourth selection; can see some action as well.  As highlighted above, the League's top winner, Rainy Lara, although deserving, will be unavailable.

This year's All Star Game will be played at Eastwood Field, home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Ohio.  The teams are broken up into American League and National League affiliation.

Brooklyn's chief rival, the Staten Island Yankees will be sending three players to join the American League squad.  Pitcher James Pazos; first baseman Matt Snyder; and outfielder Taylor Dugas will represent the Richmond County Baby Bombers in Tuesday's game.

STATS:

* SP - Luis Mateo

* SP - Gabriel Ynoa

* SP - Hansel Robles

* RP - John Mincone

Mike.BTB