N.Y. Mets: RA's First Round Amateur Draft Review

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

A player by player review
of Friday's first round draft selections
#1 through #34
Mets June Amateur Draft Overview: Round One

ICYMI:
A look back at the 2011 amateur draft,
and a preview of the 2016 draft.

Should Mounting Injuries Influence Mets June Amateur Draft Strategy?

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: Damage Control

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

After a financial collapse and an organizational rebuild,

ownership's actions over these last two seasons 

demonstrated a willingness, and growing ability

to be MLB players again.

NEW YORK METS: To my $urprise, the Amazin's are not idly $tanding by...

There's much to harangue with the way the season has gone thus far.

Quite frankly, this station to station offense, and waiting on the long ball approach doesn't exactly sit well with me.  The Mets are indeed tied for the National League lead in home runs, yet they've scored the third least runs.  They additionally boast the fifth worst team OBP, and are dead last in stolen bases (second to last in all of MLB).

Their now concluded series in Pittsburgh put all that futility on full display.  So, if this is Money Ball, I'm contemplating withdrawing my account and sticking the cash back under my mattress.

On the mound, their performance so far has been a mixed bag of goods.  Or should I say good, just not good enough...

On the one hand, the Mets pitching staff boasts the third best ERA, have allowed the fourth least hits, own the fourth best average against, and fanned the sixth most batters.  The bad news is they trail the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs in each of the aforementioned categories.

For the moment, I'm not overly concerned.

What I am, however, is pleasantly surprised...

The Mets front office had a really, really good off-season, and I commended them for it.  In fact, as injuries began mounting this season, I was already handing them a free pass.

Considering their ongoing financial situation, I thought ownership and Sandy Alderson had already done enough, and that the onus was on the remaining starters, back-ups, and minor league call-ups to just suck it up and play through the injuries.  I even cautioned my own friends and fellow fans not to expect much else in the way of transactions, asking what more could they do?

Therein lies my surprise...

The front office has continued going off campus in an effort to bolster the active roster.  And once again, I commend them for both their proactive, and reactive response.  Winning a N.L. pennant last year was great, but this is the type of action which demonstrates renewed and refreshing commitment moving forward.

To account for Lucas Duda's absence, Sandy Alderson purchased veteran first baseman James Loney on May 28 from the San Diego Padres.  Infielder Kelly Johnson was then re-acquired this week via trade from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitcher Akeel Morris.

Whether these moves help remains to be seen.  But busy general manager's hands means happy fans ... so just remember no one was complaining when the transactions took place.

After springing into action during last year's trade deadline, then committing big money to Yoenis Cespedes in the off-season, as well as shoring up the middle infield with qualified veterans, one would think the Mets financial situation has settled.

In a sense, it has, but make no mistake, ownership is still heavily in debt.  What they've achieved, however, is an agreeable balance between financial obligation and on-field operations.  Attendance is up-ticking again, and most, if not all of their bank and SNY related debt has been re-re-refinanced through the remainder of this decade.  Separate from that, their settlement with Irvin Picard in the Madoff related claw back suit has been reduced as well.  So, yes, today things are certainly looking up (until salary arbitration starts taking a larger toll on the team budget, that is).

Circling back, being broke is a great reason to rebuild.  Upon assuming control, Sandy Alderson initiated the hasty process of shedding upwards of $60 millions dollars from the Wilpon's payroll.   For several seasons thereafter, he kept expenses low, and merely recycled the same money to various transient players.

If you're into fuzzy math, the Mets acquired Curtis Granderson during this period at an effective net cost of zero - in recycled dollars, that is - as Grandy's contract did not necessarily increase payroll from one season to the next.

Instead, the signing of free agent Michael Cuddyer in November 2014 represented the first real dollar increase in payroll to that point during Alderson's process.  That's the moment when we can say the Mets finally began taking appreciable steps forwards again.

Dare I ask, what else can they possibly negotiate between now and the non-waiver trade deadline in July?

Brooklyn Cyclones: Ten Days and Counting

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

The ring's the thing...!

BROOKLYN CYCLONES BASEBALL

YEAR SIXTEEN

Baby Bums Baseball Returns to the Beach.

Finally, Opening Day is ten days away ... appropriately kicking things off with an old rivalry on Friday, June 17th at Coney Island against the Staten Island Yankees.

Let the countdown begin!

The Cyclones will then invade Richmond County on Saturday to complete an opening home and home series against their outer borough rival.  After which, Brooklyn will bus back across the Verrazano Bridge to host the Tri-City Valley Cats before hitting the road to Connecticut.


For the last few seasons, once spoiled Cyclones fans have been singing the boardwalk blues.

Beginning with their inaugural year of 2001 through 2012, the Cyclones topped 50 wins twice in a season, and failed to win at least 40 games just once when in 2002 they posted a par 38-38 record.   They owned an overall 541-359 mark over those first 12 seasons, giving them a 45-29 average yearly record.  Brooklyn failed to make the playoffs just three times over that span, once because a 45-30 record in 2008 somehow fell just short of the post-season.

More recently, however, the Cyclones have failed to win at least 40 games in 2 of the last 3 seasons, interrupted only by their 42-34 record in 2014.  In 2013, they barely finished above .500 with a 38-37 record.  Although they rebounded with a 42-34 record in 2014, they followed up with the club's worst season to date with a distressing 33-43 record.

Worse, the Cyclones have failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last 3 seasons, after qualifying for 9 of the previous 12 post-seasons.

The World Comes to Coney Island

In September, MCU Park will host the final qualifier round to decide the 16th and final participant of the upcoming 2017 World Baseball Classic.  The national teams of Israel, Great Britain, Pakistan, and Brazil will play a round robin September 22-25, with the pool winner advancing into the WBC tournament.

Columbia, Australia, and Mexico each won their respective qualifying pools earlier this year.

Automatic Bids (12): 

Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kingdom of Netherlands, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela

L.I. Ducks: Just Another Balk in the Park

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION

Patriots   25-20

Ducks      24-20

Bees        22-21

Bluefish   15-29

Long Island Ducks: Balked by the Revolution, but no ground lost...

The Ducks lost in York Tuesday night, but so did the Patriots against the Bees in New Britain.

Trailing the Somerset Patriots by a mere half game in the Liberty Division standings, the Flock lost their opening game in York Tuesday evening in distressing fashion.

Starters Darin Downs and York's Tony Pena traded zeroes until the home seventh, when Revs' first baseman Telvin Nash worked out a lead-off walk, and advanced to second when Darin Downs was ponderously called for a balk.  Second baseman Andres Perez then promptly singled to drive in the lone run of the game.

Downs was otherwise dominant.  In 7 innings of work, he allowed the one run on 5 hits, with one walk, and 11 strikeouts.  He faced 26 batters, and threw 98 pitches with 69 (70%) going for strikes.

Unfortunately, all the Ducks could muster against Tony Pena were 3 scattered hits and a walk.  Pena fanned 5 Long Islanders in 8 innings of work.

This was the Ducks 5th straight road loss, and the second time they've been shut out all season.

Somerset lost 5-3 to the Bees, but retain their half game lead over the Ducks.

John Brownell's Waddle is Strong

He's the ace of the Long Island Ducks starting rotation for a reason.  This past Sunday, Brownell tossed a complete game against Sugar Land, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk, with seven strikeouts.  In doing so, he improved his record to 4-1 after seven starts, and lowered his ERA to a 3.25 mark.

John Brownell, 32, also reached a few more Long Island Ducks milestones.  On Sunday, he additionally tied the Flock's franchise record with his 91st start, and his 40th victory.  Brownell is already the Ducks all-time leader in innings pitched and strikeouts, as well as owning the Ducks single season record for strikeouts.

In five seasons with the Ducks, Brownell has compiled a 40-28 record, with a 3.68 ERA.  In 604.2 career innings pitched for Long Island, he so far has fanned 461 for a 6.9 K/9 average.

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

L.I. Ducks: Gone Barnstorming

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

NEXT

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Lancaster Barnstormers

Prince Street

PENNSYLVANIA

Long Island Ducks: Flock Forging Ahead While Somerset Patriots Remain in Retreat.

Joining the millions of Memorial Day travelers hitting the road Monday, the Ducks were Pennsylvania bound for a month of June opening series against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Long Island's John Brownell will face off against Lancaster's J.D. Martin in Tuesday's opener. Brownell, 32, will be making his sixth start of the season.  He is 3-0 with a 3.37 ERA, and has allowed 31 hits, nine walks, and fanned 25 over 29.1 innings so far this season.

The Barnstormers are presently in third place in the Freedom Division, playing at par with an 18-18 record.  Not coincidentally, they are 5-5 in their last ten games, and four games out of first place behind the York Revolution.

The Ducks recent home stand featured a series win over Bridgeport, and a four game split against the New Britain Bees.  They'll enter Tuesday's action in first place of the Liberty Division with a 1.5 game lead over the Somerset Patriots, whom lost in extra innings Monday to York.

Somerset has lost their last two, and eight of their last ten games.  After starting the season 13-0, they've been in free fall since with an 8-17 record over their last 25 games.  Long Island, on the other hand, is 17-9 over their last 26 games, and are 21-9 since tripping out of the starting gate with a 1-6 record.

Waddling Around the Bases Like a Bunch of Mad Mallards...

The Ducks line-up lists three top ten hitters.  Lew Ford's .348 mark is second in the league, while Fehlandt Lentini (.310) and Dan Lyons (.308) rank seventh and eighth respectively.

Lentini also leads the league in games played, at-bats, and runs scored.  He's also second overall in hits, and tied for second with 25 RBI.  Lew Ford ranks among the top four with 24 RBI.

What Long Island lacks in home run potential, they more than make up for with offensive balance and relentlessness.  The Ducks are tied for last in the Atlantic League in home runs, and drawing walks.  Yet, they lead the league in runs scored, hits, team average, and triples, and rank second in doubles, total bases, team OPS, and team slugging.

Hurlers Quacking Down on Opposing Hitters

Long Island hurlers have combined to lead the Atlantic League in strikeouts, shutouts, fewest hits allowed, and average against.  They're additionally second in least earned runs allowed, team ERA, and WHiP, and rank third in slugging against.

Jack Snodgrass leads the Atlantic League in strikeouts, with his staff mate Darin Downs close behind in second.  They're presently the only two pitchers to have surpassed 40 strikeouts so far this season.   Starter Mark Blackmar's 1.77 ERA is good enough for third in the circuit.

Memorial Day 2016

Thank You

to everyone who gave their all.

My unyielding support and appreciation goes out to 

them and their families.

All The Way!

N.Y. Mets: RA's Memorial Day Podcast

Here's our latest podcast at 

RisingApple.com

Episode #133 The Rising Apple Report: 

Memorial Day Weekend Edition

I hosted, and was joined by fellow RA writer Rich Sparago.

Our guests were Gary Mac of MetsMusings.com
 and John Pielli of the Passed Ball Show

A National League round-up,
lots of Matt Harvey stuff, and Steven Matz,
what to do at first base, praise for the bullpen,
a live report from Sam while at a tavern in Cooperstown,
all starters pitchers not firing on all cylinders
while injuries mounting to positional players,
recollections of the 1986 New York Mets championship season.
and loads more stuff...!

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

L.I. Ducks: Look Who's Number One

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks win series over Bluefish 2-1

I - BPT 5; LID 1

II - LID 15; BPT 5

III - LID 10; BPT 9

Long Island leads 2016 Ferry Cup Series over Bridgeport 5-1

Long Island Ducks: Flock Waddles into First Place After Pounding Out Fish at the Pond.

The Flock is waddling strong, and wielding a big stick.

In winning their series against the Bridgeport Bluefish, the Ducks outscored the Fish by a 25-14 margin over the final two games.  In fact, the Long Island Ducks have now scored the most runs in the league, surpassing the Patriots.  Meanwhile, Long Island has now won five of the six games played against Bridgeport this season.

Where has it gotten them?

Answer: atop the Liberty Division ... finally.

The Somerset Patriots, meanwhile, lost Thursday against Sugar Land, thus allowing Long Island to climb atop the division.  The Patriots continue encountering increasingly tougher times of late, losing three in a row, and seven of their last ten games.

Otherwise, I can't help but think of the grief suffered by Ducks fans in recent years ever since league realignment placed the Patriots in the Liberty Division.

I digress...

Thursday Final

Fish       9

Ducks  10

After jumping out to an early four run lead in Thursday's finale, the Ducks were faced with a 9-4 deficit after four innings.  But Long Island clawed back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and three more in the fifth to tie the game at nine.

Catcher Mike Dowd's double in the home seventh plated the decisive run in a 10-9 Ducks victory. Dowd went 3 for 4 on the night with three RBI overall.

Fehlandt Lentini went 3 for 5, with a home run and a pair of RBI.  On Tuesday, he went 2 for 5, with a triple and two RBI.  He and Lew Ford are now tied for second in the league with 21 RBI.

After turning in two straight extended effective performances, Starter Darin Down fared poorly during his seventh start of the season, allowing eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits in just 3.2 innings of work.

A crew of six relievers summoned from the bullpen, however, quite literally saved the day with 5.1 innings in which they surrendered one unearned run on just two hits and no walks, with three strikeouts.

Next

New Britain Bees

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

THE POND

The Ducks need relief ... for their bullpen that is.  After Monday's day off, the Bridgeport Bluefish levied a heavy tax on Long Island's bullpen, particularly in Thursday's game.  And the Ducks also have a double-header to contend with on Saturday.

Long Island is in need, then, of lengthy starts from the trio of Bobby Blevins, Jack Snodgrass, and Mark Blackmare, in their upcoming series against the New Britain Bees.

Snodgrass presently leads the circuit with 44 strikeouts, while his staff mate Mark Blackmare is second in the league with a 1.26 ERA.

L.I. Ducks: Flock Force First Place Showdown Against Patriots

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Flock at the Gates!

Ducks lead Patriots 2-0

I - LID 9; SOM 3

II - LID 11; SOM 9

III - Sunday @ SOM

Long Island Ducks: Flock Continues Waddling Through Somerset Patriots; First Place Now Within Their Grasp.

After overwhelming Somerset on Friday, the Ducks withstood a fierce Patriots counter-attack Saturday, then regrouped, and somehow mounted a counter of their own to ultimately gain victory in Game Two of their weekend set.

Long Island assured themselves of their first series victory over the Patriots this season with a five run outburst in the top of the ninth inning, and will now attempt the sweep on Sunday.  Game Three could potentially see a transfer of first place in the Liberty Division, as the Ducks now trail the Patriots by a mere half game.

Ducks starter Bobby Blevins struggled, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and a walk, with two strikeouts.  Somerset finally knocked him out of the box with four runs in the fourth.

Patriots starter Jeremy Horst fared little better through five innings of work.  The Ducks, though, trailed 7-6 after eight innings of play.

The Atlantic League's new all-time saves leader, and former Ducks closer, Jon Hunton was summoned by Somerset to close out the ninth inning.  Instead, he faced nine batters, allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits for the loss.  With one out, Cody Puckett's RBI single, Mike Blanke's 2-RBI double, and another 2-RBI double by Matt Wessinger flipped the tables on what seemed like a sure Patriots victory.

Cody Puckett and Mike Blanke combined for 7-RBI, and Ruben Gotay resumed his hot hitting with a 3 for 4 night, with three runs scored and an RBI.

Waddling Tall

Since starting the season 1-6, the Ducks have gone 17-5 in their last 22 games, thus improving their record to 18-11 for the season.  Long Island has also scored 29 runs over their last three games.

A sweep of the Patriots would be ideal, as the Ducks and Patriots will not face each other again in the first half.

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.

L.I. Ducks: Flock Waddles Over Somerset Patriots in Series Opener

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Flock at the Gates!

Ducks lead Patriots 1-0

I - LID 9; SOM 3

II - Saturday @SOM

III - Sunday  @SOM

Long Island Ducks: Extra! News from the front ... Flock overwhelm first place Patriots in Friday night's series opener at Somerset.

On this night, Long Island's six-run third inning outburst and a dominant starting performance on the mound proved too much for the Liberty Division leaders.

This was only the Ducks second victory (2-6) over the Patriots this season, and their first at Somerset. I guess timing is indeed everything then, as Long Island's 9-3 win brings them to within 1 1/2 games of first place entering Saturday's action.

Starter Darin Downs climbed the hill against Somerset's Mickey Storey.  While the usually reliable Mickey Storey continues struggling for the Patriots this season, Downs is officially on a roll.  Darin improved his record to 3-1, and lowered his ERA from 3.25 down to a 3.02 mark.  He faced 30 batters, allowed a pair of earned runs on five hits and no walks, and fanned 11 batters.  It was his third straight winning decision, and comes on the heels of a seven inning, eight strikeout performance on May 14 against Southern Maryland.

• Ducks pitchers have faced the second least batters this season, but lead the Atlantic League in strikeouts.  Ducks pitching also leads with a league low .231 average against.

Offensively, Cody Puckett and Matt Blanke combined to go 6 for 10 at the plate, and registered eight RBI, with four each.  Five Ducks batters posted multiple hit games.  Lew Ford accounted for the ninth Ducks run with a 2 for 5 effort and RBI.

• The Ducks have now scored nine runs in each of their last two games.  Somerset first, followed by Long Island, are the top two scoring teams in the league.  They both have hit 17 team home runs.  Somerset's .748 team OPS leads the circuit, however, while the Ducks .723 mark ranks fifth.

After starting the season 13-0, the Patriots have gone 6-10 since, and are 4-6 over their last ten games.  After starting the season 1-6, the Ducks have gone 16-5 since.

Obviously, the trick for Long Island would be to strike while Somerset is down by winning this weekend series, or even sweeping it, because they will not face them again over the remainder of the first half of the season.

That will leave the Ducks and Patriots scrambling to outpace each other against the remaining competition.


Michael Pfaff's latest acquisitions forcing Coach Baez into reshuffling infield deck.

Recently signed, and former Met, Ruben Gotay went 0 for 5 Friday, with two strikeouts.  This, however, was the first time he failed to hit safely as a member of the Ducks.  He went 7 for 15 during Long Island's four game split against the Sugar Land Skeeters previous to Friday, and is now batting an even .300 since arriving.

Gotay was apparently brought in to solidify second base along with Matt Wessinger.  But, wasn't that accomplished by signing Tyler Colvin, which allowed Sean Burroughs to shift over to third, and thereby allow Cody Puckett to play second?

Well ... Colvin started Friday's game in left field, Burroughs was back at first, Puckett played third, while Lew Ford DH'd.  That came after Cody Puckett DH's twice against Sugar Land.  Coach Baez is clearly spelling positional players with turns at DH, but Colvin playing outfield is not something I'd   entertain too often.  Then again, Anthony Vega's play of late seems to support Coach Baez's decision to pencil in Colvin for occasional spot starts in the outfield.  In fact, I'd be willing to bet Michael Pfaff is searching for Vega's replacement at this very moment.

In the meantime, the GM has afforded Baez a few options.  We'll see how Coach continues utilizing them.

N.Y. Mets: Thor Lowers Hammer on Max Scherzer and the Nationals

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

ROOSEVELT AVENUE RUMBLE

Mets lead series 1-0

I - NYM 2; WAS 0

II - WEDNESDAY

GAME TWO

Washington Nationals

SP-Gio Gonzalez

vs.

New York Mets

SP-Bartolo Colon

NEW YORK METS: Noah Syndergaard out-duels Nationals veteran ace Max Scherzer in series opening main event.

Noah Syndergaard to Addison Reed to Jeurys Familia ...

A Curtis Granderson lead-off home run, and done.

That's how the defending N.L. champs took the series opener over the Washington Nationals and closed within one-half game of first place.

As Howie Rose would say - Put it in the books!

Noah Syndergaard, 23, dominated the first place Nationals for seven scoreless innings.  He faced 24 batters, and threw 102 pitches with a very efficient 72 (70.5%) going for strikes.  He surrendered just five hits, walked none, and fanned 10 batters.  This was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and the seventh of his career.

The victory improved his record to 4-2 this season, and lowered his ERA down from 2.53 to a 2.19 mark.  His WHIP likewise dropped to 0.99 for the season.  Thor has now surrendered 41 hits in 53.1 innings pitched, with just nine walks, and 65 strikeouts.

It's easy to overlook the man has only made a mere 32 career MLB starts.  He did not debut for the Mets until May 12, 2015, against the Cubs in Chicago.  He took the loss in that game, but he's been lowing the hammer on N.L. opponents ever since.  To date, he boasts a 13-9 record, with a 2.96 ERA, and 1.044 WHIP, over just 103.1 career innings pitched.

Addison Reed was all business as well, throwing eight pitches with seven going for strikes, en route to fanning a pair during his lone inning of work.

Jeurys Familia closed the door in the ninth for his 13th save, recording the final out of the game against Bryce Harper.

The Mets line-up was opposed by Max Scherzer, who was fresh off a 20-strikeout performance against the Detroit Tigers.  Appropriately then, former Tiger Curtis Granderson homered off Scherzer leading off the game.  But little did Washington know they lost the game right then.

The young buck, Michael Conforto, gave the Mets an insurance run with a solo shot in the sixth, and their ultimate 2-0 margin over the Nats.  It was Conforto's sixth home run, and 21st RBI of the season.

That makes 30 strikeouts for Max Scherzer in his last 15.1 innings pitched.

Washington's Max Scherzer lasted 6.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on just three hits and three walks, but matched Syndergaard with ten strikeouts despite the loss.

Bryce Harper went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

The Washington Nationals have now lost three in a row.

N.Y. Mets: First Place or Bust Time in May

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

ROOSEVELT AVENUE RUMBLE

Washington Nationals

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

CITI FIELD

Queens, N.Y.

NEW YORK METS: Washington Nationals Upsetting Balance of the Universe!

Despite what you've been reading in the internet tabloids, the previous 37 games were just practice.

Sure, the Nationals jumped out to a 9-1 start, while the Mets initially stumbled out of the block with a 2-5 record.  But what happened in April, stayed in April.

It's now mid-May, and it's all good - the New York Mets are presently in fine position ... and so defense of their National League pennant starts in earnest Tuesday night at Citi Field, when the home plate umpire makes the call to Play Ball against first place Washington.

Nationals    23-15

Mets            21-16

The Nats fell short of a N.L. East flag last season, largely due to their own failings.  That's not to undermine what the Mets accomplished - not at all.  Washington made the mistake of leaving the door open, and the Mets obligingly barged on through.

That's baseball...

This season, the Nationals have so far wrought nothing less of destruction - in the establishment, in the financial market, in the record books, and then to a lesser degree, in the standings,

Bryce Harper is the main headliner for effectively telling Goose Gossage and the rest of MLB, that he's essentially had it up to his threaded eyebrows with Old School nonsense.  It's not the first time he's criticized the establishment, having previously accused MLB many times of killing itself by alienating yet another generation of youngsters with their antiquated code of unwritten rules and protocol.

I do not necessarily disagree with his latter point.  Baseball is indeed in jeopardy of losing a second consecutive generation of potentially passionate fans.  Despite increasing WiFi capabilities at ballparks, they have done little to address an increasing disconnect between players, the game, and the average fan.  Harper believes restricting players' self expression only worsens the matter.

Meanwhile, the new Dusty Baker still utilizes starting pitchers like the old Dusty Baker.

That may or may not be a good thing in terms of the Mets future, considering Scott Boars and Nationals' ownership financially polluted the market for pitchers yet again with Stephen Strasburg's new contract.  Some believe Strasburg's next injury is always just a pitch away.

On that note, Max Scherzer is still throwing no hitters, and very recently tied the MLB record by recording 20 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers.  He is tentatively slated to start Tuesday's series opener against Noah Syndergaard.

Daniel Murphy Returns to Citi Field

And of course, there's former Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, who is proving last year's post-season offensive heroics were no fluke.  With 140 at-bats in the books to date, Daniel is slashing .400/.433/.629, with 5 home runs and 23 RBI.  You read that right - Oh Murph! is still batting .400 for the season.

Mets fans knew all along Murph could hit.  He was a doubles machine.  But they also knew his OBP would never lay too far ahead of his batting average, and this season is no different.  As for his present rate of slugging versus that during his time with the Mets ... he was a lead player during troublesome rebuilding years.  He was always a solid contributor, but his production could never be enough for those Mets.  Then throw money into the equation, and what you have now is an ex-Mets player who was once widely loved by the fan base.

There's no doubt in my mind Daniel Murphy will receive a very warm, heartfelt, and extended, standing ovation from Mets fans upon his first trip to the plate, only this time as a member of the Washington Nationals.

After which, it's game on!

New Mets second baseman Neil Walker has done much to help fans at least move on from their attachment to Daniel Murphy.  In fact, Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera have done much to make Mets fans forget how defensively inept they were up the middle.  For the most part, the two have been smooth as silk.  Cabrera, specifically, has so far proved all the scouts wrong whom counted him out last year.

The Mets new problems reside at the hot corners.  David Wright is defective and Lucas Duda has been ineffective.  Watching Wright's throws to first base are becoming distressful, if not problematic. Meanwhile, the Big Lebowski's bat has been inconsequential as ever.  His hot streaks are as unpredictable as a mid-western twister.

Then, there's the Mets battery problems.  Catcher Travis d'Arnaud's propensity for injury is just as dismaying today, as it has ever been previously.  On the mound, the Dark Knight is still yet to find his mojo, while Steven Matz is apparently breaking down ... again (although no ligament damage has been found in his elbow).

Oh, and the Mets went 4-7 on their road trip, and are presently losers of 4 in a row.

In other words, just another day in the Citi.

Let the games begin!

N.Y. Mets: On pitcher Rafael Montero

Here's my latest article for 

RisingApple.com

Mets Need the Real Rafael Montero to Please Stand Up

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple