Another Metsian Date Night Podcast with That Mets Chick, Bre

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

There was something about that 1976 season that ...

 A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

WITH GUEST

Bre aka ThatMetsChick.com

Ninety Minutes

STUFF

First Quarter of the Season ~ Series vs. Nationals

Keon Broxton ~ Carlos Gomez ~ Brandon Nimmo ~ Juan Lagares

The Jeff/BVW/Mickey Pow Pow

Jeff McNeil ~ Michael Conforto ~ The 25-Man Roster

Anthony Kay ~ Robinson Cano

Kevin Plawecki ~ Dave Kingman ~ Terry Leach

More about that 1976 season, and much much more.

Amazin' Date 5/17/1969: Mets Take Second Straight at Crosley Field

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #35: Saturday, May 17, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
Crosley Field

Mets score early and often en route to sweep of Cincinnati Reds.

Tommy Agee's game opening double off Cincy starter Jim Maloney was merely a harbinger of things to come.  Wayne Garrett followed with a single to center scoring Agee.  Then suddenly Maloney required relief.  Reds manager Dave Bristol summoned Jack Fisher from the bullpen.  After issuing a base on balls to Ken Boswell, Tommy Agee connected on his seventh home run of the season.

After which, the rout was on.  The Mets would strike for another seven runs on nine hits.  J.C. Martin hit his second home of the season in the third, plating Ed Kranepool.  Cleon Jones led the Mets with four runs batted in, giving him 28 RBI in 35 games played.  Wayne Garrett went 3 for 5 with a triple, two RBI, and two runs scored.  Tommie Agee is now batting .313 for the season after going 2 for 5 with three runs scored and one RBI.  The Mets amassed 14 hits and were 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position.  They outscored the Reds in the two game series by a 21-12 margin.

FINAL

Mets  11

Reds    3

Despite yielding 12 hits, starter Gary Gentry evened his record at 3-3 after limiting Cincinnati to three earned runs over nine complete innings pitched with six strikeouts.

The Mets are now just one game away from reaching the .500 mark.

• Mets Record:  17-18
• N.L. East:  3rd; 6.5 GB

N.Y. Mets: Thor's Economy Trending Bullish

From the desk of:  HEAD BUTTING MR. MET

Noah Syndergaard Polishing His Hammer

Noah Syndergaard made his eighth start of the season Tuesday evening at Washington.  To date, it was easily his best performance this season in three starts against the Nationals.

• 3/30 - (No Decision @ WAS) 6 inn; 4 ER; 7 hits; 0 W; 7 K.  His 103 pitches against 25 batters faced translates into an average of 4.12 pitches per batter.  Over six innings he averaged 17.1 pitches per inning.
• 4/4 - (Loss @ N.Y.) 6 inn; 2 ER; 1 H; 2 W; 6 K.  His 98 pitches against 21 batters faced translates to 4.66 pitches per batter, while total pitches divided by six innings equals an average of 16.3 pitches per inning.

• 5/14 - (Win @ WAS) Syndergaard yielded two earned runs on just four hits and one walk with six strikeouts through eight innings pitched (he yielded a home run to Victor Robles in the sixth).  He threw 102 total pitches with 64 (63%) going for strikes.  He faced 28 batters, averaging an improved 3.64 pitches per batter, and averaged an equally improved 12.75 pitches per inning.

As I always say: once is an event, twice is a coincidence; and three times is a trend.  On that note Noah is now 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA over his last three starts.  He entered the month of May with a 6.35 ERA and has since lowered it to 4.74 upon yielding six earned runs on 17 hits and just three walks, with 21 strikeouts over his last 21 innings pitched.  He tossed a complete game effort on May 2 over the Reds, then turned in another eight inning effort on Tuesday.  In each instance Syndergaard provided the bullpen with much needed relief.  So perhaps Thor is finally on to something significant.

With that in mind, it wasn't too long ago, April 15 in fact, that Syndergaard surrendered five earned runs on nine hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in just five innings against the Phillies.  He faced 25 batters and threw 102 pitches which translates to just over four pitches per batter, and 20.4 pitches per inning.  This was sandwiched between a pair of similar efforts on April 10 against Minnesota, and April 21 at Philadelphia.  But therein lies the extent of this season's rough stretch.

I've never questioned Noah Syndergaard repertoire.  It's his craftsmanship or lack thereof that I wonder about.  But there's no doubt he is pitching more efficiently of late.  Thor has now faced 234 batters this season over the course of 65 innings pitched which averages out to 3.6 batters faced per inning.  Presently sitting at 929 in-game pitches thrown this season he is averaging 14.29 pitches per inning which unlike last season effectually makes him a seven inning pitcher.  That's a full inning better than last season.

Which is to say the more of a craftsman he becomes, the better off he'll be.

Amazin' Date 5/16/1969: Mets Seventh Inning Outburst Overwhelms Reds

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #34: Friday, May 16, 1969 - BR

New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds

Crosley Field

Tommie Agee caps comeback; Koonce holds on for victory

It's the Reds turn to host the Mets.

Starting in place of Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw climbed the hill in game one at Crosley Field on Friday.  The Mets jumped Reds starter Jack Fisher straightaway for six hits and two runs, knocking him out of the box after just 1.1 innings of work.  However, McGraw would surrender an RBI single to left fielder Alex Johnson in the third, then yield Lee May's eighth home run of the season in the fourth.

FINAL

Mets  10

Reds    9

After trading runs in the fifth, Ed Kranepool led off the top of the sixth with a double, then scored the go ahead run on Tug McGraw's bouncer to second (fielder's choice).  But the Mets lead was fleeting.  Leading off the bottom half of the frame Tommy Helms and Johnny Bench stroked consecutive singles off McGraw.  Manager Hodges relieved McGraw with Ron Taylor.  Pinch hitter Jimmy Stewart promptly introduced himself with a three run home run for a 6-4 Reds lead.

Wayne Garrett led off the seventh with a hit, then advanced to second on a passed ball.  With two outs, the Mets proceeded to bat around the order, mustering six runs on another seven hits for an abrupt 10-6 turnaround.  Undaunted, Cincinnati rallied for three runs off Cal Koonce in the bottom half of the frame, which included a Johnny Bench home run.

Koonce regrouped to retire seven of his next nine batters to close out the Reds and earn his second victory of the season.

Tommie Agee's onslaught continues - he went 2 for 5 with a triple and two decisive runs batted in.  Rod Gaspar also had two RBI.  Ed Kranepool went 3 for 5 with one RBI just as Bud Harrelson was 3 for 5 also with an RBI.

• Mets Record: 16-18 (.470)
• N.L. East: 3rd; 7.5 GB

L.I. Ducks: Former Mets Join to Upend Crabs in Ninth

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks @ Crabs tied 1-1

I - SMD 3; LID 2

II - LID 2; SMD 1

ICYMI: Blue Crabs Walk Off With Game One Victory 

Long Island Ducks: Flock Return Favor With Ninth Inning Effort; Knot Four Game Series at One.

There's no need to fear ... Darin Downs is still here!

With MLB declaring open season on Ducks pitching, Long Island suddenly finds themselves needing extra added quality from their remaining starters.  Over their last respective starts, Bennett Parry and Darrin Downs have provided just that.

The indispensable third year Ducks hurler limited the Blue Crabs to an earned run on just four hits and a walk with ten strikeouts through seven innings pitched in game two at Southern Maryland.  He faced 26 batters, while throwing 93 pitches with 68 (73%) going for strikes.   He unfortunately exited the game with the score tied at one.

Meanwhile, Maryland starter Craig Stem was in the midst of polishing his own gem, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and no walks with seven strikeouts during a complete game, albeit losing effort.

Crabs left fielder Tony Thomas singled home the game's first run in the second.  Daniel Field's third home run of the season tied the game at one in the seventh.  After which, a trio of former Mets joined forces to impact the game.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis led-off the top of the ninth with a double, then advanced to third on L.J. Mazzilli's sacrifice bunt.  Next in, Matt den Dekker's base hit through the left side plated Nieuwenhuis from third with the go ahead run.

Joe Iorio earned the win in relief of Downs, while George Kontos, making just his second appearance for Long Island, pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save as a member of the Ducks.

Entering Tuesday's action Kirk Nieuwenhuis was leading the circuit with 15 RBI, while his .983 OPS rated fourth, and .345 average through 15 games ranks seventh.

The Ducks improve to 12-5 (.706) and remain one-half game behind the first place Somerset Patriots whom likewise turned away the High Point Rockers in Tuesday night action.  Long Island now leads the circuit with twelve victories.  They've played three more games than Somerset.

Amazin' Date 5/15/1969: Hank Aaron's Two Home Runs Too Much For Mets

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #33: Thursday, May 15, 1969 - BR
Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Don Cardwell's struggles continue as the N.L. West leading Atlanta Braves take Thursday's rubber game at Shea Stadium. 

The Mets starter got roughed up for four runs (three earned) on six hits including a home run from Hank Aaron in just three innings pitched.  In fact, Hammerin' Hank hit two home runs in the game, his second coming in the seventh off Cal Koonce pitching in relief Jack DeLauro whom was called up from Tidewater.

Atlanta maintained a 6-2 lead through seven.  The Mets then rallied in the eighth with three runs on four hits and a wild pitch by reliever Cecil Upshaw.  With two on in the ninth, Jerry Grote successfully sacrifice-bunted both runners into scoring position.  Upshaw then issued Wayne Garrett an intentional walk to load the bases.  The strategy paid off as Ken Boswell bounced into a force play at home.  Cleon Jones then popped up to the infield ending the game.

Atlanta starter Pat Jarvis allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts through seven innings pitched for the victory.  Cecil Upshaw earned his ninth save of the season.  Don Cardwell had his record fall to 1-6 on the season.

• Mets Record:  15-18
• N.L. East:  3rd; 7.5 GB

Amazin' Date 5/14/1969: Cleon's Grand Slam Lifts Mets Over Braves

From the desk of:  HEAD BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #32: Wednesday, May 14, 1969 - BR

Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium

Agee and Jones Win One For Seaver; Mets Knot Series

Wednesday evening's game two starters Tom Seaver and Phil Niekro dueled through five scoreless innings at Shea before Atlanta broke the deadlock with four hits and a pair of runs in the sixth.  The Braves extended their lead off Seaver in the seventh when Jesus Alou connected on his third home run of the season.  The Mets finally got on the board in the bottom half of the frame when Ken Boswell stroked a lead-off triple to the left/center gap then scored on a Cleon Jones bounce out short to first.

Niekro and the Braves would unravel in the eighth.  With the bases loaded, Tommie Agee doubled in a pair to knock Atlanta's knuckle-baller from the box.  Pitching in relief of Niekro, George Stone intentionally walked Ed Charles then hit Ken Boswell with a pitch to force another run.  With the bases reloaded, Cleon Jones connected on a bases clearing grand slam.  J.C. Martin would also triple and score giving the Mets an 9-3 lead and final margin of victory over National League West leading Atlanta.

The Mets salvage a victory for Tom Seaver, his fifth of the season against two losses.  He yielded three earned runs on ten hits and a walk with three strikeouts through eight innings.  Ron Taylor pitched a scoreless ninth.

Cleon Jones' five RBI in the game give him 23 for the season.  Tommie Agee was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI, and is now 12 for 25 (.480) for the month of May with a double, five home runs, and ten RBI.

Thursday's rubber game will feature Don Cardwell pitching against the Braves Pat Jarvis.

• Mets Record:  15-17
• N.L. East:  3rd; 7 GB

L.I. Ducks: Ninth Inning Melt Down at Maryland Costs Flock Shot at First

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Bennett Parry's Gem Goes For Not

Long Island Ducks (0-1)

vs.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (1-0)

Long Island Ducks: Bullpen Blows Game and Opportunity To Overtake Somerset Patriots.

There are two things Ducks fans have become accustomed with: a punch it out, drag em out, down to the wire division race against the Somerset Patriots, and MLB organizations regularly picking off Long Island Ducks pitchers at inconvenient times.  I know that's the way it's designed to work; Michael Pfaff does a good job securing personnel; and a world of luck to those whom move on; but it can be somewhat frustrating nonetheless.

Jon Niese wound up never throwing a pitch for the Ducks, when just days before opening day his contract was purchased by the Seattle Mariners.  After which Tim Melville had his contract purchased by the Colorado Rockies.  And now Tim Aldeman most recently had his contract purchased by the Detroit Tigers.

Although the standings reflect a tie in the Liberty Division standings, Somerset is only fractionally ahead of the Ducks:

• 1)  Patriots   11-3 (.785)  *
• 2)  Ducks      12-4 (.750)  *

After taking two of three at Sugar Land over the weekend, the Flock arrived at Southern Maryland on Monday to open a four game series against the Blue Crabs.  Ducks starter Bennett Parry pitched a gem, allowing no earned runs on just four hits and no walks with eight strikeouts through eight innings of work.

With a victory the Ducks could have assumed a half-game lead over Somerset, but wound up quite literally blowing their opportunity.  Charged with protecting a 2-1 lead in the ninth, the bullpen yielded two runs on three hits and a walk en route to Long Island's series opening loss to the Blue Crabs.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis was 2 for 4, and is now hitting .345 for the season.  Newcomer L.J. Mazzilli is also acclimating well to life as a Duck.  He went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and is batting .350 since joining the club.

Amazin' Date 5/13/1969: Gary Gentry Hammered By Braves

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #31: Tuesday, May 13, 1969 - BR
Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Hank Aaron Introduces Himself to Gary Gentry; Mets Rally Falls Short

Atlanta came out slugging in Tuesday's series opener against Gary Gentry and the New York Mets.  With two outs in the first, Hammerin Hank Aaron connected off the Mets starter straight away for his fifth home run of the season.

Leading off the top of the fourth, Orlando Cepeda deposited a Gentry offering over the wall for his eighth home run of the season.  With one out, Gentry walked third baseman Clete Boyer, then surrendered his third home run of the game courtesy catcher Bob Tillmam.

Gary Gentry helped his own cause with a lead-off single off Braves starter Ron Reed in the sixth.  Into the box stepped Tommie Agee, who then connected on is fourth home run in his last three games, cutting the Mets deficit by half.

The Mets rallied again in the ninth.  Ken Boswell drew a lead-off walk against Cecil Upshaw pitching in relief of Reed.  With two outs, J.C. Martin singled.  Art Shamsky, pinch hitting for Amos Otis, followed with an RBI single up the middle.  With the tying run at third Bud Harrelson grounded out third to first ending the game.

Gary Gentry takes the loss, lowering his record to 2-3 on the season.  The Mets rookie allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts through eight innings work.  Atlanta's Ron Reed improved to 4-1 after limiting the Mets to a pair of earned runs on just four hits with four strikeouts.

Hank Aaron's home run was the 515th of his career.

• Mets Record:  14-17
• N.L. East:  3rd; 7 GB

N.Y. Yankees: Bombers at the Gates

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Just when you thought the coast was clear, 

here come the Red Sox.

New York Yankees: Bombers Season Starts Now

April of last year I was road tripping in Boston the weekend following the Yankees/Red Sox series - the one featuring the rather un-cordial exchange of pleasantries between Alex Cora and third base coach Phil Nevin.  While there I listened to a pair of WEEI-radio guys say among other things that Aaron Boone had no pulse.  Their comment stuck with me all summer, then into Fall.  After what transpired in the post-season I continued pondering this throughout the off-season still not sure of its merits. 

Now when I compare Aaron Boone's demeanor so far this season versus all of last season, I would agree the Bean Town talkies may have been on point.  But only insofar as last season.  One year later Boone seems far more comfortable in his pinstriped skin.  He's blown his top a few times and received some well deserved ejections.  Call it window dressing, but at least it demonstrates a confidence of character.  At the same time it instills either by design or otherwise a sense urgency into a young group.

In any event, Adversity and Defeatism since day one have been sitting in the Yanks dugout spitting out seeds with hardly a glance from the skipper.  As we know this year's 25-man roster has been decimated by injury after ruinous injury.  To borrow a phrase: it was getting late really early in the season.  Or so everyone imagined when the Yankees opened the season minus Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks; or after March 31 when both Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar went down; or after April 3 when Troy Tulowitzki followed suit; or after April 13 when Greg Bird joined them; or after April 20 when even Aaron Judge got overruled; etc., etc. 

Yet, thanks to their baby Bomber reinforcements, the Yanks own a 14-6 (.700) record since Judge went down 20 games ago.  Moreover, with Sunday's victory over the Rays they closed out the week eight games above .500 and are now within one-half game of first place.  So, yeah, Aaron Boone has a pulse.  In fact, he's very much alive and doing quite well - calm, cool, and delightfully less collected than ever.

But for how long?

The baby Bombers are doing things well, like limiting their strikeouts to sixth least in the American League, rating fourth in average, and sixth in OPS.  But what's going to happen when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are reunited in the middle of the lineup with Gary Sanchez?  We're speaking of anywhere from 550 to 600 strikeouts a season between the three.  If you do not believe this poses a potential negative affect to the present dynamic, I'll agree to disagree.

On May 12, 2018, the Yankees owned a 27-12 record.  One year later, they enter Monday's action with a 24-16 record.  It's been a remarkable story to date replete with kids, comebacks, and competitiveness.  There's a case to be made this season is now New York's to lose.  That said, Aaron Boone knows somewhere out there lurks an undetected iceberg ready to slice a huge gash into all this smooth sailing.

Just don't look now because here come the Red Sox whom seem to be over their World Series hangover.  After sleepwalking through a 7-13 start, the Sox have since gone 14-6, improving to 22-19 and creeping back into the mix just three games back of the division lead.  Not until May 8 did they reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.

And by no means are the Rays to be overlooked.  They won 90 games last season.  Make no mistake.  They're a good team and presently in first place for a reason.  They'll continue proving a troublesome Yankee foe just as they've done throughout their existence.  After their upcoming three game against the Orioles, the Yankees host the Rays next weekend.

The Red Sox are due to arrive in town at the end of the month.

Steady as she goes.

Amazin' Date 10/11/1969: Sunday Split Give Mets Series Victory Over Houston

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

GAME #29: Sunday, May 11, 1969 - BR

Houston Astros @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Houston's Larry Dierker Hushes Shea Stadium Crowd

GAME ONE: Don Cardwell climbed the hill for his sixth start of the season, and was opposed by Houston's Larry Dierker.  Both pitchers appeared sharp during their first respective runs through the lineup.

Houston then achieved liftoff in the fourth and never looked back.  Leading off, Joe Morgan reached safely on Wayne Garrett's error, then promptly stole second base and scored on Norm Miller's single up the middle.  Still with no outs, big Jim Wynn connected off Cardwell for his seventh home run of the season.  With one out, shortstop Denis Menke doubled into the left/center gap, then scored on a fielder's choice for a 4-0 Astros lead.

FINAL

Astros  4

Mets     1

Tommie Agee ruined Larry Dierker's shutout bid when he connected on his fourth home run of the season in the sixth.  But the Mets would score no more.  They failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in the eighth and went down in order in the ninth.  

Dierker improved his record to 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA.  He yielded just the one run on five hits and five walks with a pair of strikeouts.  Don Cardwell, now 1-5 on the season, allowed four runs but only two earned on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  He was also struck by a Larry Dierker pitch in the third.

GAME #30: Sunday, May 11, 1969 - BR

Houston Astros @ New York Mets

Shea Stadium: Double-Header

Tommie Agee Hits Pair; Mets Win Rubber Game

GAME TWO: Mets bats erupted for twelve hits, with seven going for extra bases in Sunday's game two rubber match at Shea.

After Houston struck for an unearned run in the top of the first, the Mets answered right back against Astros starter Don Wilson and reliever Jim Rey.  Hits from Ken Boswell, J.C. Martin, Amos Otis, and a double from starter Tug McGraw, aided by an array of errors and a wild pitch paved the way to a 6-1 first inning lead.

Jesus Alou's RBI double in the second and Denis Menke's home run in the third cut Houston's deficit to three.  That is ... until Tommie Agee's two run home run in the fourth.  But with long ball in the air, Joe Morgan connected off Mcgraw with a solo shot leading off the 5th making it 8-5 in the Mets favor.  J.C Martin drove in a run in the bottom of the frame.  Then in the sixth, Tommie Agee's second home run of the game and an RBI from Ed Kranepool gave the Mets an 11-5 lead.  The Astros would go on to score a pair off Cal Koonce pitching in relief of Nolan Ryan and Tug McGraw.

FINAL

Astros  7

Mets   11

The Mets nevertheless gain a twin-bill split and series victory over Houston.

Tommie Agee's two home runs give him six for the season.  Two of his three RBI came with two outs.  Over his last four games, Tommie is 5 for 15 (.333) with three home runs.  Cleon Jones was 2 for 2 with four walks to maintain a .411 average.

• Mets Record:  14-16
• N.L. East:  3rd: 5.5 GB

The Past Present and Future Metsian Podcast w/ John Strubel of Mets Rewind

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Rewind to the Future Episode

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

With Special Guest: Freelance Writer; 

former MiLB public address announcer 

at Glenn Falls, N.Y., and Charleston S.C.;

"the only PA announcer in Charleston baseball history

to ever be ejected from a minor league ballpark."

John Strubel  of  Mets Rewind

Ninety-Minutes

STUFF

Fred Wilpon ~ Brodie Van Wagenen ~ Jeff Wilpon

The First Quarter Season ~ Report Card ~ 25-Man Roster

Jeff McNeil ~ Amed Rosario ~ Todd Frazier ~ JD Davis

Brandon Nimmo ~ Carlos Gomez ~ Keon Broxton ~ Juan Lagares

The Bench ~ N.L. Central ~ Milwaukee Hangover

Mickey Callaway ~ Wally Backman ~ Bobby Valentine

Pete Alonso ~ Leadership ~ Robinson Cano

 Kimbrell ~ Anthony Kay ~ Justin Wilson ~ Keuchel

Willie Montanez; Frank Thomas; Del Unser; 

other players who've worn #25 in Mets history 

and so much more!

Amazin' Date 5/10/1969: Seaver Wins Battle Against Astros and Himself at Shea

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #28: Saturday, May 10, 1969 - BR
Houston Astros @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Well Rested Mets Cruise to Series Opening Victory Over Astros

After two days of rest, the Mets got their first look this season at the Houston Astros.

Making his eighth start of the season, Tom Seaver faced off against Houston's crafty southpaw Denny Lemaster.

Leading off the bottom of the fourth Amos Otis and Cleon Jones struck for consecutive singles off Lemaster.  Ed Charles followed with a double to center field scoring Otis.  Ron Swoboda was issued  an intentional walk to load the bases.  Denny Lemaster then caught Jerry Grote looking at strike three.  With one out, Al Weis lofted a sac-fly to center scoring Jones for a 2-0 Mets lead.  Cleon Jones later connected off Lemaster in the sixth for his fifth home run of the season.

Tom Seaver took care of the rest, but first needed to rectify control issues in the early going.  Seaver walked three batters in the first inning, another in the second, and issued six walks overall, not to mention unleashing two wild pitches.  Otherwise, he limited the Astros to one earned run on just four hits with four strikeouts en route to his third consecutive complete game victory.  He improves to 4-2 on the season with a fast plummeting 2.08 ERA.

With two hits in four at-bats, Cleon Jones (.402) lifted his average back above the .400 mark.  Saturday's game also marked Cleon's 13th multi-hit game of the season.

• Mets Record:  13-15
• N.L. East:  3rd; 5 GB

N.Y. Mets: Will Robinson Cano Come to Brodie's Rescue

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Money Changes Everything

If Robinson Cano Can Not, The N.L. East Mets Will Not ...

Congratulations Robinson Cano for achieving 2,500 hits.  Of the nearly 20,000 players in major league history Cano becomes the 101st to accomplish the feat.  This puts him in the top five percent all-time.  He also becomes only the sixth player hailing from the Dominican Republic to join this exclusive club.

Cano no doubt has enjoyed a rather remarkable career proving both durable and productive throughout his 13 1/2 seasons previous to his arrival in Flushing.  Lest we forget in 2018 he was suspended under MLB's performance substance policy and thus missed half the regular season.  Cano began serving his suspension after Seattle's May 13 game at Detroit.  He was batting .287 at the time through 39 games, with four home runs and 23 RBI.  He returned to full duty on Aug. 14 at Oakland, finishing the season slashing .303/.374/.471 with ten home runs and 50 RBI in 80 total games played.  If you're inclined to be kind, then his numbers translate into a 20 home run and hundred RBI season (in what could have been the fifth hundred RBI season of his career, and his second with the Mariners).  In 2017 as a 34-year old, Robinson drove in 97 runs in 592 at-bats.

The now 36-year old has participated in 34 games to date as a member of the Mets.  If you're still inclined to being kind, keep in mind he is a career American League player whom (despite inter-league play) to some degree is learning a new league, new parks, with many an unfamiliar pitching staff, and having to adjust to dreaded Citi Field.  And to be fair, after getting hit with a pitch in two separate incidences his hands and digits must be killing him.  However, that didn't seem to stop him from stroking four hits against the Padres on Tuesday.  He followed up going 0 for 4 in Wednesday afternoon's loss at San Diego.  That said, Cano is presently slashing .254/.307/.400, with three home runs and 11 RBI.  For his career, he averages just 86 strikeouts in 632 at-bats per season.  But with 31 strikeouts in 130 at-bats to date, he is on pace for a 150 strikeout season.

More advanced statistics not needed because this has noting to do with what he's done and everything about what the Mets need from him this moment forward.

The acquisition of Robinson Cano was easily the off-season's top headline, a bold maneuver on BVW's part but a very risky one as well.  So far Cano's performance hasn't quite yielded what fans nor the Mets general manager had in mind when he acquired him from the equally desperate and dollar burdened Seattle Mariners.

In truth, Mets fans could care less what Robinson Cano previously achieved as a Yankee or a Mariner.  All they're interested in is his next 500 potential hits.  What impact will they have?  Because if they fail to cross connect this club with actual playoff success, I question how many will genuinely care seeing him potentially attain 3,000 career hits in a Mets uniform (perchance to dream ... see Gary Sheffield hitting home run #500 as a Met).

Ponder as you will how much Edwin Diaz weighed in the trade bringing both him and Cano to Flushing.  Diaz may very well have been the hook.  But at the end of the day it is Robinson Cano with the requisite resume needed to park fannies in the seats.  And to a large degree it's his responsibility to ensure Diaz is brought into winning situations, not Michael Conforto, not Pete Alonso, et al.  They require a separate narrative, just as Cano requires his own narrative separate of them.  Being a good mentor and clubhouse presence will not suffice.  Cano must be to the Mets what David Wright and Yoenis Cespedes could not: the unquestioned leader in the batter's box.  While it's nice Pete Alonso is coming up huge, the onus is nevertheless on Cano to elevate and get the Mets through the dog days of summer by matter of responsibility.  Injuries clearly got the better of Wright and Cespedes.  Therefore Robinson Cano must not only remain productive, but available.

Anxiety levels in Flushing are sky high as it is.  If the first fifth of Cano's 2019 regular season is any indication, well, then ...

You can't be disappointed with what you do not expect.  This is not one of those situations.  Brodie Van Wagenen knew Cano would be coming with huge and very expensive expectations.  Anything short of Cano's career averages will fail to quell those expectations.  Otherwise rampant dismay and disappointment will unavoidably run high.

L.I. Ducks: Kirk Nieuwenhuis Comes Through in the Ninth

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

MLB Plucking Ducks From the Pond

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (0-1)

vs.

Long Island Ducks (1-0)

Bethpage Ballpark

Infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. is the latest member of the Ducks to have his contract purchased, by the Chicago White Sox.  The 32-year old appeared in ten games for Long Island, slashing .306/.409/.333 through 36 at-bats.

In his place the Ducks have signed 28-year old free agent L.J. Mazzilli.  The Mets 2013 fourth round draft pick spent the majority of the 2018 season playing for the Yankees triple-A affiliate at Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he batted .243 with 15 doubles, seven home runs, and 25 RBI in 230 at-bats.  He's a career .265 hitter through six minor league seasons.

After going 0 for 3 in his Long Island debut, Mazzilli went 1 for 2 with two walks, and two RBI, in game one of the Ducks series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Tuesday.  The Ducks rallied from a 2-5 deficit after seven innings with a trio of runs in the eighth, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis' game winning hit in the ninth for a 6-5 final margin of victory.  Kirk now has ten RBI in the Ducks first 11 games.  Steve Lombardozzi hit his first home run of the season.

Pitcher Tim Melville's contract was recently purchased by Colorado Rockies, as well.  And it's no wonder.  In two starts he posted a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, yielding seven hits in twelve innings pitched with 13 strikeouts.  In nine starts last season with the Ducks, he posted a 3.45 ERA on 47 innings pitched.  This is of course great news for Tim, but it's nonetheless a big blow to the starting rotation.

It's also no wonder the Ducks and Somerset Patriots are back at it.  Somerset is in the midst of a six game win streak, and hold a half game advantage over the second place Ducks in the Liberty Division standings.  The expansion High Point Rockers are off to a 6-6 start, and trail the Patriots by three games.

• Long Island Ducks