Neons

Neon Moment Of The Week: The Stretch

After a 7-3 start to the season, there was genuine excitement about this New York Mets team, but there was still some naysayers. After all, the Mets were beating up on the likes of the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Some questioned how the Mets would fare against a good team.

On that note, the San Francisco Giants came to town. Last season, the Giants led the majors with 107 wins, and they were off to a 7-2 start. Simply put, this series was going to be a real litmus test for the Mets.

Things did not get off to a great start. Tylor Megill, who had been great in place of Jacob deGrom finally struggled. The pitcher who was unscored upon would allow four runs over six. Fortunately, the Mets would tie the game in the fifth on RBI doubles by Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor. The score stayed that way until it was sent to extra innings.

With extra innings comes the gimmick Manfred Man on second base. Brandon Belt was the runner, and he would move to third on a Wilmer Flores flyout. After walking Darin Ruf, Brandon Crawford lined out. That left Thairo Estrada for Adam Ottavino. Estrada would hit a routine grounder to Lindor, but Lindor made an errant throw:

Initially, the umpires ruled Pete Alonso was pulled off the bag. However, upon replay, we saw Alonso made an incredible stretch to stay on the bag. That kept the game tied for the Mets to walk it off on a Lindor game winning RBI single.

That stretch was a key moment in the Mets winning that game. From there, the Mets went on to sweep the doubleheader and take three out of four from the Giants. As a result, the Mets proved they can beat a good team.

That moment was also indicative of just how far Alonso has come. Alonso was known as a poor defender when he was first called up to the majors. He has since made tremendous strides to vastly improve there. As a result, Alonso has shown himself as a player who can help the Mets win with their defense, and that is why “The Strech” is the Mets Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment of the Week: Yes! He McCann

The New York Mets have been struggling of late. While we all anticipated the regulars being activated may lead the team to take off, the opposite happened.

The Mets had struggled mightily this past week. Against division opponents, the Mets went 7-10 with the offense primarily to blame. Simply put, they just weren’t scoring runs leaving their pitching high and dry.

That was the case on June 29. Entering the top of the seventh, the Mets were down 3-0. For a team who scored more than three just three times over an 11 game stretch, that meant the game was all but lost.

That was until two got on in front of James McCann, who delivered his biggest moment as a Met hitting a game tying three run homer. That sparked a four run rally leading the Mets to right the ship and win a much needed divisional game against the Atlanta Braves.

This has been part of a big month of June for McCann. In his 26 games, he hit .288/.341/.500 with five doubles, four homers, and 16 RBI.

McCann came through big in June when the Mets needed it most. That was especially the case with his game tying homer, and that is why it’s the Mets Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment Of The Week: Who Was That Masked Man?

In many ways, what makes this New York Mets team different is Kevin Pillar. He’s a player who actually provided the Mets with real depth, and he has a rare level of grit and determination.

With the bevy of Mets injuries, especially Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo, Pillar has been vaulted from depth to starting outfielder. He’s a starting outfielder wearing a mask in the field because of a fastball he had taken to the face.

With that, he gets the chance to help the first place Mets win games. On a night like June 16th, he gets to help his team win baseball games.

Against the Chicago Cubs, Pillar was 2-for-4 with two runs, a double, home run, and two RBI. That performance came on the heels of Jacob deGrom having to leave the game with his own injury issues.

Again, when a Mets player goes down with injury Pillar and the rest of the Mets step up and just flat out win games. With his performance and win being emblematic of what makes the 2021 Mets great, this is the Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment Of The Week: Jacob deGrom Most Dominant Pitcher Ever

Yet again, Jacob deGrom flirted with a perfect game. Yet again, he drove in more runs than he allowed. Yet again, records were set.

After facing the minimum through six, deGrom has a 0.56 ERA through 10 starts, which is the best in MLB history. Coincidentally, he has allowed just four earned runs on the season while driving in five himself. He’s the first pitcher to ever accomplish that feat.

During the game, deGrom struck out 10. He now has 103 on the season. With his doing it in 64.0 innings, he’s the fastest in MLB history to record 100 strikeouts.

His career numbers are already heading into another stratosphere. His 2.50 career ERA is already ahead of Tom Seaver for best in Mets history. It’s also just a hair behind Clayton Kershaw for the best since World War I.

deGrom’s 156 ERA+ has not only surpassed Seaver for best in Mets history, he’s also moved past Pedro Martinez and tied Kershaw for best all-time.

Tim Keefe had the best single season ERA+ with a 293 mark in 1880. The modern day record is Martinez with a 291 in 2000. Right now, deGrom has a 689.

Read that again. Jacob deGrom has a 689 ERA+. He’s more dominant than anyone ever has been. He’s going to completely re-write record books. That is why his virtuoso performance is the Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment of the Week: Another Patrick Mazeika Walk-Off

In an era when teams carry just two catchers, New York Mets third string catcher Patrick Mazeika has been leaving a lasting impact. He’s done it with getting a hit.

In his career, Mazeika has stepped to the plate five times. He’s had one walk, and according to Baseball Savant, he’s got one of the lowest exit velocities in the league.

However, what matters is he’s getting the job done when needed. He’s come up three times with the bases loaded and gotten the run home each time. Once via walk and twice via fielder’s choice. In fact, two of them were walk-offs.

The latest one this week was off the Orioles, and it helped keep what eventually became a seven game winning streak alive. That walk-off also set MLB records.

According to Sarah Langs of ESPN, Mazeika became the first ever player with multiple walk-off RBI in his first four games. He’s also the first player to have multiple walk-off RBI before his first hit.

Mazeika is becoming a fun Mets legend. He’s setting records, and the Mets are winning games, and that’s why it’s the Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment Of The Week: Lindor Emerges

Things had not been good for Francisco Lindor. He had a 0-for-26 stretch, the second worst in his career, and he was getting booed at Citi Field.

You could tell his frustrations were getting to him. There was a miscue and misplay on a ball where Jeff McNeil, and those frustrations boiled over.

The two players headed towards the clubhouse. Soon thereafter, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith were rushing into the clubhouse themselves.

No one is quite sure as to what exactly happened. Most assumed their was a fight or disagreement. Lindor and McNeil copped to that saying they were debating whether it was a rat or a raccoon they just saw.

Whatever happened, a new Lindor emerged. The player who hadn’t homered at Citi Field and whose last extra base hit was over two weeks ago stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning as the tying run.

Lindor hit a game tying two run homer off of Caleb Smith. From there, the Mets would win in extra innings with Patrick Mazeika getting his first Major League RBI.

That was the Mets third straight win, which just became a four game winning streak. This was the sign of the Mets pulling together and not fracturing when put through all of this stress.

While the postgame focus might’ve been centered around the ratcoon drama, that wasn’t the story. The real story is the Mets are playing good baseball, and Lindor is beginning his annual May breakout, and that’s why it’s the Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment Of The Week: Clutch Conforto

This was the toughest week so far for the New York Mets this season. Their woes with RISP reached new levels of despair, and the Philadelphia Phillies felt awfully comfortable trying to push them around.

After Jose Alvarado threw two at Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith gave him a mouthful the last series these two teams squared off, Alvardo struck out Smith in a big situation. Alvarado disrespected Smith, and the benches emptied.

They lost that game, but the Mets were fired up. We saw that when they grabbed a 4-0 first inning lead against Zack Wheeler. The problem is it ended there, and the Phillies got back into the game.

While this was not a “must win” game, the Mets needed to make a statement. They needed to show they do have the mental toughness to win these games. They needed to show the Phillies they will not be pushed around or disrespected.

In the ninth, Conforto came up against Hector Neris. This is the same Conforto who was booed during this season, and his ability to hit in the clutch has always been questioned. He would silence everyone with one big swing:

That was a game the Mets needed to have. In some ways, with the way the season has played out, they probably needed the hit all the more. Getting that hit and getting that win makes this the Neon Moment of the Week!

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Neon Moment Of The Week: Marcus Stroman Pitches

Despite the threat of rain, Marcus Stroman took the mound. The game would last three batters before the game was suspended. In every sense of the word, it was a washout.

Stroman bemoaned the unsafe playing conditions. He was also was frustrated by all the hard work he put in only to pitch to three batters.

Initially, like all starting pitchers, he wanted to stay on his normal routine. This led to a deluge of unfair criticism fans would not place on another player.

Knowing his team needed him with the rainouts and doubleheaders, he threw a bullpen session, and he declared himself good to go. On one day of rest, Stroman went out there and dominated:

His final line would be 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. He would also get the win. Stroman would have gone out for the seventh and final inning of the game, but he alerted Luis Rojas and the Mets staff he needed to come out of the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, he drew a walk, and he ran the bases. It should also be noted he delivered a great bat flip on the walk he drew:

So far, Stroman is having a great season. He’s developed a new pitch, and he appears poised to have a Cy Young caliber type season. So far, he’s 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, and a 3.00 K/BB.

Going back to that game, it was everything Stroman is about. He muted the noise, overcame adversity, was a great teammate, and was a fierce competitor. This, along with the great work including the Lady Liberty colored cleats, is why this is the Neon Moment of the Week!

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