Jose Ryes

The Mets Have a Chance Against Madison Bumgarner

As we head to the Wild Card Game, we already know that we are going to see an epic pitching matchup between Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard.  Presumably, this game is going to be won and lost on which pitcher blinks first and allows a run.  It is going to be a daunting task for both offenses.

In Bumgarner’s career, he has made six starts against the Mets going 5-0 with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.025 WHIP.  In four starts at Citi Field, Bumgarner is 4-0 with a 0.62 ERA and a 0.828 WHIP.  Bumgarner faced the Mets twice this year with very different results.

On a May 1st game at Citi Field, Bumgarner earned the win pitching six shutout innings allowing six hits and three walks while striking out seven.  On an August 18th game at AT&T Park, in what was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel against Jacob deGrom, both pitchers struggled.  Bumgarner still got the win despite allowing six hits, four runs, four earned, and three walks with six strikeouts over just five innings.

With that in mind, looking at the recent history, the Mets do have something to build their confidence against Bumgarner as they head into Wednesday’s game.  There’s reason for confidence because the healthy Mets on the 40 man roster have actually fared well against Bumgarner:

Presumable Starting Lineup

  1. Jose Reyes 3-9
  2. Asdrubal Cabrera 3-7, 2 RBI, K
  3. Yoenis Cespedes 3-10, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, 3 K
  4. Curtis Granderson 0-3, BB, K
  5. Jay Bruce 3-23, HR, 4 RBI, 6 K
  6. T.J. Rivera 2-3
  7. Lucas Duda 0-1
  8. Rene Rivera 2-3, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
  9. Noah Syndergaard 0-2, K

Bench:

Have Never Faced Bumgarner (2016 against LHP):

Look, anytime you face Bumgarner in an elimination game, you should not feel comfortable.  In the 2014 Wild Card Game, Bumgarner pitched a complete game, four hit, one walk, 10 strikeout shutout.  In Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, Bumgarner came out of the bullpen on two days rest to throw five shutout innings to give the Giants their third World Series title in five years.

Once again, this is an even numbered year, and the Giants are once again sending Bumgarner out to the mound to begin the run to another World Series.  Standing in his way is 60’6″ postseason Syndergaard and a collection of Mets bats that have hit him well.  The Mets have a good chance to win this game.

Editor’s Note: this was first published on Mets Merized Online.

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Collins Mismanagement Lets Cespedes and Loney Off the Hook

First and foremost, Terry Collins mismanaged last night’s game, which helped lead to the Mets losing the game.  However, it is ultimately the players that decide the game on the field.  Ultimately, James Loney and Yoenis Cespedes made crucial mistakes that led to Collins’ mismanagement and the Mets loss.

Ender Inciatre led off the inning with a ground ball that dribbled through Loney’s legs.  It was a play that left Bill Buckner scratching his head.  With Inciarte reaching on the error, the Braves rally was started.  As Collins noted in the post-game, Inciarte reaching led to Collins replacing Addison Reed with Josh Smoker.  That led to Freeman’s bloop single.  Ensuing from that, Collins double switched Jeurys Familia into the game.  With Familia being poor holding runners on, it led to the Braves double steal.  Rene Rivera threw to third instead of second.  Instead of there being two outs, there was one out allowing Matt Kemp to score the run with an out instead of a hit.

It should also be noted this was Loney’s second bad defensive play of the game.  In the sixth, Bartolo Colon made a pickoff attempt.  Instead of stretching for the ball, Loney let the ball bounce away.  Colon was able to limit the damage by quickly grabbing an Ender Inciarte comebacker and catching Smith drifting too far off second.

As bad as the Loney error was, Cespedes’ lack of hustle might’ve cost the Mets even more.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cespedes hit a long flyball to left field.  Kemp raced back, jumped, and muffed the catch.  Looking at the replays, the ball was most likely going to hit the top of the wall.  Given Cespedes’ speed, there was every reason to expect him to easily be on third on the play.  Instead, Cespedes watched the ball as if he had hit it into the Fan Fest area, and he took his time jogging around the bases.  In reviewing the replay, I believe Darryl Strawberry was quicker around the bases after his home run in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.  Cespedes’ long hit would turn out to be a double instead of a triple.  That changes the entire complexity of the inning.

It is quite possible that the Braves would’ve pitched to Curtis Granderson instead of intentionally walking him.  Maybe the Braves do walk him, and they pitch to T.J. Rivera differently as they will be seeking a ground ball to get an inning ending double play instead of a strikeout.  Possibly, the Mets wouldn’t have been in position to burn Kelly Johnson, and send up Eric Campbell and Kevin Plawecki with a chance to get a lead in the game.  (Remember, Matt Reynolds wasn’t available as he came in for Jose Reyes on the Familia double switch).

It should also be noted that in the top half of the inning, Cespedes took a poor route to the Kemp fly ball, and he made a poor throw trying to get Inciarte at the plate.

So while Collins deserves every bit of blame for this loss, he’s not alone.  Collins was set in motion because Loney made an error and Cespedes failed to hustle.

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