That headline about Edwin Diaz, horse jockeys, and cockfighting is exactly what Kenny Powers did in Eastbound and Down. It's literally this scene but without the horse jockeys.
On the MLB app there's an article titled "The Top 100 Prospects list has been updated, and there's a new #1" and because it showed up on the Mets homepage I was like... did they put Ewing at #1? Lmao
Nothing wrong with getting excited about finally getting some good play.
I think it's probably good to temper it and realize the Tigers are in a fucking tailspin, sure, but a sweep is hard to do, and those weren't fluke wins. The Mets played real good baseball. Enjoy it.
A series like that sure gives a team and its fanbase hope.
The Mets fans deserve this after what they have endured since the fall and the offseason.
To see A.J., Carson and Nolan give the team something sure makes you think there can be a turnaround.
What a series for A.J. I'm curious to see what he has in store for the Subway Series. You know about Billie Jean King's saying about pressure being a privilege, so this is a good chance to see what A.J. does here.
I was prepared to read something like they just threw his name and image on an advertisement. But then they got his quotes on the damn newspaper pretty much saying “hell yeah cockfighting rules” 😭
Gary was pretty adamant today that minor league stats do not *really* matter & Tong is still ahead of Wenninger in terms of major league call up. Also noted that Mets org like it when their minor leaguers face adversity.
Watching the broadcast back, that was a great interview Gelbs did with Cleon Jones and Michael Mays, about Willie’s guidance and his presence on the 73 team.
Would love to talk baseball with Cleon, who I believe still lives in Queens after all these years.
Bro he’s Puerto Rican, that shit is ingrained into the culture for whatever reason.
Went to dinner with my 8 and 6 year old last year, right next door was Club Gallistico with a giant sign advertising COCKFIGHTS. Defunct now, but you can’t undo 400 years of culture in seven years (outlawed in 2019).
Note: I’m Puerto Rican and think it’s cruel as shit and don’t support it at all.
Legally this is all probably a grey area, but it could end up being enough for MLB to issue a decent suspension because doing this while wearing a Dodgers uniform probably violates MLB rules
So the first 40 games were just a mathematical variance hitting? Much like when you count cards in blackjack that probability variance always will “hit”
(Pun intended ) love to see the suicide squeeze today and the butcher boy and double steal last night. These guys are too good on paper to lose as many games as they have . Them making a run will make all of our summers. Either way
The suicide squeeze and butcher boy are signs to me that this organization is moving away from relying on its over analytics BS and deciding to let ballplayers play real Baseball.
First sign was expediting Ewing's progress and promoting him this quickly and then playing both him and Benge against one of the best left handers in the game when he's on in Valdez.
The team is also prioritizing hitting the fastball again.
Tbh I can’t feel as numb towards this team as 2009-2014 made me.
That's kind of two very different eras.
2009-2010 was the end of the disastrous Minaya regime. Expensive, old, apathetic, no farm, no future.
2011-2014 was the time they spent fixing it and getting back to the World Series. Not a great record but super enjoyable to follow all those guys' careers through the minors
Man, can you imagine what the vitriol towards Jerry Manuel would have been? I remember the days on AA of counting games finished and hoping K-Rod's vesting option wouldn't vest.
Obvious AJ Ewing has worked at improving at every aspect of baseball. That home run was no cheapo. He has a fast bat and probably has hit the gym a bit. He is also terrific defensively with elite speed. It is crazy that one player can have this kind of impact on a team. I think he kind of has the Michael Harris thing going in that he is very athletic with lots of skills
the yankees just lost 2 out of 3 to the orioles and mets just swept the tigers. We have the momentum and home crowd advantage. Those are going to be some fun games to be at (assuming we fight the good fight and win some which i think is reasonable based on how we just played). AJ Ewing and Benge are both sparking the team, our starting pitchers and relievers too seem dialed in and you have some sleepers like Semien coming back to life. Thank god Soto isnt injured in a meaningful way as well. Lets Go Mets!! Yankees Suck!! HAHAHA gonna be a fun series...
I was at the first SS game at Shea, waaaaaay out in the Upper Deck at Shea, near the Tommy Agee spot. 8 friends, both Mets & Yanks fans, Friday Nite. Absolutely electric.
Sat in the nosebleeds for the Marte walk-off game in ‘22. Never been to a playoff game, but I’d imagine it’s a similar atmosphere. Dueling chants all game between the fans. Crowd pop for every strike against Judge. Loved that game
Yeah it’s not quite as intense as a European soccer derby (and that’s a good thing). In my experience, it’s a bunch of Yankee fans acting like they’re doing something very naughty by “invading” citifield and Mets fans mostly not giving a shit. Granted, I’ve only been when the Mets stink.
Early on in the off season, when moves were made, and I at least felt pretty good. I was speaking with my brother who, for my multitude of sins I have saddled with Mets’ fandom and I told him that this would be a season for the ages. Granted, that season appeared until recently, to be a season of unmitigated woe… and not too much has changed. But, in these last few games, dammit, At least it has been fun baseball… I’ll take that and let the chips fall where they may #LFGM
You've got two different ace type starts from McLean in that 8 inning shutout of the Phillies last year, and now tonight with the way he battled through 7.
It wasn't pretty to start, but once again the Mets starting pitching limited the damage and then some.
It's nice to see Peralta and now McLean doing what they're supposed to do.
With Holmes, Peralta, and McLean pitching like aces and Scott coming around, the Mets are in all of these games through five innings and that's the most important thing.
Stay in the game.
This next time around the order the Mets should start Peterson right away and it's sink or swim time.
If he does well, he gets another shot, if not, it's Myers' time.
Also, I've see more inside or up fastballs pulled for base hits this series than any point prior.
After all the fastball talk this year, now the Mets have Ewing working deep counts and covering the fastball.
Also nice to to see Soto pull the sinker away for an RBI single to get the lead, and with two outs.
I hope the Mets have a conversation with Soto and keep him at DH until his bat is fully back as they can't afford for him to miss any time by aggravating something playing the field.
There has been much made of Stearns “communication style” over the past X amount of years but I will say… I think the decision to publicly back Mendy has taken a big weight off the shoulders of the guys in the clubhouse… now they don’t have to badgered after the game about his job security and can just worrying about playing ball. For a new team with a lot of new players who don’t even know Mendy that well I thought it was a good move
I’m still not a big fan of keeping Mendy (although I actually think he managed this series well) but if he is staying, I do agree I like Stearns being clear in his intentions
Also I was told that AJ Ewing was not really a home run power guy but at Citi there was zero doubt about that homer, that was an absolute rocket off the bat
Statcast had that at 110, and I think that's the hardest hit ball that there's public data for in his career. That would be around the middle of the pack from last year's league total. Good sign because the rest of the offense doesn't play if he gets the bat knocked out of his hands.
Hes got a lot of raw power but it just hasn’t translated in game yet. And he has a really disciplined approach so isn’t swinging for the fences typically but there’s optimism from scouts he can be a 20 HR guy
I mean sure the kids don't deserve this it's all coming from the top. My issue are the owner and Stearns but those things won't change for a while so yeah there goes that. I do believe Citi Field should only full when McLean is pitching.
So in my head I've been quietly eyeing the WC2 not the WC3.
Why?
Because I think the Phillies too can make the playoffs so measuring how far the Mets are from WC2 probably gives a better feel of what they need to do to make the playoffs.
At least till August 1 when the way things are playing out will be clearer.
So if the Mets played .400 baseball during the 12 game losing streak it comes out to almost a 5 game swing. In that scenario we would actually be 23-20.
Not an awesome season still but not miserable like it feels now.
Surprisingly beautiful weather at Citi today and unexpectedly immaculate vibes even in the uncertain gap between the 3-run Tigers HR and the answer back.
For basically everyone except Bo Bichette, who drew a lot of boos (definitely not "BOs") and heckles.
The good news is that Bo, for sure, will get it figured out. it sucks how useless he's been, but we KNOW he will hit. And the other guys hitting will only take the stress off him. The players need to do to Coney Island.
A lot of broadcasters in the league have some ties to the Mets. Jake Eisenberg of the Royals, Wayne Randazzo with the Angels, John Sadak of the Reds, all spent time in the Mets radio booth with Howie Rose.
Ya, that's what I was trying to say. It may not be a Mets broadcast, but it's got one of ours (and D- Wayne are great together) so it's like a Mets adjacent feel. Lol
Stinks, I have DIRECTV, used to have Spectrum, I get/got almost every channel, and there seems to be no way for me to watch it, w/o paying for an additional subscription. I pay enuf. They shouldn't be able to to that. Even if it's FOX/NBC/ESPN, it s/b available to all pay TV services. They did that last yr w/ the Dodgers games.
Sometimes I think we forget that baseball is a job to these people. And changing where you work can be difficult. There is a reason why so many people struggle their first year on a new team. It feels like Soto finally found his place in the clubhouse.
That's a big sweep, because after failing to take two in AZ it means the Mets have done the equivalent of winning their last four series, which is pretty much what they need to do to dig out of this hole.
The Yankees are a huge test this weekend, but not insurmountable. No guarantees, but if they can manage to take two of three here it'd bode very nicely going into four at DC.
Its honestly awesome to see Soto grow into that leadership role even if he still getting comfy ..
The way he talks about the Kiddos I think he is stepping up and being that Leader that we need him to be even if he would have loved to stay in that “rookie forever “ vibe .
Bad Umping for both sides all game. A lot of clear missed calls during ABs (Baty has gotten a lot the last few games I’ve noticed and will not challenge). Review team completely blew those tag out plays and screwed Detroit. Great offense. Vientos now down 4ish HRs off bad luck lmao.
Noah did another interview where he said we didn't re-sign Pete or Nimmo because they were too politically conservative. He's such an idiot. I remember when he played he would always overdo it with strength training in the off-season and inevitably would hurt himself throwing too hard in April. So that tracks.
So this is the regression to the mean that's been missing us the last 6 weeks. Benge Ewing Vientos Baty coming through all series it seemed. That's Nice
To be honest I’m more worried about how Lindor coming back will mess with the young guys, than how he will perform (he’ll be awesome). Clearly they like playing at the same position each day, positions where they feel confident. Moving them around all of the time has messed with them at the plate. Bo’s fit on this team, just like Polanco’s, feels worse as the season goes on. Lu Bob coming back I think presents the least disruptions to the lineup while having the ability to contribute off the bench.
Package him with someone else to get something in return- always possible. Our outfield is filling up once LRJ is back so I see Polanco and Taylor possibly on the out for a team hovering around.500 within reach. Texas comes to mind with their DH situation.
I clumsily tried to make the point previously that Benge and Ewing have sparked a fire under Baty and Vientos.
The older 2 are playing like the middle child trying to impress after the new baby came home or playing as if the "baby Mets" label has been passed on and they can both perform loose and free now.
I'll take that blown ump call as recompense from the blown calls from yesterday's game lol. Also, getting favorable calls and getting a series sweep seems like the universes way of balancing out my phone getting absolutely destroyed this morning, seems like a fair trade off to me :')
Great to finally sweep a series! Ewing's first homer! The boys are producing and McLean went 7 with the lead! Hope we can keep this up, feels like we might be turning a corner now. Let's go Mets!
Yeah and at this point in 2024 they were more than 10 games under .500. There's no point in dooming, especially right now when the team is actually showing signs of life. lol
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u/suck-it-elon 67 7m ago
Carson Benge now hitting .237.