Postmortem thoughts on the Game!!!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

* Didn't like the bunt to set up Cuddyer especially the way he -- and Flores -- had been swinging. Although the sac "worked" looked like they had a shot at second base anyway. Would we all have preferred a steal?

* That said, Wright needs to be suxesful when he attempts, or not.

* Shame Familia had to blow it on a "quick pitch" -- that has to be executed as well as the rest of his stuff or don't do it. Didn't seem like there was anything Familia-like on that pitch but the delivery.

* I suppose we'll see Lagares in CF and less of Conforto given the way the 2 of them have been going in the ps. Conforto probably better as DH than Johnson anyway.

* Have to make the plays in the field, goes without saying.

* Nice game for Zobrist, that non-Met.

* Harvey was pretty good after a poor start control wise -- no whiffs thru 3 I don;t think, but the 2-out hit to let them tie, no bueno.

* Good work by the bp all the way, nothwithstanding what I said about Hovvey's inability to get that one shut-up out he needed, I would try to delay the whole thing by an inning if we could.

* Need dominant deGrom tonight, and at least a couple of home runs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think I said in the IGT that I would have preferred having Flores try to hit a double than have him give up the out in favor of Cuddyer, who's been stone cold.

Conforto's been cold too, but he's at least been putting the ball in play pretty well. I prefer him as the DH over Johnson, but that's only an issue in one out of the next four games. When they get back to New York, I imagine that Conforto will be in the lineup (at least to start) over Lagares. But maybe starting Juan makes more sense. Although Conforto's decent in the outfield Lagares is better, and he is wielding the hotter bat lately.

I don't think the fact that it was a "four-out save" is the reason Familia gave up the home run. (I know you didn't raise that as an issue but someone did in the IGT.) Jeurys was well-rested, and hadn't thrown a lot of pitches to that point. I chalk the homer up to the fact that human beings can be fallible.

Can't really judge on one game, but Zobrist looks like he has the potential to be the pain-in-the-ass that Justin Turner was in the NLDS.

I'm pretty confident about the next two pitching matchups, less so about Game 4. My hunch is that this series will be tied after four games, and it will become a best-of-three, with two of those games in Kansas City. And started by Harvey, deGrom, and Syndergaard, which makes that prospect a whole lot less daunting.

The Mets have much superior starting pitching. I think they still have to be favored to win this thing, although it won't be easy. (Nor should we expect it to be.)

[Guest cooby]

Real life question we noticed when watching game---has David Wright lost weight?

[soupcan]

I like Grimm's assessment.

RE: Familia - On the bright side, that won't happen again.

Liked what I saw from Duda.

That debacle between Cespedes & Conforto in the first was ridonculous. Seriously, how does that happen in a WS game?

These Royals are a pesky bunch and have scouted the Mets staff well but from what I saw, it looks like Mets pitchers know what to do and are capable of doing it.

If deGrom is deGrominant tonight, the Royals are back on their heels and the Metropolitans are sitting pretty.

[ashie62]

cooby wrote: Real life question we noticed when watching game---has David Wright lost weight?

No, just ability.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think I said in the IGT that I would have preferred having Flores try to hit a double than have him give up the out in favor of Cuddyer, who's been stone cold.

Agree, especially since Wilmer seemed to be locked in last night. He hit the ball hard a few times, but that darn KC scouting report had the defense set up to take hits away. In fact, their defensive positioning was good throughout the game. (At least from what I heard on radio. I was at work.)

Has FOX blamed the TV blackout on Obama yet?

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

Yeah, there was a lot to like.

I mean, stuff happens, and at least the HR Familia gave up was a no-doubter.

That screwup in the outfield on the very first pitch was inexcusable. But so was throwing a dead-red fastball down the middle to the hottest hitter this side of Daniel Murphy, who ALWAYS swings at the first pitch. If Fox Sports knows not to do that, why didn't Harvey?

I like the aggression on the basepaths.

Put Cuddyer in a corner of the dugout and cover him with tarps. Please.

Bartolo and Niese did admirably, holding the fort for 5 innings anyway.

Wright, yeah, he looks like he's lost something. They're not afraid to pitch to him when things are on the line.

Too many scoring opportunities wasted. But if they grind it out, they can beat this team. Harvey adjusted and was getting them out. deGrom's going to have to do that on the fly as well.

[Ceetar]

I didn't like Johnson as the DH to begin with, and pretty sure I would've gone with Cespedes-Lagares-Granderson in the outfield. If you want Conforto in there, DH him.

I'm torn, both broadcasts (Before the hostile takeover) mentioned the low % of fastballs. That's probably a reason for the low Ks. I'm not sure I like that. It feels like playing into the narrative of the Royals hitting heaters (they don't, they just do it better than everyone else). To me, go with your best and see if they still don't strikeout a ton.

David Wright was kinda brutal, hopefully he got those nerves out or whatever because he hasn't looked like that roughly at all since coming back.

[seawolf17]

I wasn't impressed with Harvey; even without knowing the numbers, you could see he wasn't throwing his hard stuff. And I have to figure that was the plan -- you heard all weekend about how well the Royals hit hard stuff -- but you've got to dance with the girl that brought you, kid.

Can't fault Familia for the HR. Happens.

No more Cuddy. He's a good guy, a team player, David Wright's friend, fine. But if you're going to bunt Flores in that spot, you HAVE to PH for him, because he's been awful lately. What happened to the "if you don't hit, you don't play," Terry? Why not go to Uribe if you're going to PH a righty in the late innings?

The only thing I can think on the ITPHR is that it was the first pitch, it was really loud, and Conforto's a kid who needed to get the hell out of there and let his centerfielder make that play unimpeded.

Duda looked good with the exception of that AB in the 12th, which was awful.

Also Joe Buck is terrible and I actually thought that FOX would respond to the deluge of tweets and leave the international team on.

[Ceetar]

I don't think Cespedes was ever catching that ball. I guess you credit to the Royals fans and a little bit of inexperience between the two out there playing together. Seemed like Cespedes thought Conforto was going to catch it and then realized he'd pulled up, and that's what caused the awkward backhand/bounce of the leg (which the broadcast never mentioned that it bounced off him)

[HahnSolo]

Lefty Specialist wrote: But so was throwing a dead-red fastball down the middle to the hottest hitter this side of Daniel Murphy, who ALWAYS swings at the first pitch. If Fox Sports knows not to do that, why didn't Harvey?

Verducci was all over this, but I don't get the outrage. If the ball was caught, as it should have been, it's the first out. It's not like he hit it 480 feet.

[Centerfield]

Fuck Game 1.

Win Game 2.

[Edgy MD]

I don't know who Robles and Gilmartin have to sleep with to get the ball, but if Terry's going to his starters out of the pen, try and get long outings out of them. Not necessary to go to Reed (or maybe even Clippard) when Niese is dealing. Try and get him to bridge the lead as far as he can. He gives up a baserunner or so in the seventh and has a righty coming up, then go to Reed.

Very pinteresting that two of the Mets run-scoring plays came on shots down the line that the corner infielders got a glove on but failed to come up with, instead, knocking the ball into foul territory and crawling after it. If the Royals are sharper with their gloves, maybe Granderson's homer is all the scoring the Mets get. On the other hand, there were plenty of hard-hit balls the Royals did get to.

Grandy's effort on the game-winning sacrifice fly really shows you how locked in he is on winning this. I have half a mind to name him co-captain.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Centerfield wrote: Fuck Game 1. Win Game 2.

YEAH! Take one on the road and all that bbbyyy.
Let's Go METS!!!

[TransMonk]

I can't help thinking this was a game the Mets gave away and could have easily won minus a few miscues.

Cespedes should have gotten a better jump on that ball.

Familia made a mistake. They're few and far between, but that wasn't the point that you wanted to see that. I don't disagree with the 3+ out save, but the more you run him out there, the more chances you have of making the rare mistake.

I'm concerned about Wright.

Lots of good things happened last night, too. Grandy, Murphy, Duda, Lagares, Reed, Clippard, Niese all gave performances to be excited about.

[Edgy MD]

[list:odgrfeyg][*:odgrfeyg]I think Terry's going to be as quick to pivot as we all demand. Laggy WILL be in center tonight. Conforto WILL be the DH. Uribe will be the guy double switched in if the Royals go to a lefty.

For what it's worth, I think going to Laggy in Game Two was the plan all along. National League managers like to switch up who they use at DH in the World Series, anyhow. And Terry ended up going to Laggy relatively early anyhow in Game One to protect Conforto from the lefty. But I suspect it was as much or almost as much to protect Cespedes from his erratic defense.

[/*:m:odgrfeyg]
[*:odgrfeyg]I'm very nervous the Cespedes shoulder impingement was a relevant part of the play, that it's still bothering him, that his golfing is a contributing factor, and that he may be playing the Mets out of a World Championship just as surely as he may be playing himself out of a monster contract. I realize he's the sort of big dog that you just let off the leash and take the good with the bad, but some of his wild hacks have looked as ugly as that play out in left center.[/*:m:odgrfeyg][/list:u:odgrfeyg]

[Ceetar]

Lagares' arm is still shot too unfortunately.

who's turn is it to unplug the Fox truck?

[Edgy MD]

Lagares isn't a perfect solution, but he may be the better one.

Aren't you advocating for the Cespedes-Lagares-Granderson alignment up there in this very thread?

[metirish]

Need to win tonight, last night, ugh....just seeing horrible at bats from Cruddyer and Cespedes kills ...great bullpen work to get to Familia

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Lagares isn't a perfect solution, but he may be the better one. Aren't you advocating for the Cespedes-Lagares-Granderson alignment up there in this very thread?

yeah, sorry, wasn't detracting. He's probably the better one but he's not the "OMG LOOK AT THAT THROW GOLDEN BOY" lock that I picture him as sometimes. 2014 Juan maybe throws out that second run. (And you know, Cespedes might too)

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Wright doesn't seem to be worrying me the way he does everyone else. Made a mistake, but ultimately his good D has helped more than hurt. And a lot of Mets' batters looked hopeless, some worse than Wright.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

If there's any positive to take away it's that we made a bunch of mistakes we don;t usually make, hit only 1 XBH, and it still took them 14 innings to beat us. So suck it, Kansas City.

[Lefty Specialist]

Yeah, I get the feeling that deGrom can settle things in, Cueto gets roughed up, and they go back to NY 1-1.

And maybe I get some sleep tonight.

[soupcan]

Lefty Specialist wrote: And maybe I get some sleep tonight.

That'd be nice.

[Ceetar]

soupcan wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: And maybe I get some sleep tonight. That'd be nice.

Don't count on it.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Pissed this one away so hard. Was scared that first run would be meaningful and of course it was.

I'm with Grimmy on Familia. Despite seeing him trot out to the mound all season on those massive horse legs, so close to an actual centaur that A-Rod would be envious, he apparently is still 100% human. I can't believe how calm I've been (and probably will be) every time he's had the ball this postseason. Keep doing you, big horse human, and we'll come out ahead way more than not.

Speaking of calm, how calm did Bartolo look at he constantly pitched with opposition runners swarming on the bases behind him? Looks like he could've been in a backyard wiffle ball game. Feels funny to give much praise to the losing pitcher, but he and Niese both pitched pretty well considering.

Was very surprised Terry didn't try to get one more inning out of Harv at 80 pitches. Worked out just fine, but surprised me just the same. Harvey K'd 2 and we struck 11 guys total in 14 innings. Against the Dodgers and Cubs, it woulda been like 100 K's (my math might be off). I said in the IGT that outs-in-play were keeping Harvey's pitch count pretty tidy, and that could work in our favor this series to cut the distance to Familia. Still think it can.

Love you David, get your shit together. Like, now. Please.

Coach Cuddyer looks like an actual coach now, taking hacks against guys he used to play with to keep in 'a little bit of shape' and remember what it used to feel like to be at the top of one's profession. Robles, Gilmartin, squeeze closer and make room for one more.

... and Yoenis. We need you, baby. Hit the Golf N' Stuff this morning to get your head right, drive your weird Batman car all around KC, whatever it takes. BE HAPPY AND CRUSH BASEBALLS (and catch em, too).

LGM

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure that pulling Harvey worked out all that fine, but it played out as it played out. But perhaps if Harvey goes one more inning, we compress our bullpen needs, and the one batter who tied the game never comes to bat.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure that pulling Harvey worked out all that fine, but it played out as it played out. But perhaps if Harvey goes one more inning, we compress our bullpen needs, and the one batter who tied the game never comes to bat.

Yeah, agreed. Seemed like an advantage we earned and chose not to use. Maybe after the shaky 6th, Terry just thought Harv was done.

[Edgy MD]

Some guy on Twitter reports the following hard-to-verify statistic:

Pitches Chris Young has thrown 90 MPH+, by Year

2008: 36
2009: 0
2010: 0
2011: 0
2012: 0
2013: 0
2014: 0
2015: 8 (all last night)

I shoulda gone to Princeton.

[Ceetar]

• 2008: 36
  2009: 0
  2010: 0
  2011: 0
  2012: 0
  2013: 0
  2014: 0
  2015: 8 (all last night)

I shoulda gone to Princeton.

Some guy on Twitter reports the following hard-to-verify statistic: Pitches Chris Young has thrown 90 MPH+, by Year

Why is it hard to verify?

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=3196&position=P&pitch=FA