Gsellman returned from injury last night and didn't have it: 5 ER in 3 innings. Conforto went deep, 3 for 5, drove in 3. For whatever batting average is worth, he's hitting .340.
Even if you don't call up Conforto yet, reward good play and get red hot Travis Taijeron (remember him from spring training?) up. http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t400&player_id=607369#/career/R/hitting/2016/ALL
Sandy's off-season: not signing Murphy to a long-term deal (not looking like a smart move at the moment), not getting Zobrist (he tried), then happily trading Niese for Walker (good deal) Keeping Bartolo (good!) Signing Cabrera (good!) Signing de Aza to platoon with Lagares (oops!) Signing Barstardo (disaster!) Signging Cespedes, who basically fell into Sandy's laps (great!). Sandy needs to admit his mistakes and DFA de Aza and Bastardo before Friday.
After the high of Thursday night's game, the Mets lose 2 games (plus Harvey for the year plus Noah and Cespedes for an undetermined time) and now face a must-game on Sunday if they want to stay competitive in the division. If they lose, the division is doubtful and their best hope is a Wild Card spot. They are currently a WC team but that means staying ahead of Miami, Pittsburgh and St. Louis and then (as of now) travelling to LA and facing Kershaw. Better to win the division which means that Matz needs to step it up on Sunday so the Mets go into the break 4 out instead of 6.
The 51s rotation is shitty right now. ERAs are higher in that league but there isn't anyone who immediately jumps out as the next man up.http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=400&stn=true&sid=t400 Montero just gave up 10 ERs in 3 innings. Ynoa has been poor. Gsellman was promoted from AA and then got hurt. Sandy is going to have to use his big brain to find someone. ATL is taking bids on Tehran but I don't think the Mets have enough for him. Rich Hill (OAK) might be available and he's good even though he doesn't go more than 6 innings.
Zvon wrote: I like that Rivera didn't let that go unnoticed. I think that was smart. I don't think Noah would have taken himself out. I agree. Rivera is a pro.
Season-ending surgery, that's what's next for Harvey. Per Rubin: "Scott Boras tells ESPN that Matt Harvey will undergo surgery in St. Louis with Dr. Thompson to address thoracic outlet syndrome, ending his season. Boras says this is the reason Harvey underperformed this season."
I'm reading it now. We can meet for a CPF book club. Passan says that Boras took out an insurance policy on Harvey after last season in case he has an injury that "affects free agency or ends his career." Perhaps the policy has nothing to do with the surgery decision but I'm sure that Boras will be advising Matt.
Rizzo is a classless jerk who hasn't won anything and is simply a conduit for Scott Boras. Let him win a playoff game, let alone a playoff series, before he can grandstand like that.
Frayed Knot wrote: Is this an umpire challenge, a Nats challenge, or did Don Mattingly figure he had one more challenge left and just called the stadium? Very funny! I went to an exhibition game this season in Jupiter and he came out to talk to an ump--during a practice game!