Edgy MD

Yeah, they could have won it in the sixth, seventh or eighth, but either — and every — way, that win was punt-tastic.

Walkoff LIndor gets Howie to yell, "They shower him with sunflower seeds and who knows what else!" Yuck, Howie.

Winning run on third, no force outs on the bases, that's when you WANT a guy swinging 3-and-0.

NOW Ewing takes 3-and-0.

ALVERINO!!! WITH RUNNERS ON BASE AND STUFF!!!

Pache running ... for Polanco?

Cruz has that 100 in his arm, but didn't throw Polanco a single fastball.

Now let's get Pache pinch-running.

I'm afraid that Yan might not get that Rhodes scholarship he was counting on.

No man is a punt. Abimelec tags first for out number three in an inning where we has to try hard not to score.

Kinda tempted to pinch-run Arias for Bichette.

Ugh. Burning baserunners.

It's like the Mets develop guys with great batting eyes, and then train them at the big-league level to resist that sensibility. Force this bullpen to throw as many pitches as possible.

Who had Ewing swinging 3-0?

I dinna care how much you love to dive-slide, Pickney, you just kinna run on Carson Benge.

Man, I went and walked the dogs, and bad things just happen when I do that.

He has certainly gotten the job done through the fifth. I mean, that's what the screen says. I get blacked out, as per use.

The Fielding Bible has The 2026 Mets at 2 defensive runs save at first base, which isn't turning a season around (not a season like this, anyhow) one way or another, but it's 10th in all of MLB. Last season, they were 29th, with -10 defensive runs saved (which maybe should be called 10 defensive runs squandered). I don't know how authoritative that is, but they are a Bible.

Just to be clear — we are still, somehow, in a season in which Craig Kimbrell played for the Mets.

Here I am, Lord. Slingmaster Brad Lord RHP 5-2, 3.79 ERA, 56 SO Lineup Dylan Crews (R) RF Andrés Chaparro (R) 1B Brady House (R) 3B CJ Abrams (L) SS Harry Ford (R) C Jacob Young (R) CF Daylen Lile (L) DH Nasim Nuñez (S) 2B Andrew Pinckney (R) LF Kingchucker Sean Manaea LHP 4-5, 4.13 ERA, 106 SO Lineup A.J. Ewing (L) CF Francisco Lindor (S) SS Bo Bichette (R) 3B Carson Benge (L) RF Jared Young (L) 1B Marcus Semien (R) 2B Brett Baty (L) LF Jorge Polanco (S) DH Francisco Alvarez (R) C

A lot of things are maybe going to happen. But one thing that isn't going to happen is a union that saw Juan Soto set the bar at $51 million per year for 15 years acceding to a five-year maximum for free-agency contracts.

In the Mets own division: In Atlanta there's Matt Olson, who seems for all the world like a pure firstbaseman, but he spent half his time in the outfield in the minors. Philadelphia is playing Alec Bohm over there, moving him from third to accommodate Luis Arraez playing second, forcing Brandon Scott to move to third. Bohm going to first forces their superstar firstbaseman back into the outfield, from where he moved to first at 31 despite having played a total of 1/3 of an inning there previously in an emergency situation. He had earlier in his career moved from catcher, where he played in junior college, to center, to right, to first, and now back in right. Miami's most frequent occupant of first base this season has been Kyle Stowers, who has spent all of nine out of his total 3,700+ minor-league innings at the cold corner. And here we are playing Washington, breaking in a brand-new first baseman, a converted outfielder who is not situated where he is because his experience and nuanced dexterity make him a fine asset. He's there because he's hitting like a mofo but he's too hefty to put anywhere else. Folks don't play first because they're good at and experienced at playing first. They play there because they can hit and lefthandedness and/or defensive limitations relative to the other eight guys make them poor choices to play elsewhere. The Mets had the best defensive firstbaseman in history, but when his bat stopped being effective, his glove couldn't stop them from getting rid of him, and Cleveland quickly realized they were right. The Rays have baseball's best record, and they're playing a guy at first who was a middle infielder up until he reached the cusp of the majors. And then there's Scott Hatteberg, whose experience concerns over his move to first were so overblown, somebody made a movie about it. So yeah, when looking for someone to play first, I have no problem with considering everybody to be candidates. Guys transitioning from third, catcher, shortstop, weak-side linebacker, goaltender, fishmonger, lumberjack ... if they can hit, they're a candidate to play first.

I think the Major Leagues are filled with firstbasemen who ended up there after sliding over from other positions. Some did in high school. Some did in the minors, and some did in the majors, often well into their careers.

Sean Manea against TBD tomorrow. MLB should have a filler name like "Alan Smithee" to put on the schedule whenever they don't know who's pitching. Sean Manaea against LEO JARVIS tomorrow. Much better.