The Sandman Cameth

Whoa, it’s September, how did that happen? I’ll be working like always, but why don’t you relax and take a load off. Then treat yourself to a paid subscription!

The Mets finished their highest-scoring month in franchise history by going 11-17 in said month, losing a four-game series to the Marlins after sweeping the Phillies. Yesterday’s final score was 5-1 Miami.

Kodai Senga didn’t have it, whereas Sandy Alcantara did. While the ghost fork practitioner was able to pump it up to 98 mph after he said he wasn’t getting proper leg strength, he still ended up giving up five earned runs in four and two thirds innings. In the first, a Jakob Marsee walk and Augistín Ramirez single set up an Otto Lopez sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. After striking out the side in the second, Senga with two outs permitted a Marsee double to right center, then served up a dinger to Ramirez. Another run scored in the fourth when Liam Hicks doubled and Herbierto Hernández singled him in. At that point, Senga heard boos from the sellout crowd (it was Blippi Day.) The score became 5-0 Miami in the fifth when, after Javier Sanoja doubled, Xavier Edwards bunted the ball to Brett Baty, who threw to first base where Jeff McNeil was late to cover, resulting in an error and Sanoja crossing home plate. After walking Lopez, Brandon Waddell took over the pitching duties. He proceeded to pitch the remaining four and one third frames, allowing just three hits while completely shutting out the fishies. Naturally, he must be a goner. 

Alcantara ended up throwing seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits. He’s had a rough year but lately had been good again, and sadly he continued his renaissance against the Metsies. The Mets didn’t really do anything until the sixth. Juan Soto singled, advanced to second on a disengagement violation, then stole his 26th bag of the year. Brandon Nimmo walked, but Pete Alonso grounded into a fielder’s choice to end that inning. Things got a bit chippy in the seventh. After Jeff McNeil led off with a single, Alcantara hit Mark Vientos with a pitch. Vientos took exception to it for reasons that remain unknown, and neither did Alcantara, who told Swaggy V to just go to first base already. Benches and bullpens cleared, but no punches were thrown. It’s rare they ever do. This quasi-donnybrook didn’t motivate the Mets to do too much. Baty and Cedric Mullins hit back-to-back 4-6 fielder’s choices, the latter scoring McNeil. Pinch hitter Starling Marte struck out looking for the third out. Calvin Faucher and Freddy Tarnok handled the eighth and ninth for Miami.

The Mets play the Marlins in Miami for the last series of the regular season. That’s suddenly a scary thought.

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From his first start of the season up until June 12th, the day Senga got hurt running to first base to cover an errant Alonso throw, Senga’s ERA was 1.59. While some regression was bound to happen, it’s jarring to see that his ERA in the nine starts he made after he returned from the injured list is 5.90. After the game, Carlos Mendoza said re: Senga “I'm pretty sure we're going to have some discussion, what's next for him.” That sounds like he might not make his next start.

Brandon Waddell was called up, Chris Devenski was sent down. Devenski has been sent down five times this season. In 12 games this year he has a 2.30 ERA. Not really fair for Devo.

Reed Garrett (right elbow inflammation) is going through his throwing progression and Mendoza thinks that Garrett can return soon after his 15-day IL stint ends on September 9th. 

Sean Manaea adorably attempted to feed Jonah Tong sunflower seeds.

Some members of the team picked their favorite potato chip flavors on Instagram.

Major league rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players today - one extra position player and one extra pitcher. Jon Heyman reported that Luisangel Acuña will meet the team in Detroit. I predict that Jared Young will join him with Ronny Mauricio, who isn’t doing anything right now, going back to Syracuse. As far as the pitching goes, I think Brandon Waddell will get sent down and Justin Hagenman and Richard Lovelady will make their triumphant returns. Also, it’s possible that Francisco Alvarez and his eight functioning fingers will be activated with Hayden Senger returning upstate.

PIX11/SNY once again showed a graphic that outlined how much the bullpen has been worked since June 13th, the day after Senga’s injury. Since June 13th entering yesterday (that’s 67 games), starters tossed 313.1 innings, which is the fewest in MLB. Relievers threw 275.1, which is the second most in the league. It’s not what you want.

You might be wondering how the Mets went 11-17 in their highest-scoring month ever. Here’s a clue:

The Phillies signed Walker Buehler, who was released by the Red Sox earlier this week. He’ll be eligible for the postseason. Some Met fans wanted the Mets to sign him, but I’m not really bummed he goes to the division rivals. His postseason resume is impressive, but there’s a reason why the contending Red Sox let him go, you know?

Last night was the debut of the MLB Network documentary on Lindor, titled Behind the Smile: Francisco Lindor. Like with most docs about subject matter I’m familiar with, I was distracted by what was apparently left on the cutting room floor. For example, while Lindor’s 2021 season had “controversy”, they only went into the “thumbs down” incident. You’d think getting into a physical fight with a teammate would merit at least a mention. Imagine how great it would have been if they got Jeff McNeil to say on camera that he’s grown to respect Lindor after all these years, instead of making zero mention of McNeil at all. I also didn’t love the ending with Joel Sherman comparing Lindor to Derek Jeter. Let Jeets stay in Yankeeography land, okay? Let Lindor be the next Lindor. Otherwise, it was decent. It was nice watching 2024 highlights, even if it left out Alonso’s home run in Milwaukee. That and Lindor’s Off the Wall phase.

Mets Reddit recommends seeing the new Austin Butler/Darren Aronofsky flick Caught Stealing. Apparently there are a lot of 1998 Mets references.

The Phillies lost to Atlanta, who got upgraded to Ever So Slightly Useful. The Reds ended a five-game losing streak. I added the head-to-head records of the competing teams against the Mets because that’s the first tiebreaker to determine who the wild cards are, as well as Baseball Reference’s predictive odds. 

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets (67-65) shutout the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees affiliate) 3-0. Francisco Alvarez went 1 for 5 with an infield single and three strikeouts. He caught all nine innings. Five relievers combined to throw the three-hitter: Jonathan Pintaro, Justin Garza, Dom Hamel, Austin Warren, and Carlos Guzman. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies (82-42) beat the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) 4-1. 2B AJ Ewing and DH Jacob Reimer both doubled in the victory. RHP R.J. Gordon allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings of work. He walked nary a soul and struck out nine.

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones (71-55) fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) by a score of 8-3. C Ronald Hernandez went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk. RHP Jose Guevara got the loss. In two innings he served up six earned runs on four hits, walking four and striking out one. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets (75-50) defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers) 3-1. DH Jose Siri (broken leg) went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Six St. Lucie pitchers combined to give up zero earned runs: Truman Pauley (so close to Truman Capote…), Oliver Ortega, Omar Victorino, Wilson Lopez, Ernesto Mercedes, and Christian Rodriguez. 

This afternoon the Mets start a series with the Tigers in Detroit. Sean Manaea (1-2, 5.01 ERA) will get the starting nod for New York (NL). Charlie “Ground Chuck” Morton (9-10, 5.25 ERA) will toss the ball 60 feet 6 inches for the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and out of market on MLB Network. 

Notable head-to-head stats vs. Charlie Morton:

Pete Alonso 7 for 35 

Francisco Lindor 8 for 50  2 HR

Jeff McNeil 7 for 30  2 HR

Brandon Nimmo 8 for 33  HR

Juan Soto 8 for 14  3HR

Mark Vientos 5 for 7  HR