Francisco Lindor helps power Mets to first series win in Cincy
The shortstop finally broke out of his slump to help lead the team to a series win over the Reds
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets defeated the Reds 3-1 to secure their first series win of the 2024 season (Box)
Francisco Lindor broke out of his slump in a big way going 2-for-5 with a HR and two runs scored
Brandon Nimmo drove in a run with a hit-by pitch for the seventh time of his career
Starling Marte also enjoyed a good day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored
Sean Manaea was not as successful as his first start but overall was still solid. His final line was 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 6 K
The bullpen combination of Jorge López, Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, and Edwin Díaz did not allow a hit in four innings of work
Jerry Grote 😢
Jerry Grote, the catcher for the 1969 Mets, passed away at the age of 81
STATEMENT FROM STEVE & ALEX COHEN ON JERRY GROTE
“We are incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Jerry Grote. The Mets Hall of Famer was the backbone of a young Mets team who captured the heart of New York City in 1969. Known as the best defensive catcher in franchise history, he was a two-time All-Star who played 12 seasons in Flushing. We are grateful that Jerry was able to reunite with his teammates one last time during the 1969 World Series reunion at Citi Field in 2019. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cheryl, family and friends.”
REACTION FROM JERRY GROTE’S TEAMMATES
Jerry Koosman: “He was the reason for my success. I have the photo in my home of me jumping into his arms after we won in 1969. I am heartbroken. No one was better behind the plate. He really controlled the game.”
Cleon Jones: “Jerry was a bulldog. He caught one of the greatest pitching staffs in the history of baseball. He was the glue that kept the staff together.”
Ed Kranepool: “He was the best defensive catcher in the NL when he played. Johnny Bench once told me ‘If he was on the Reds, I would be playing third base.’”
Ron Swoboda: “When someone stole a base on him, he took it personally. He was a superb catcher.”
Jon Matlack: “He was the best catcher I ever threw to. I don’t think I ever shook him off once. I had the pleasure of being his roommate on the road for a few years. It’s a sad day.”
Art Shamsky: “Without Jerry, we don’t win in 1969. It’s as simple as that. He was the best.”
Injury Updates 🏥
J.D. Martinez (overall body soreness) needs a couple days off and will not join the team in Atlanta
RHP Max Kranick (hamstring strain) started for Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday and threw 22 pitches
Down on the Farm 🌾
2B Luisangel Acuña (No. 3 Prospect) 1-for-4
Ben Gamel went 2-for-4 with a HR
Box Scores: Triple-A
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (3-6) vs. Braves (6-2)
Where: Truist Park - Atlanta, GA
Starters: RHP Julio Teheran (0-0, -.— ERA) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
When: 7:20 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Mets bullpen eclipsed by struggling team… ✍️
So far, not much has gone right for this Mets team as evidenced by their poor record over their first nine games of the season.
The offense has especially been dreadful with Francisco Lindor taking much of the heat (although he had an essentially important game on Sunday in their series win against the Reds) but both Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil have also not contributed much so far during this young season either.
The defense has also been shaky - an area the club harped on in the off-season - the base running has been generally poor and the starting pitching has been inconsistent with a few bright spots and a few high wire acts to open the season.
However, the one bright spot amongst all the darkness, shockingly enough, is the bullpen.
They have had to do a lot of heavy lifting so far with the starters not going deep into games, but have held their own over the first 10 days of the year. The relief corps owns a 3.86 ERA which is good for fifth in the league with most of the damage coming against Michael Tonkin, who ended up being designated for assignment. Their K/9 rate of 10.19 is third in the league and they have managed to keep the ball in the ballpark with a home run rate of 0.83 HR/9.
So far, generally so good for the Mets’ reconstructed bullpen. Yesterday alone, the Mets bullpen produced four hitless innings in relief of Sean Manaea, who is off to a very promising start himself - he just needs to start going deeper into games.
A big part of that obviously comes from the return of Edwin Díaz who is not only amazing, but a stabilizing force in the ninth inning. Despite being a bit shaky when he picked up his first save of the season, he has mostly looked like himself and the elite closer he was prior to that devastated knee injury he sustained in the World Baseball Classic last March.
In five innings pitched, Díaz already has eight strikeouts and has not given up an earned run.
Jorge López has looked like a nice addition so far and owns a 1.93 ERA in five games while Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley have been mostly fine as the two returning pieces from last season. Ottavino is a bit more volatile, notably giving up a game-tying home run last week, but he is still striking out batters at a good clip.
Granted, it is still early in the season, and there is always a chance the tide turns, but the early returns are promising especially after last year’s bullpen disaster.
Around the League 🚩
The Marlins voided the club option for manager Skip Schumaker who will become a free agent at the end of the season - they broke their 0-9 run to start their season with a 10-3 win over the Giants (USA Today)
Stephen Strasburg officially announced his retirement from baseball after struggling to return from thoracic outlet syndrome.
Reds reliever Tejay Antone will undergo a MRI on his right elbow which he injured after throwing one pitch against the Mets and after battling back from two Tommy John surgeries
Astros starter Ronel Blanco did not allow a hit until the sixth inning after throwing a no-hitter in his first start of the season
Justin Verlander gave up six runs and struck out six in his first rehab start
Yankee ace Gerrit Cole will begin a throwing program this week (ESPN)
Glad the Mets got 4 innings out of the bullpen in yesterday's game. But that will not be sustainable.
Would have like Manaea to go one more inning. He is a veteran. And was not in any real trouble.
The Mets and all of Baseball needs to stop being slaves to the pitch counts.