MLB Daily: Meet the Mets; Rays and Jays Trade Beanballs; Chicken Finger Delays Game
By Mike Cardillo
A light slate of Thursday games means you’re beloved, must-click, MLB Daily will take a somewhat lighthearted approach to the diamond this fine Friday morning. Enjoy!
Time to Sing at Citi: Good morning America. Say hello to your first place New York Metropolitans! That is meant with utter sincerity, too. As mentioned before I live within the shadow of New York, aka the epicenter of the whole “LOL Mets” thing. Yes, I get it. It’s fun to laugh at everything the Mets do — the Wilpons make it insanely easy with dutiful regularity. Yes, Bartolo Colon has a gut and it’s funny to see him swing a baseball bat. Etc. Etc. Etc.
But I happen to know enough people who follow the Mets and guess, what … they’re people too. (And often very devoted to their favorite team despite its constant and public foibles.)
So yeah … it’s only April 17 but after beating the Marlins Thursday night the Mets are alone atop the NL East, half a game better than the Braves thanks to a 7-3 record. Is it going to last? I doubt it. But there’s nothing wrong with letting some woebegone fans enjoy a brief moment. Why not be grateful the owners of your favorite professional team weren’t duped in a notorious Ponzi scheme?
The Mets do have pitching — a 2.79 staff ERA through nine games is nice — and every fifth day Matt Harvey throws, which makes New Yorkers giddy with excitement. (Allow them to have this.) Harvey, Colon, Jon Neise and Jacob deGrom each have ERAs under 2.80 through their first two starts. The Mets’ bullpen is getting it done now, but I’d imagine the likes of Jerry Blevins and Carlos Torres will allow a run at some point this year.
Losing David Wright’s presence for at least 15 days to a hamstring injury puts a damper on the Mets’ play, but in order to win good teams deal with injuries. The Mets track record with injuries is terrible and the fans booed the head trainer on Opening Day … oh wait, I’m trying to be nice.
If nothing else, “Meet the Mets” is one of the best theme songs in professional sports. Sing it with me!
And with Don Draper!
And with Mike & the Mad Dog! (h/t)
The point is… uhh … more pro teams need singalongs. The Mets can share some of theirs:
On Bryant: So the Cubs, working within their own best interest via baseball’s CBA, waited the requisite time to leave Kris Bryant in Triple A and call him up so they’ll have him under team control an addition season. He’s locked into the clean up spot this afternoon at Wrigley vs. the Cubs. Although it’s infuriating that a great prospect starts the year in the minors, but its the only logical move if you’re running a baseball operation. Sad and stupid, yes, but ultimately smart given the system. Sigh.
Without Bryant the Cubs are 5-3 and tied with the Cardinals in first place in the NL Central. Offensively Chicago is 21st in runs scored (32) but middle of the pack in most other counting stat categories. Bryant figures to slide in at third and send Mike Olt to a quick DFA after posting a .133/.188/.333 line in 16 plate appearances. So, in simple terms, if Bryant is half as good as the hype and his minor league numbers (55 homers in 181 games), he’s a major upgrade over Olt regardless of his defense.
Even with Bryant — whatever he does in the Majors — the Cubs lineup still doesn’t blow you away on paper. The every day regulars are: Miguel Montero, Anthony Rizzo, Arismendy Alcantara, (Bryant), Starlin Castro, Jorge Soler, Chris Coughlan and Dexter Fowler. That’s not a lineup, even in the Senior Circuit, that screams playoffs quite yet. Then again playoffs in modern baseball means fifth-best out of 15.
The Cubs are a romantic team for waxing poetic, what with the 1908 World Series drought and such, but let’s not jump the gun.
Rhyme rivals?: The Rays and Jays don’t spring to mind as one of baseball’s most-heated rivalries, but that could change after last night’s beanball wars at the Rogers Centre. Watch:
Chris Archer, who struck out 11 in seen scoreless innings, hit Russell Martin and later Edwin Encarnacion. The Jays retaliated via Marco Estrada plunking Evan Longoria. Everyone got mad, as usual. Afterward the usual anger and whatnot spewed out to reporters.
The most telling quote came from Longoria, via the National Post: ““It should make for an interesting rest of the year.”
Step aside Yankees/Red Sox … Rays-Jays is the series to watch in the AL East in 2015.
Why Did the Chicken Finger Cross the Road: Sorry that is a terrible intro, but an errant chicken finger at AT&T Park delayed last night’s D’backs-Giants game in the 12th inning.
Baseball is the best!
This & That: Jose Reyes left Thursday’s game with a ribcage injury. … The Giants have lost seven straight. … Colorado sports the third-best staff ERA at 2.41. Go figure. … This is simply my own eyes making an observation, but teams have played awful defense across baseball to start the season.
Weekend Series to Watch: The Padres go to Chicago to take on the Cubs in a rematch of the 1984 NLCS — bring back the brown and mustard McDonald’s uniforms! This match up is fun since both teams were super buzzy in the offseason. Beware Jon Lester throws to first base. And hey, that Bryant dude makes his debut this afternoon!
Possible idea: Since the season is long I’d like to have something like a “Fan Friday” or “Reader Friday” where someone can say their piece about whatever baseball issue, topic or team they want. I’ll have to figure out a way to make it feasible. Get @ me on Twitter.
[WorkYard]