After getting hung out to dry by Plawecki on the third strike wild pitch, Harvey gets great throws and a ridiculous break when they don't overturn the out call at home plate. I am a definite supporter of replay, but it's clear to me that they're way too biased against overturning the call on the field. Unless the Mets score three or four runs now they'll probably be losing soon anyway.
Great pitching by Bastardo and Familia and a great play by Campbell to end it, split the four-game series, and move into first place.
Good win. Matt came to play, and Bastardo and Familia looked good too. It was great to see Kevin Mitchell in the booth. He and Ronnie gave some great insight into the '86 team. Cashen got too smart for his own good letting Ray Knight go[a fav of mine], and making Mitchell the fall guy for the off field shenanigans of the team. It looks like Mitchell managed things better than Straw and Doc did in the end too
I thought he was out, the glove touched his forearm before his fingers came down on home plate. Plawecki could have made a better play on it, that's for sure.
Don't agree at all about Knight - he played two more seasons in his career and was absolutely terrible (slash line .242/.297/.348). He wanted a two-year deal with a raise, and they offered him a one-year deal at the same salary, which was absolutely the right thing to do, as they knew they had his replacement waiting in the wings. Over the next five years Howard Johnson was one of the top third basemen in baseball, with a .258/.347/.492 slash line (averaging 31 HR, 95 RBI, and 32 steals per year), 2 All-Star appearances, 2 Silver Slugger awards, and twice in the top 5 of the MVP voting. Giving the full-time job to Hojo was one of the best moves Cashen ever made. As far as Mitchell goes, based on what he said during the broadcast, I would say that it's Davey Johnson and his coaching staff who are most to blame. Mitchell was heavily involved in the drugs and carousing (like Doc and Strawberry), and I can see where Cashen thought he had to get rid of one of them; Mitchell was promising, but he wasn't good enough to be worth getting rid of Gooden or Strawberry. He went to San Francisco (via San Diego), and apparently talking to Willie Mays suddenly turned him into an MVP. No coach on the Mets could figure out that he needed to move closer to the plate? Yes, it ended up on balance not being a great trade for the Mets, but they did get Kevin McReynolds for him, and McReynolds was a clearly above average outfielder for 4 seasons.
It looked to me like he never got his arm at all, as Gary and Ron said. It would be pretty funny if now that Plawecki is starting to hit his defense would start breaking down, huh?
My reasons for both guys really comes down to the fact that that team never won another title. Cashen tried too hard from that point on to tweak the Roster and they kept getting further away. I'm not talking about who was better in the long run. Bringing back Knight doesn't mean I was saying instead of Hojo. When it ain't broke don't fix it. In my mind Ray Knight was a top leader of that team. Him and Keith, maybe Carter too. It wasn't just about statistics with him. I'll never forget when Eric Davis tried to menace him at 3rd base and Knight popped up and bitch slapped him. It was the signature moment that propelled them on their way, imo. Knight was also clutch as all hell.. They could've easily carried HoJo, and Knight for two more years. Kevin Mitchell was also a key player in '86, and his career speaks for itself. He gave credit to Keith too, and others also.. He did it tho. It was was pretty much common knowledge that Mitchell was a big time prospect. The whole team was wild and in hindsight it was a lame attempt to try and protect Straw and Doc, and send a message. Mitchell ended up fine, the other two not so much. Mitchell wasn't the guy with the character issues in the end. The more moves Cashen made the less character guys he brought in. Guys like Ray Knight are irreplaceable on successful teams and sometimes chemistry, players' roles, and leadership mean more than an accumulation of talent. I was pissed when Cashen let Knight go the moment it happened. I'm not comparing careers, or saying who is better. That team should've won one or two more titles. Cashen put it together, but he got too cute and smart for his own good and they could never match the toughness and competitiveness of the '86 team, imo.
I still may panic again. Several times possibly. I'll panic until one of my teams finally wins a championship, I have every right.
Matz battling elbow soreness..anything with the elbow always worries me. Hopefully just some rest is the key for him.
Yeah, I hope it's just them being extremely cautious with the pitchers. He looked great and appeared to be on a roll. Hopefully he doesn't lose that momentum. Last year he was set back with the lat strain after that great start. Matz can hit too. d'A and DW with shoulders now...
