Welp the schedule is easy the rest of the way. If the Mets can go on a respectable winning streak here they still have every chance to do it.
I wouldn't like pitching in this ballpark when they used normal balls. Couple that with these fraudulent balls, boy oh boy!
Time is running out, but still a chance - if Cubs and Brewers lose 3.5 games out with 10 to play. Nice to see Pete get his swing back too - Judge’s record is still in play. And I think Noah needs to shut up about having a personal catcher. Edit: Cubs, Brewers, and Nats all lost, Phils won.
Saw a stat last night about Alonso. He had 2 HRs robbed over the wall which would have put him at 51. Yelich also had 2 robbed.
Did they say how many Judge had two years ago? And how many McGwire had 32 years ago? That could allow some sort of comparison among the rookie record holders. This is kind of like the "dropped interception" and "dropped reception" statistics being used against and for quarterbacks - they say something, but it's unclear exactly what. And of course accumulated statistics like home runs are strongly affected by ballpark effects as well, as the Ted Williams - Joe DiMaggio comparisons (both played their home games in parks that hurt their home run numbers) and Mel Ott numbers (there's a reasonable chance he wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame if he hadn't played in The Polo Grounds) show. Alonso's home numbers (BA, OBP, SLG) are all worse at home than on the road, so hopefully he can push those up a bit going forward.
Interesting. To be honest, I might have thought it was a bit higher - it seems that only 1 in every 20 or 25 potential home runs is brought back into the park, at least based on Alonso and Yelich.
Brewers win, Cubs and Phils lose. Nats stay atop the WC, Brewers now second WC, 1 game back of Nats, Cubs 1 game out, Mets 3.5 games out, Phils 4 games out. Cubs could be in trouble if they lose next 2 of 3 to Cards, which is very possible and would make me happy. If the Mets go 8-2 they would catch the Nats if they go 4-7, and that might actually be their best chance (as MParty said, it's hard to see the Mets catching the Brewers given their upcoming schedule). Still a definite long shot. Great American Ballpark is a good one for home runs (8th in baseball in terms of home run park factor), so maybe Pete can get a couple of home runs this weekend (at least).
After this weekend series with Miami, the Nationals have Philly 5x and Cleveland 3x so that is definitely not a cupcake. I said this last week to my brother - the Nationals could be ones on the outside looking in if they don't take care of business this weekend.
It's more justifiable to pull him now, exactly as Gary said, but the fact that Callaway was going to pull him with a 3-0 lead after 96 pitches shows you just what a moron he is. If the Mets pull off a miracle and make the playoffs it will probably save his job, and it's almost worth them not making it just for that reason.