MIAMI — Some things considered while wondering why the replay man keeps getting it unsuitable, and sometimes also takes endlessly before dispending his/her misjudgment.
Pete Alonso may or will not be the Mets’ best all-around player. But he needs to be their most indispensable player.
Alonso was walked his first two times up Saturday, which may need something to do with Marlins starter Edward Cabrera not having much clue concerning the strike zone early. Or possibly it was because Cabrera knew higher than to let Alonso beat him. Alonso avoidance ought to be the goal of each pitcher facing the Mets.
“I can’t worry in the event that they’re attempting to avoid me,” Alonso said after his double accounted for the go-ahead run within the Mets’ 6-2 victory over the Marlins. “I just attempt to give attention to getting a ball in my area, and if it’s in my area, I attempt to capitalize.”
Given his first probability of the day, Alonso drove a slider from Marlins lefty reliever Andrew Nardi into the left field corner to drive home good friend Jeff McNeil and put the Mets ahead for good. He led the majors in RBIs last yr (tied with the amazing Aaron Judge) when he had a high quality, and diverse lineup but no other bona fide sluggers around him, and he could also be on his solution to repeating in the same situation.
Steve Cohen obviously got here near acquiring superstar Carlos Correa for $315 million before a difficulty together with his ankle caused the Mets to kill that deal. So Alonso is back in the identical spot because the lone true middle-of-the-order banger.
Alonso is thought for being at his best in Home Run Derbies, when the pitcher is attempting to serve it as much as him (Ex-Mets coach Dave Jauss is the favored specialist for that). But he’s perfectly adept when pitchers are doing all the things they will to be sure that he doesn’t beat them, too.
Starter Tylor Megill’s specialty appears to be filling in for a legend. This time it was Cooperstown-bound Justin Verlander, who was out of motion with a low-grade strain of the teres major muscle (armpit area), and Megill got here up together with his second-most vital win of his profession, surviving five solid innings. Last yr while filling in for Cooperstown-bound Max Scherzer on Opening Day, Megill threw five shutout innings at Washington, winning 5-1.
Megill denied replacing a legend is his specialty. He said, “It’s not like I’m attempting to fill his shoes, I’m just attempting to fill his spot.”
Brooks Raley is sort of a weapon out of the bullpen. When the Mets acquired him on the winter meetings, few noticed. That could be because superstars were coming off the board left and right — some to the Mets, who signed Verlander on the meetings, and re-signed Brandon Nimmo just after the meetings.
Anyway, Raley looks outstanding for the Mets. I can see why they acquired him. And I can see why they pulled him from the World Baseball Classic on the slightest hint of a hamstring issue.
If he was ever really hurt, he clearly will not be now. He looked dominant in his first Mets outing, then got here in to get the important thing out Saturday, inducing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to ground out to second base because the potential tying runner within the seventh.
“He is available in, throws strikes and has multiple weapons,” Showalter said. “It’s a great addition for us.”
Frankly it’s just nice to see the Mets employing a reliable lefty out of the pen after enduring the Joely Rodriguez Era.
It could be time to begin worrying about Eduardo Escobar, who had a .286 OPS in spring and appears concerning the same at first of the season.
“[The Mets] are giving up way too many outs before the sport even starts,” a scout said.
The Mets are concerned about Escobar, but they are saying they’ll give him more time. Really, there’s little selection. Though Brett Baty, the No. 21 prospect in MLB, had an enormous game yesterday, he needs more seasoning. Only prodigies like Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado skip Triple-A entirely. The likes of Ronald Acuna Jr., Yordan Alvarez and Kris Bryant all had tons of of Triple-A at-bats before their call-ups.
I don’t get the purpose of replays once they refuse to overturn unsuitable calls. Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper clearly appeared to return off the bag while reaching for third baseman Jean Segura’s throw, seeming to permit Alonso to succeed in safely.
“I saw it that way too,” Showalter said. “That’s one other one where I suppose of their mind there wasn’t enough to overturn it.”
The replay official by some means stuck with the out call. That’s two days in a row that happened. On Friday, Nimmo appeared protected at first on a ground ball to shortstop, but after an interminable delay, the umpires announced the decision would stand. It’s to the purpose where we wonder if replay officials don’t need to offend the umpires.
I like all the brand new rules. But here’s a rule they may consider: Overturn calls which are very likely unsuitable. Don’t worry about offending the umpire. They know they are only guessing on bang-bang plays, anyway. Or should know.
