He showed good command, and while the curveball is the pitch he is known for, his changeup was particularly sharp against some of New York's better bats. Long went 5 1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing just three hits and a walk. Long's return to the big leagues ended up being perhaps the best start of his rookie season. He has been on pace for 30-plus many times in his career, but late-season injuries have ended a few runs.
Belt hit 18 homers in 2015 and 18 more in just 104 games in 2017. Here are three more things to know: Sooooooo Closeįor years, Belt has had to hear it from fans who believe that 20 homers is a magic number that a first baseman should reach above all else, and he has come close on occasion. Buster Posey left after four innings with right knee inflammation, although it did seem minor. In a spot start, Long picked up his second career win. Sammy Long didn't need nearly that much support, taking a shutout into the sixth before turning it over to the bullpen. They're on pace for 247 homers, which would break the franchise record by a dozen. The four-homer game was their 12th of the year and fifth of the second half, and pushed them to 191 for the season. The Giants jumped out to a 7-0 lead early on the strength of four homers, including two by Brandon Belt, who had a four-hit night. They've had the best record in the National League for 101 days, their highest total since the franchise moved to San Francisco. The Giants improved to 39-25 on the road and 81-44 overall. It didn't even come close to mattering.Īn early explosion turned into an 8-0 win on the first night of a six-game road trip that kicks off a stretch of 16 games in 16 days. So let’s enjoy this run, keep the pedal to the metal, and whatever other cliché comes to mind.As they shuffled the 40-man roster on Tuesday afternoon, the Giants ended up with just 25 players against the New York Mets, about the last thing you would expect from this front office and coaching staff.
So where do your feelings stand? Would you still consider this season a success if the Mets failed to make the postseason?What about if they make the postseason and fail to advance beyond their first round?įor now, the Mets are in first place and looking good.
#Mets magic number 2015 series
Losing to Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in a short series isn’t anything to be ashamed of – and to be fair – no team wants to face the Mets rotation, either. Louis Cardinals will be playing the Wild Card winner and the Mets would be left to face the winner of the National League West, most likely the Los Angeles Dodgers. And while I won’t be satisfied with a first round exit, even being swept in an October playoff series wouldn’t be viewed as a failure.īarring an act of God, the St. They have the potential to win the World Series. This is a team that’s poised to go deep into the playoffs. But if this team, with its pitching, revamped offense, and struggles of the Nationals, isn’t playing in the NL Division Series, this won’t be remembered as season of improvement or a season of a team on the verge – this will be remembered as a team that squandered the opportunity that was firmly in their grasp. I’m not trying to be overly dramatic, nor do I think that this team will have their season go the way of the 2007 or 2008 squads. With the team sitting on a 4.5 game lead and the Magic Number down to 40 entering play on August 19th, making the playoffs is the only option or else the 2015 season will go down as another collapse. It is now Playoffs or Bust time for the Mets and the latest baseball odds have the team’s chances of winning the World Series in the top five of all MLB teams.