Giancarlo Stanton had that look in his eye.
He probably always has that look in his eye, but I noticed it Saturday when he was striding to the plate against Rafael Montero. And when he didn’t tag Montero for one (Stanton walked three times on Saturday), I got scared for Jacob deGrom. Stanton doesn’t let teams out alive anymore, and you knew that he was looking for some fresh Flushing meat.
He almost got out without a taste, but the circumstances behind pitch number 102 by Jacob deGrom to Giancarlo Stanton begat the perfect storm. Pitch number 101 was a routine ground ball to shortstop. Amed Rosario fielded it at a Sunday pace, which highlights the problems this team has had on Sundays for whatever reason. deGrom started to throw his hands up at his shortstop and then quickly went into “professional mode”, because that’s what he was supposed to do. But he was pissed. I know he was pissed because I would have been pissed if I was him. Who could blame him?
Pitch 102 was angry. Angry because instead of throwing it at Christian Yelich after holding up four fingers to Stanton, it was thrown at Stanton. Angry pitches thrown at Giancarlo Stanton, when he has that look in his eye, leave just as angry. Leave it did, and the Marlins had a 5-1 lead, and that was your ballgame. It was just enough cushion to silence a late rally by the Mets to send them to a 6-4 defeat. I’m sure, at this very moment, deGrom isn’t angry anymore. And you shouldn’t be either. Because when seasons like this come, the mantra becomes “let the kids play”. Pitch 101 was what “let the kids play” looks like. That’s what August and September are for … for kids to play and learn how to play. It’s disconcerting to see Rosario give us that tap when he had an episode like that before. But letting the kids play also means teaching your children well. And Curtis Granderson isn’t around anymore to save these kids.
Speaking of kids … and Granderson, the Mets got their haul from that trade today. Jacob Rhame has had 55 strikeouts and 10 walks in 48 innings, which isn’t bad. His batting average against was .274, but some tweaking should fix that. And get this:
Jacob Rhame was ranked No. 28 in the Dodgers' system, per MLB Pipeline. His fastball sits in the mid-to-high 90s, occasionally touching 100.
— Chris Bumbaca (@BOOMbaca) August 20, 2017
This … this is the deal that gets a top 30 prospect. If you weren’t confused enough after 55 seasons of this team, then that clinches it. But hey, it’s good to have more kids. Especially for the Mets, whose kids are dropping like Mets:
Tyler Pill & Josh Edgin seeing doctors in NY. Frank Viola said Pill had bone chips & spurs in elbow; said Edgin had meniscus tear in knee.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) August 21, 2017
Looks like the Mets will need a couple of more reinforcements. Asdrubal Cabrera should probably have a duffel bag ready.
Today’s Hate List
- Derek Jeter
- Dan Marino
- Ryan Tannehill
- Jeffrey Loria
- David Samson
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