Wrap It Up

Pete Mackanin isn’t coming back as the Phillies manager next season, and I’ll miss him. With Saturday’s slog in the top of the 11th inning and two men on, Adam Morgan struck out Jose Reyes for the second out. With the wind blowing in and Asdrubal Cabrera coming up, it would have been the perfect time for Mackanin to go to a righthander to face Cabrera, who has the second highest average against lefties this season. Now that would have been the right play from a baseball standpoint. But from the standpoint of wanting this season to die a peaceful death in the 11th inning of a cold night in Philadelphia, Mackanin said “screw it”, and let Morgan pitch to Cabrera. Because what … you’re going to make a pitching change in the 11th inning of a game that’s only being played for the sake of the schedule? Nah, Mackanin is a merciful manager. If Cabrera gets a hit, he gets a hit.

Cabrera did better, and cut through the wind which threatened to nudge this game to the 18th inning as it did during the last Saturday of 1965 against the Phillies as well (as noted by Gary Cohen) to hit a three run home run to give the Mets a 7-4 victory and keep Keith Hernandez’s feet from getting colder than they already were (as noted by Keith Hernandez.) Jacob Rhame pitched two scoreless innings for his first big league victory and showed some hop on his fastball along the way. A.J. Ramos also pitched a scoreless inning as his potluck slider was as smooth as mom’s brisket (amazing what pitching without an injury can do). And Jeurys Familia nailed down his sixth save with a nasty slider. Glad to see everybody getting healthy at the right time.

For the Mets, it was their 70th victory. Hooray for milestones.

Noah Syndergaard pitches up to 25 innings on the final Sunday of the season in the last meaningless game of the season. But take heart team, after the Rockies clinched the second N.L. Wild Card spot and the Dodgers clinched the best record in baseball, it made the entire day meaningless. So you won’t be alone in your meaningless endeavors tomorrow.

One to go. Thanks Pete. You’re the anti-Brian Snitker.

Today’s Hate List

Not a list, but just noting that a pitch came up and in to Dominic Smith much like one did to Freddy Galvis on Friday. Only difference being that nobody whined about it. Imagine that.