Tag: mlb

Confident in a Mets’ Playoff Berth

Mets’ fans, I apologize in advance if this prediction goes wrong. I feel very strongly that by this time next week, the Amazins will have clinched the final National League Wild Card spot. Before you get all mad at me, it’s not Sal Lincata declaring the NL East over. Follow me for a minute. There are signs that the Mets are done with the death spiral that dominated most of the last six weeks. Jonah Tong pitched well in his last outing. Francisco Lindor is on an eight game hitting streak. Juan Soto is aiming for 40-30. Pete Alonso keeps hitting home runs. To top it off, six of the last nine games are against the Nationals and Marlins. The other three are against the Cubs, who may be more content to rest before they begin their own Wild Card series.

Expect a bigger celebration than this next weekend. Credit: Yahoo Sports

It’s not just that the Mets are playing like we thought they would. It’s that other teams are blowing opportunities. When the Mets were mauled in a four game sweep in Philadelphia and dropping two in row to the Rangers, no one could leap ahead of them in the standings. Take the Reds. They were literally a game and a half out last week. They were then rewarded by getting swept in Sacramento by the A’s. Or the Giants. They were tied with the Reds, then proceeded to drop four in a row between Saturday and Tuesday. Finally, we have the Diamondbacks. After pulling off their best Monty Hall/Wayne Brady act at the deadline, they suddenly started playing well. In fact, on Wednesday morning, they had a chance to sweep the Giants, and with a Met loss, an opportunity to get within a half game of that last spot. Brandon Pfaadt threw nine (!) shutout innings but Arizona could not take advantage of two runner on third/one out situations late and ended up losing in 11 innings.

The combination of the Mets righting their own house and these other teams taking their best shots and missing is why I am supremely confident in a Mets’ playoff berth. I will get some heat from the Mets’ fans in my life about my bold statement for being a jinx. Too bad. Stop being a bunch of Chicken Littles. For once in your fandom, put it out there and tell me your team is October bound.

Tim Hill, Underrated Bullpen Star

Last month, I wrote about the one thing that united us as a baseball family. Actually, if you talk to most baseball fans, the majority will say bullpens are terrible. Much like the offensive line in football, bullpens seem to catch the most flak for a team’s troubles. The New York Yankees are no exception … Continue reading “Tim Hill, Underrated Bullpen Star”

Last month, I wrote about the one thing that united us as a baseball family. Actually, if you talk to most baseball fans, the majority will say bullpens are terrible. Much like the offensive line in football, bullpens seem to catch the most flak for a team’s troubles. The New York Yankees are no exception as two of their three deadline deals for relievers have not worked out. Jake Bird made two appearances and is now stuck in the Minors. Camilo Doval‘s ERA hovers near 6.00 as a Yankee. David Bednar, the third arm, has morphed into the Yankees’ closer thanks to the mid, bordering on subpar, performances of Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. He has been a savior since his arrival at the trade deadline. It’s easy to think he’s the team’s only reliable man from the ‘pen.

I’ll take Tim Hill getting important outs. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Don’t forget about Tim Hill.

It’s so easy to focus on the failings of Doval, Williams, Weaver and the rest of the crew. Bullpens bring out irrational emotions. Hill has made 66 appearances, most on the club, to the tune of a 3.09 ERA. I will grant you that he has been below average for the last month or so. Still, he’s probably the one guy aside, from Bednar, I would want to close out a game. Crazy? Sure, I will submit to that. However, until we get more consistency from Williams and Weaver over these last two weeks, I will stand by that take. Plus, I am always partial to guys that throw submarine style. Think Tyler Rogers across the bridge in Queens and Dan Quisenberry and Kent Tekulve from a different era. That fact Hill is a submarining left-hander makes him even more a favorite of mine.

During last year’s World Series run, Hill allowed one earned run in 8 1/3 innings. That tells me he is battle tested and is reliable when it counts. Right now, the bullpen pecking order is Bednar, Hill and then everyone else. If the crew, specifically Williams and Weaver, pitch to their ceiling, they become the next guys up. However, don’t forget the importance of Tim Hill to the New York Yankees’ bullpen.

Can the Phillies Please Clinch the Division Tonight?

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched a playoff spot yesterday. However, I’d like to call it a muted celebration because the team did not win yesterday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Instead, they “backed” in by virtue of a loss by the San Francisco Giants. Now the Phils head out on a difficult road trip, visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s real simple: one more victory and Philadelphia repeats as National League East champions.

I expect to see JT Realmuto catching the final out tonight. Credit: Sports Illustrated

For all that is good in the world, and for my sweet daughter Caitlyn, please clinch the division tonight.

Don’t fool around. Don’t drag this out any longer. Hang five runs on Anthony Banda in the first inning and let Ranger Suarez cook. Have Kyle Schwarber boost his MVP credentials with a three run home run in the third inning. Make those notorious Dodger fans leave in the fifth inning instead of the seventh. Let’s have Caitlyn go into school tomorrow in a fabulous mood. If the Phils lose tonight, I will be peppered with things like, “why do we stink” or, “can the Mets catch us” or my personal potential favorite, “we are regressing”. I don’t need such talk at 7: 30 AM and neither does Matthew. I’ll have to play “Dancing on My Own”, the team’s 2022 song, on a loop in order for her to feel better. No offense to the song because I like it but we need to hear it after a win, not a loss.

It’s an hour before first pitch. I’ll make three innings at most. And when I wake up in the morning, I want footage of champagne and beer goggles. It’s not a lot to ask.

Finally, a Good Sunday For the Mets

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life. What could the lyrics from a 1980s television show have to do with the New York Mets? Well, the facts of life and this iconic opening line apply to any Major League Baseball season. You have to take all of the good if you are a team like the Mets and endure some bad times over 162 games. Granted, their bad has been downright awful lately. However, on this Sunday, the Amazins had some good news on their side.

Carlos Mendoza is trying to run the Mets into the playoffs. Credit: Yahoo

Let’s start with their game in the afternoon. Nolan McLean was outstanding once again, tossing six shutout innings, departing with a 2-0 lead. You knew that wouldn’t last, correct? The bullpen gave it up but managed to get the game to extra innings. Pete Alonso then delivered the most important hit of the season, a three run home run to propel New York the 5-2 victory. The win halted the club’s eight game losing streak and it could not come at a more opportune time. It is also the type of game they would have lost earlier this month. The second part of the Mets’ fabulous day was the fact that both the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants lost their respective finales. They are the two teams chasing New York for the final playoff spot. Cincinnati, who owns the tiebreaker between the teams, is now 2.5 games back and on a three game losing streak. The Giants are now 1.5 games behind, having lost their final two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Could the rally by the Mets today along with the good fortune of their competitors lose finally break this second half malaise?

Not so fast. The Arizona Diamondbacks, the team that sold a ton of talent at the deadline, have appeared in the rear view mirror. They have actually leapfrogged the Reds and are only two games out. But here, the Mets get more good news. The D’backs final four series are against the Giants, Phillies, Dodgers and Padres. They can’t possibly jump into the final spot, can they? Take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have the final Wild Card spot.

Who Needs Monday Night Football When You Have Mets-Phillies

I get it. The world was starving for the NFL season to begin and tonight represents the final game of Week 1. The Minnesota Vikings at the Chicago Bears is a tasty prime time matchup, a good way to close the schedule. How will Ben Johnson fare in his first game as head coach? J.J. McCarthy makes his NFL debut after being injured all of last year. So many storylines, so much intrigue….

Who cares? The Mets start a four game series against the Phillies tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

Big series this week between these two teams. Credit: northjersey.com

There is angst in the house. Matthew expects the Phillies to win three of the four games, the only Mets’ win coming on Nolan McLean‘s start this evening. Caitlyn got the awful news that both Alec Bohm and Trea Turner have hit the injured list. Personal rivalries aside, this is a big series. Even though the Phillies lead the Mets by seven games in the National League East, a Mets sweep would put them at only three back and owning the tiebreaker. For whatever reason, the blue and orange uniforms bring out the worst in them, much like the Red Sox seem to spook the Yankees this season. Realistically, the Phils will remain in first place through the end of the season. They also have designs on the #2 seed and a first round bye. The Mets are running out of time to get into the first Wild Card spot and play their opening round at Citi Field. The series is getting some love nationally with tonight’s game being broadcast on MLB Network and Thursday’s game televised on Fox.

I am just as happy as the next person that the NFL is back. It is America’s most popular sport. But the calendar still says Summer and the clock is ticking on the regular season. Therefore, nothing is taking a back seat to Phillies-Mets to start the week and Yankees-Red Sox to close the week.

The Yankees Won Another Big Series, But Hold the Applause

At this time last week, there was a sense that the upcoming four series for the New York Yankees would tell us a lot about their chances in the playoffs. The Yanks sported a combined 7-19 record vs. the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox heading into this stretch. While comfortably in a playoff spot, the team’s record against the four clubs didn’t inspire confidence as the regular season winds down. Safe to say, after going 4-2 against the Astros and Blue Jays, including today’s 4-3 series-clinching victory over Toronto, we feel a bit better about the Yankees and where they are heading.

Aaron Judge needs to be 1005 by this weekend. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Not 100% better, mind you, so let’s take it easy.

After winning two out of three this weekend, New York finished the season series against Toronto with a record of 5-8. They committed another two errors today, which, amazingly, did not hurt them. The Red Sox head to Sacramento to play the A’s, who own one of the worst home records in baseball. Boston looking to make up for the game and a half difference between them and the Bronx Bombers prior to next weekend’s showdown in Boston. We are fully aware that the Yankees are an unsightly 2-8 vs. the Red Sox, so winning two out three vs. the Tigers is mandatory. There is a chance they have to go through Tarik Skubal in Thursday’s finale as the reigning Cy Young Award winner last pitched Saturday. Given how Aaron Judge threw a ball back to the infield on Friday, their best lineup is still at least a week away. Judge will either have to DH full time or risk being compromised in right field. Either way, a potent bat will be missing this week or the outfield defense will again be a concern. No short walls like there were in Houston.

Perhaps I should take a cue from Ryan when he texted our group chat that the Yankees were only two games behind the Blue Jays. Maybe I should be more happy. After all, he can be a glass half empty guy when it comes to his team. I’m willing to be satisfied on this evening. Let’s see where we are at this time next week. If they flop in Boston again, we will go back to our skepticism that we have been living for most of this second half.

The One Thing That Unites the Family

Three kids, three teams, one family. That is us in a nutshell when it comes to Major League Baseball. Ryan, Caitlyn and Matthew have different fandoms, different ways to express happiness and different ways to cope with tough defeats for their teams. However, there is one thing about baseball that they are 100% in lockstep. It’s the commodity that is talked about the most at the trading deadline and honestly, it is probably the thing that gives most fans the most agita.

Yes, bullpens were different (and better) in Bruce Sutter’s day. Credit: Redbird Rants

The dislike of the Major League Baseball bullpen unites the Lynch family.

I mean just now, while watching Phillies-Mariners for 15 seconds, the following conversation took place as the Mariners pulled to within 7-4:

Ryan: “Is this a bullpen guy?” (he didn’t look up at the TV, he just heard Caitlyn rant)

Caitlyn: “Yes” (it was Jordan Romano)

Ryan: “Not surprised”.

I’ve tried to explain that bullpens were never like this. Once upon a time, bullpens were comprised of guys who were not effective starting pitchers but found a home as a reliever. Teams had maybe four or five relievers on a staff and there were no set roles for them. Even the closer would come in at odd times, sometimes appearing as early as the seventh inning. Prime examples included Rollie Fingers, Rich Gossage and Bruce Sutter. Today, it is rare for relievers to pitch more than one inning, even when one of them needs only ten pitches to record three outs. That is the biggest reason why fans hate bullpens. Eventually, when you go through four relievers, one of them inevitably will get touched up, resulting in a loss. Ryan says there are no good bullpens. Caitlyn doesn’t forgive the Phillies’ bullpen for last year’s NLDS loss. Matthew holds his breath for every reliever not named Edwin Diaz.

Bullpens are like offensive lines in football. The loudest complains about teams (after managers) are bad bullpens. In about three weeks, football fans will be screaming to guys like Al Dukes that their team needs to fix their offensive line. I don’t want to be the guy to say, “back in my day….”. However, it is not a bad idea to re-think the role of relief pitching in 2025. The more pitchers you use, the likelihood of bad things happening increases. Let starting pitchers go longer. Don’t remove an effective reliever who strikes out the side. Listen to my kids. Do something differently with bullpens.

Ryan Helsley Will Figure It Out

At the trading deadline, all three of our teams strengthened their bullpens. The Yankees led the way with three additions (David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird), the Mets brought in Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers while the Phillies acquired Jhoan Duran and his interesting game entrance. Not all trades work out; Bird has already been sent to the Minors, hopefully he will be back before the end of the season. Bird’s troubles pale in comparison to those of Helsley. In six games covering five innings, the right-hander has surrendered seven total runs. The latest debacle was giving up two runs to the Braves in Thursday’s 4-3 loss. Things look bleak.

I am here to say Ryan Helsley will be much better from now on.

Ryan Helsley will be better. Credit: Rising Apple

Maybe that very sentence dooms Helsley to a miserable two months in New York. I doubt it. He is too good, too talented to be down for very long. This guy had 49 saves last year and is armed with a 100 MPH fastball. It’s only a matter of time before Helsley realizes he is one of the top relievers in baseball. He has admitted that he is still “trying to figure out” pitching as a setup man in the eighth inning. I have no doubt he will. After all, the thrill of a playoff chase and impending free agency is more than enough motivation for Hensley to revert back to his 2024 form. A brief story from almost 30 years ago also convinces me Helsley will be better.

In 1996, at right around this time, the Yankees made a trade for left handed reliever Graeme Lloyd. You couldn’t have pitched any worse than Lloyd did in the regular season: 13 games, 5 2/3 innings pitched, 11 earned runs. But once the playoffs began, he was a different animal, allowing one hit in eight games. Perhaps the comparison isn’t 100% accurate as the Mets are not guaranteed a playoff spot. However, the idea that Ryan Hensley is an automatic failure as a Met is way too premature.

Living With a Rough Phillies’ Month

The Philadelphia Phillies are in the middle of a pretty bad stretch. They just snapped a five game losing streak, have lost eight of their last ten games and were swept this past weekend by the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates. On May 24, they were up by three games in the National League East; today they trail the New York Mets by four games. Bryce Harper is on the ten day injured list with a wrist injury. June has not been a kind month, to say the least, to the Phillies.

It’s making our house both tense and amusing at the same time thanks to a certain Phillies’ fan.

Bryce Harper’s IL stint is compounding the Phillies’ problem. Credit: Seattle Times

You can only imagine the pain Caitlyn is feeling and the endless one liners delivered by her. However, there is only so many, “My team is so bad” and “We stink” sentences a guy can stand. I will say her quote on Sunday of, “It’s ironic that we have a pride logo because we have nothing to be proud of” was a great zinger. We (yes, it’s more than just me) have to remind her how long the baseball season is. I get it. In a division where the Mets seem to be on an endless loop of playing the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox, to her, Philadelphia is heading for a 100 loss season. She also can’t get out of her head the “regression” her team has made: World Series in 2022, NLCS in 2023, Division Series in 2024. Instead of lamenting her current sorry state, Caitlyn should realize that there 96 games left in the season, plenty of time for her beloved team to capture a second straight division title.

At least there is some good news. The Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4-3 in 11 innings. Also, the Atlanta Braves are ten games under .500. much to Caitlyn’s delight. I hope tonight’s victory kick starts a winning stretch for the Phillies. If not, maybe I can publish more comedic material courtesy of one of their biggest fans.

I Was Wrong About Carlos Rodon

It’s hard to admit publicly when you are wrong abut a take. It happens all the time in the world of sports, both by fans and members of the media. However, it is kind of a good thing to be wrong about something that turns out to be positive. I’d rather be wrong about underestimating the impact of a bullpen arm than be wrong about overestimating a bat in the middle of the lineup. As it relates to this post, I am happy to say my opinion about a free agent pitcher the New York Yankees signed has turned out to be extremely foolish.

Carlos Rodon has been a great free agent acquisition, proving me wrong. Credit: Sports Illustrated

I was wrong about Carlos Rodon.

This blog started in March 2024 so technically my incorrect take on Rodon was not public. I did tell all of my fellow Yankee friends and other baseball acquaintances that the signing was a mistake. It is true that he was coming off back-to-back All Star seasons before inking a six year deal prior to the 2023 season. I saw a guy that made 30 starts only once, ironically, in his walk year. He was hurt many times earlier in his career. Rodon’s first year with the Yankees seemed to verify my suspicions. He first pitched in July and ended the season with a 6.85 ERA in only 14 starts.

2024 was so different in a number of ways. First, he started a career high 32 games with 175 innings pitched. Though his ERA finished near four, he was a reliable number two starter for much of the year. Any thought of Carlos Rodon being a bust has been squashed with his performance in 2025. He carries a 2.49 ERA and is fifth in strikeouts with 98 through 13 starts. He has stepped up enormously in the absence of Gerrit Cole. Max Fried has assumed the mantle of staff ace and has been nearly untouchable so far this season. However, it has been the performance of Rodon as well as the unexpected rise of Ryan Yarbrough that has helped carry the Yankees to a five game lead in the American League East.

I am ecstatic to have whiffed on my Carlos Rodon opinion. If the Yankees win the World Series this year, he will have been a key player. I will also be sure to be a little more careful when making such a bold prediction in the future.