Before this game started, and after the rain took the last few innings of the Yankees Nationals game away, I said to myself: I hope this Soroka/DeGrom matchup is the technical pitching game I had hoped for last night.
These guys are both so good. It’s crazy when, in the third inning of the game, while DeGrom is cruising with 4 strikeouts, you say out loud to yourself: “well there goes the no-hitter” as Acuna Jr. singles on a broken bat against DeGrom. The guy is that good. You think he’s going to go the distance with no opposition every single time he goes out there.
Soroka, while yet not as proven as DeGrom, also has the kind of stuff that makes you think that way. Sure, you don’t automatically except him to blank hitters every single time, but you don’t expect a lot of run production against Mike Soroka either. And here in the Bottom of the 3rd inning, his pitch count seems much more economical than Degrom’s thus far. He closes the 3rd inning with a pitch count of 32. DeGrom has more than 45 in the same timeframe.
I should put this out there too: while I’m not hoping for it, I think the Met’s are not going to do as well as many others think they will. I also think Pete Alonso could very well hit a sophomore slump. I don’t want to see it per se, but I think it’s possible. I’d actually love to see an NL based Aaron Judge-type emerge from Pete Alonso and the Met’s. It would be fitting.
And if anyone doesn’t think that for the Braves, that Freddie Freeman is not a contender for MVP every single year, they are crazy. Freddie Freeman is indispensable for this team that I rate very highly. Had they won only 3 more games last year a record, potentially unbreakable would have been set last year with 5 teams winning more than 100 games in a season. Braves were on a heater, but Mets were on an even better one down the stretch. Alas it wasn’t to be, but this braves team is ABSOLUTELY a contender this year. Every bit as good as the Rays, the Phillies, the Twins, the Indians, the Nationals and the A’s. If the Braves are healthy, I see no reason why they don’t challenge for the playoffs, easily.
They’re better than the very revamped Reds. Better than the very interesting Padres. Better than the Met’s no question. I anticipate, despite DeGrom being the starter, that this is an Atlanta win. I won’t edit this even if I’m wrong. The Mets can’t compete with this Atlanta team period. As much as everyone wants to see the Mets compete.
Acuna to Swanson to nail McNeil at second after the ball powers past Freeman. But this looks like it will be overturned, if it isn’t the Mets were robbed. McNeil was absolutely safe. The umpires call him safe after review. And the powerful Pete Alonso at the plate. Watch me eat my words as Alonso sends one out of the park…sophomore slump… Fielder’s choice to get McNeil at third awkwardly. Phew. At least my sophomore slump theory holds true for another inning. I promise I don’t want to count a guy like Alonso out… his intensity and potential are awesome.
DeGrom is so technical. So many K’s through his half of the 5th.
I’m going to find a way to live blog these games, so I can archive these thoughts and have a record of how right or wrong I am. You know: prove my prowess, or lack thereof… all while blogging as I do while watching.
Soroka’s heart skipped a beat or maybe a few, with a very good leaping catch in CF by Ender Inciarte. He gets out of the inning unscathed again. This team is excellent defensively. Now they need to add some run support against the best pitcher in the NL over the past two years.
Lugo is in, with a superb game from DeGrom, this is the Brave’s best chance to grab some runs. And Lugo is no slouch. Look to the braves to get ahead here; but look to the Mets for some insight into how they will handle a year without their best staff mix on roster.
Soroka looks spectacular, even with a pitch count that is climbing in the 6th. He’s still under 70 pitches, we may see him back out there if the Braves don’t spend a ton of time scoring runs and his arm gets cold. Certainly, you’d like to see him get to around 80 pitches, and with his average of about 10 pitches through the 5th, he’d be able to do that and still complete the 7th in spectacular fashion. Admittedly though, his stuff missed a bit on several pitches to Alonso last inning.
There is bullpen action. Chris Martin. It’s likely Soroka won’t get the win if the Braves don’t score here.
Ozuna reaches second on a rope to the left field corner. There is an out though as Freemen played right into the analytics and the heavy shift to O’Neil. Oh, it’s getting interesting with a passed ball and Ozuna takes third – a sacrifice fly or a well-played bunt gives the Braves and Soroka the win likely.
Unassisted putout by position 5 (O’Neil) at first. Now they need a hit or a very big error. Lugo’s stuff looking good here too. Ramos looks a bit shaky behind the plate here. Maybe I was mistaken – Lugo runs it to 3-2 now after starting 0-2.
Broadway actress/singer Lauren Patten sings a beautiful, very traditional “God Bless America”. The “Jagged Little Pill” actress did a great job.
Unfortunately, Soroka won’t get the win, though as well as he played against a stellar DeGrom, he deserved it. He was more efficient with pitch count than DeGrom, and he looked ridiculously good. There is no question that neither pitcher deserved to lose.
Wouldn’t you know that Yoenis Cespedes would go yard on the third pitch by Chris Martin. It really makes you wonder why you take a guy like Soroka out when he could have easily pitched another 10-15 pitches and looked so good thus far. It was clear the moment it connects with the bat, that the ball wasn’t staying in the park. Don’t count this Mets team out (just like they proved down the stretch in 2019), even if the Braves outclass them in every way on paper, given the hiccups the Mets have suffered this off season.
Freeman nearly takes Edwin Diaz deep going foul instead and lading on first base as Diaz’ Base on Balls concerns continue. You certainly cannot count these Mets out, they looked poised to win this game – something this author would have thought impossible with Soroka on the mound, knowing that DeGrom would only go at most 6 innings. The Mets have 14K’s against braves players on the day. Matt Adams (and Freeman on first) are the lone glimmers of hope for Atlanta at CITI Field. Adams nearly goes deep too, very close to where Freeman unloaded a foul shot earlier. The Met’s are off to a great start, having beaten a clearly better team on paper. It always was to be a 1 run game, and this was a pitcher’s special.
Baseball in all its uncertain glory is back. Looks like I lose that parlay bet no matter how well I do on the other 13 games.