Wednesday, July 29, 2015

2027 JULY 1st - JULY 16th

[7.1.27] – Montes Scalfaro wins Batter of the Month with 437/500/874 11hr 29rbi 20r in just 22 games. It is his 5th Batter of the Month and the first time since April 2026.



[7.1.27] – Mets 7, Samba 6 – Neither starter makes it past the fourth inning and the Mets blow a 6-1 lead in the third inning and the Samba tie the game in the top of the 6th. A Caraballo singles home the go ahead run in the bottom of the inning to put the Mets back up.
LeBlanc (5-1) pitches 2 innings for the win and Rushton (24) gets the save and Mets pull into first place by themselves for the first time this season.



[7.2.27] – Samba 8, Mets 2 – Fulton (9-3) also fails at his first chance at 10 wins. Jared 'Tacky Tom' Wells pitches a complete game and hold the Mets to just 2 runs.
The Braves pulled back into a tie with the Mets, the Phillies a game back.

Here is an example of the sim giving a guy an inappropriate nickname. His name is Jared, but his nickname is 'Tacky Tom'. I like it, so he'll keep it.

'Tacky Tom' Parrott
There was a real player with that nickname, who played for some really bad teams 130 years ago, 'Tacky Tom' Parrott. Including the ninth place 1893 Chicago Colts (soon to become the Chicago Orphans [1898-1902], then the Cubs in 1903.)

He wasn't bad even though you may think he was just looking at his numbers, 39-48 5.33era 795ip 1.713whip as a pitcher and 303/331/442 15hr 163rbi in 1048pa over four years. His lifetime ERA+ is 96 [average is 100], as a batter his OPS+ is 98 [average is 100]. 

The ERA+ and OPS+ stats are one of the ways that baseball is able to compare eras across its history. The + signifies his average against the leagues' average. This is why baseball history destroys the history of every other sport combined.


[7.3.27] – Samba 4, Mets 0 – Candido Botequim (9-8) pitches a gem 9ip 3h 2bb 9k. Valdes (2-4) takes the loss.



[7.5.27] – Kings 7, Mets 6 – Caraballo (12) completed a 4-run first inning with a three run shot, but then the Mets fall behind 6-4 after the sixth. The Mets tie it in the 8th with a Finley single to center that drove home the runs when center fielder boots it.
In the bottom of the 9th Rushton (0-4) allows a walk off home run to Ismael Lopez (11).



[7.6.27] – Kings 4, Mets 3 – Williamson 8ip 11h 3er 3bb 6k 1hr is not around for the decision as Rushton (0-5) blows it again. This time he walks the lead off hitter, then makes an ill advised attempt at a ground ball allowing both runners to reach base. An intentional walk loaded the bases, but a single ended the game.



[7.7.27] – Kings 7, Mets 2 – The Kings complete the sweep by knocking starter Fulton from the game in the third when it was 7-0.
The Mets (50-40) and the Phillies fall two behind the Braves.



[7.8.27] – Nationals 6, Mets 2 – Nats starter Leonard Stark (10-4) throws a complete game allowing two solo home runs, Smith (28) and Dickerson (1). The losing streak reaches six games.



[7.9.27] – Mets 9, Nationals 3 – The Mets are out hit 9 to 6, but receive 8 walks. Scalfaro (24) and Short (10) each hit 3-run home runs. Marquez (7-2) 8.1ip 9h 3er 1bb 15k 2hr strikes out a career high 15 batters and turns it over to Sheppard to get the final two outs.


The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cleveland Indians 23-6. They score all their runs over 5 innings, never scoring less than 3. Manny Moran, 32-yo Cuban 2b, drives in six. A 3-run home run (21) in the third to get things started and a bases-clearing double in the 6th to make it 18-5.



[7.10.27] – Mets 3, Nationals 2 – Gardner (10-6) becomes the first Met with 10 wins as he throws 3-hit ball for 8 innings, striking out 9. Rushton (25) picks up the save.
The Mets (52-41) remain a game behind the Braves and 1 in front of the Phillies. They have a 4 game lead in the wild card as they head to Atlanta to battle the Braves.


Qian-gui 'Jedi' Shuang, the Cleveland Indian superstar third baseman hit his 400th home run today. At the age of 32, he's got some time to put up bigger numbers. His career split is 321/376/554 and has led the AL in rbis the past three seasons, last year driving in a career high 158.

Sometimes the sim gives guys nicknames, other times I give the guy a nickname. In this case, I gave him the 'Jedi' nickname. It fits, his first name looks like Qui-Gon Jinn and the guys is a master with the bat.
I don't give many nicknames out, but when I do its to stars and future HOFers, like this guy.
The sim doesn't make up new nicknames, they recycle old ones. [See: Jared/Tacky Tom above]



[7.11.27] – Mets 12, Braves 9 (11 innings) – Williamson put the Mets in an 4-0 hole in the first. In the sixth the Mets score four times to go up 7-5, led by two doubles, one from Caraballo and one from Smith who had homered in the fourth. The Mets extend the lead in the 8th to 9-6 on a single and fielders choice.
Spence comes in to start the 9th and allows a single and is lifted for Sheppard who walks the first man he faces. On the first pitch to Ryan Hill (22) he deposits it in the seats to tie the game at 9. In the 11th the Mets go back-to-back, Pruitt (8) and Smith (29,30) with his second. Fisher (5-8) gets the win in relief.
The Mets climb back into a tie with the Braves.



[7.12.27] – Mets 6, Braves 3 – Fulton (10-4) 8ip 3h 3er 6bb 7k, gets his 10th win of the season. The Mets break the tie in the 6th by scoring on a passed ball, ground out and single to up the lead to 5-2. Monje (3) strikes out a pair for the save.
The Mets take a one game lead on the Braves, three on the Phillies.


The Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the Washington Nationals 5-1 in 18 innings. Four Arizona pitchers allow just 8 hits over the 18 innings. Reliever Vicente Franco, 32-yo Chilean, who throws six innings of hitless relief, striking out 9 and facing the minimum. The one base runner he did allow (a walk) was erased on a double play.


The Milwaukee Brewers defeat the San Francisco Giants 8-7 in 17 innings. The Giants tie the game at five in the top of the 9th and then each team scores a run in the 13th. The Giants score one in the top of the 17th to go up 7-6, but Curt Cook, 40-yo reliever is starting his 8th inning of relief and walks the first batter on four pitches. Brewers ss Will Sawyer then hits a walk off home run.
The win goes to former Mets closer Gerardo Lopez, the Mets franchise saves leader (390), he's only picked up 36 saves since leaving NY 4 ½ seasons ago. 8 time All Star and Walter Johnson Winner (2022). He league the NL in saves four times and won a WS in 2022 with the Mets.
Gerardo Lopez stats
That's right, I did not re-sign my closer (who had just won the Walter Johnson award) to a contract in 2023. I had Rushton waiting in my pen and Lopez wanted too much money.
It looks like he's not quite a HOFer, although an argument could be made because of his first 11 seasons, particularly the 10 he was my closer. 388 saves in 10 seasons as a closer and is the Mets franchise leader in WHIP (1.07) and OAVG (198).
For whatever reason, the Phillies only used him as closer for one season and he's never returned to the closer role. The sim will do that to players, move perfectly good closers to a support role. Had he stayed a closer, he would probably be over 500 saves and a lock for the HOF.



[7.13.27] – Mets 4, Braves 2 – Valdes (3-5) goes 8 innings allowing 5 hits to complete the sweep for the Mets, over the Braves. Scalfaro (25) and Finley (16) each homer. Rushton (26) got the save and the Mets winning streak reaches 5 games.
The Mets (55-41) are two games up on the Braves and four up on the Phillies.


The Vancouver A's defeat the Cleveland Indians 20-5. Its 4-3 A's going into the top of the 6th and they score 16 runs over the last four innings. Eight starters score at least twice, all of them get hits and four guys drive in three or more runs each.



[7.14.27] – Mets 4, Cardinals 1 – Marquez (8-2) 8ip 2h 1er 1bb 8k 1hr doesn't allow a hit until there are two out in the 7th and its a home run. Finley (17) and Rea (1) each homer and drive in two for the Mets. Rushton (27) gets the save.



Detroit Tigers 1b/dh Charles Bonner hits three home runs in a game. The first pick of the 2012 draft, the 2-time All Star was the AL ROY in 2016 and has spent his entire career in a Tigers uniform. At 33-yo he has been relegated to platoon work the last two seasons. A free agent after the season, expect him to end up in a different uniform.
Charles Bonner stats
His stats in the sim fell sharply after the 2025 season which is why his playing time drops. Again, the sim has no heart and instead of letting a guy slide into mediocrity, it rips the band-aid off all at once and turns him into a bench player overnight.


Houston Astros left fielder Shiki Yoshinaga has 6 hits in a 13-9 victory over the Venezuela Lobos. He hits singles in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th innings, then homers in the 7th and 9th, he scores four times and drives in 6 runs.


[7.15.27] – Cardinals 5, Mets 3 – Gardner (10-7) puts the Mets in a 4-0 hole in the third inning and they can't climb all the way out despite home runs from Scalfaro (26) and Gonzalez (6).


[7.16.27] – Mets 4, Cardinals 3 (15 innings) – Caraballo (14) hits a walk off home run in the bottom of the 15th ending the longest game of the year for the Mets. After Caraballo drove home Scalfaro in the third to knot the game at three, no one scored until the 15th.
Williamson and two relievers kept the Cardinals scoreless for the final 13 innings. Monje (2-3) pitched four innings of 1-hit ball while striking out 8 for the win.
The Mets (57-42) extend their lead in the NL East to 4 games over the Braves, 5 over the Phillies.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

2027 JUNE 16th - JUNE 30th


[6.16.27] – Padres 6, Mets 5 (12 innings) – The Mets take a 5-2 lead in the 6th when Williamson drives in a pair with a single. He gives it back in the seventh and doesn't make it out of the inning. It stays tied until the 12th when Alvarez allows three singles in the bottom of the 12th as Horace Welch singles to right to win the game.



[6.17.27] – Mets 4, Padres 3 – Scalfaro (18) ties the game in the fourth with a 2-run home run. Short had three hits, including a triple and Fisher (3-7) got the win with 6.1 decent innings, his era was still 6.87. Rushton (19) got the save.



[6.18.27] – Mets 9, Padres 3 – Scalfaro (19,20) & Smith (24,25) each hit two home runs, including back-to-back in the seventh. Smith had 4 rbis and Scalfaro 3 hits and 3rbi and has his average up to 311. Fulton (8-2) 7ip 6h 1er 2bb 9k has won four in a row, the second time this season he's done that.
The Mets 43-32 are a game behind the Phillies and Braves tied atop the NL East at the All-Star break.


The Mets have three All Stars. Scalfaro and Smith each get elected to their 10th All Star Game and Gardner to his first.


Pittsburgh Pirates starter Ietsuna Kichida becomes the second Pirates starter to strikeouts 15 in a game. He struck out 15 in 8.2



[6.20.27] – National 8, American 0 – Eight NL pitchers combine on a 5-hitter and New York Mets Ralph Smith wins MVP with a double, home run and 3rbi. The game was played in Kingsdown Gardens, the home of the London Kings.




[6.22.27] – Diamondbacks 10, Mets 5 – Short (6) hits a grand slam and drives in all five runs, but Williamson (6-4) gets knocked around and can't escape the 4th inning when Arizona puts 8 on the board as they get six 2-out hits and a walk, extending the lead from 1-0 to 8-0.
In his first relief appearance of the season Isamu Okazaki needs to come out with tenderness in the elbow. What a puss. Alastair Atteridge is coming off the DL to take his spot in the bullpen.



[6.23.27] – Mets 5, Diamondbacks 4 – Fulton allows a 3-run homer in the first, but Smith (26) and Scalfaro (21) go back-to-back in the third to tie the game at 3, only to see Fulton give it back in the 4th. The Mets tie the game in the 7th on a Short double and take the lead in the 8th when Finley drives home Caraballo to put the Mets up 5-4. Monje pitches a perfect 8th and Rushton does the same in the 9th for his 20th save. LeBlanc (5-1) got the win for his 1 inning of relief.



[6.24.27] – Mets 5, Diamondbacks 4 – Fisher (4-7) 8ip 9h 4er 2bb 7k 2hr is able to avoid a few long balls and Finley (14) drives in three. Rushton (21) gets the save.
The Mets are 45-33 and are a game behind the Braves and tied with the Phillies.



[6.25.27] – Mets 2, Pirates 1 – Gardner (9-6) 8ip 7h 1er 3bb 8k plays with fire all day and needs to have Finley throw out the tying run at home in the 6th to keep the Mets in the lead. The Pirates strand 11 runners including 2 in the 9th . Monje (2) allowed two runners to reach base before getting the final three outs for the save, the last out coming when Gomez caught a long drive to center on the track.
The only two Mets runs come on home runs by Gonzalez (4) and Scalfaro (22).



[6.26.27] – Mets 7, Pirates 6 (10 innings) – Williamson leaves men on base in every inning and is chased when he allows his second 3-run homer of the game in the 7th putting the Pirates up 6-2. The Mets get three back in the bottom of the inning when Short (7) and Caraballo (11) each homer. Gonzalez ties it in the bottom of the 8th with a single.
Smith opens the 10th with a double and moves to third on a passed ball, the Pirates intentionally walk Scalfaro and get Finley to pop out. Hayes hits a single right past the pitcher to end the game. Sheppard (2-1) pitches the 9th and 10th for the win.


[6.27.27] – Mets 5, Pirates 2 – Fulton (9-2) extends his winning streak to 5 with 8 strong innings. He strikes out 11 and walks only 2, it's his third double digit strikeout game of the season. Smith (27) drives in three and Scalfaro (23) and Short (8) also homer as Benes changes the lineup again. Moving Caraballo down to sixth and everyone else up one. Rushton (22) gets the save.
The Mets are 48-33 and 1 game behind the Braves and two ahead of the Philles.

2b-Short
ss-Pruitt
1b-Smith
c-Scalfaro
lf-Finley
3b-Caraballo
cf-Dickerson
rf-Gonzalez



[6.28.27] – Mets 6, Suns 5 – Valdes (2-3) goes five innings for the win and the bullpen pitches four scoreless innings allowing two hits with 7 strikeouts. Rushton (23) closes the door in the 9th for the save. The Mets get five straight hits in the 3rd when they jump out to a 5-2 lead including one of Smith's two doubles.
It is the Mets 6th straight win and moves them into a tie in the NL East (and best record in baseball) with the Braves.


Vancouver Athletics second baseman Chris Wilson collects his 2500th hit all with the A's franchise. At 34 years old he's got a good shot at 3000 hits. A starter since he was 21 in 2014 his lifetime split is 304/385/449 he's hit 300 nine times and never lower than 293 in a full season. He's scored 100 runs seven times (99 twice, 98 once) and driven in 100 just once. A four time All Star he has 4 career hitting streaks of 20 or more games. He is the A's Derek Jeter, but without vd.



[6.29.27] – Suns 7, Mets 4 – The Mets jump out to a 3-0 in the first, but Fisher allows 4 in the 3rd and Atteridge allows 3 in the 4th. The Mets out hit the Suns 14-8, but 13 of those are singles and they strand 13 runners on base, while the Suns leave just 3 on base.
The Mets remain in a tie with the Braves as both teams lost and the Phillies gain a game, the Brewers also pull into a tie with the Mets & Braves for best record in the game at 49-34.



[6.30.27] – Suns 7, Mets 6 (13 innings) – The Mets tie the game with 3 in the top of the 9th off Suns closer Chris Kuhn, the tieing run scoring when Dickerson singles home Smith.
The Mets put men on base in the 10th 11th 12th and 13th but can't get a run across and they strand 16 runners. The fourth Mets reliever, Monje (1-3) takes the loss when he allows a 2-out single in the bottom of the 13th in his third inning of work. Gardner was making his first attempt at 10 wins.

The Brewers became the first team in baseball with 50 wins.