Back-to-back games with superb starting pitching and it's no wonder the Mets are on a roll. With last night's game on national TV, the Mets had a hankering for some spankering, and showed the Cubs who had the better Zambrano. Well, for one game anyway. Win Expectancy shows that the Mets were in control from the get-go (click to enlarge):
(What the hell is this Win Probability stuff anyways?)
Mets Stud: Cliff Floyd, with 18.3% WPA
Mets Dud: Mike Cameron, with -5.3% WPA
The Cubs have been something of an up-and-down team this season, not unlike the Mets. Controlling the Cubbies on the field usually comes down to containing their two monster bats -- Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. That was the key to the series coming in, and that's just what Mets pitching did. Lee went 1-for-12 in the series with a meaningless solo homerun on Friday. Ramirez was only slightly better, going 2-for-11 with an equally-meaningless solo shot of his own.
Having limited the damage that those two beasts could inflict, it was a much easier task setting down the likes of Neifi Perez, Jose Macias and Todd Hollandsworth, where nary a .700 OPS is to be found.
Quick Hits
Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak last night to 20 consecutive games. The club record is 24, jointly held by Mike Piazza (1999) and Hubie Brooks (1984). Reyes is also approaching another Mets record: Lance Johnson's 682 at-bats in 1996 is in danger of falling, as Reyes is on pace for 703 this season.
Injury News
Kaz Matsui will join the Mets in San Diego tomorrow night, and Doug Mientkiewicz may land on the DL to make room.
Amazin' Avenue Daily Web Links
- NYTimes.com: Building the B?isbol Brand (Jonathan Mahler) - MUST READ (backup url)
- Hardball Times: Franchises at Birth: The Colt .45s and the Mets (Part One) (Steve Treder)
- MetsDaily.com: Game Highlights (08.05.05)
- MetsDaily.com: Game Highlights (08.06.05)
- Faith and Fear in Flushing: Ten to Remember, Eight to Go
- ChicagoSports.com: Floyd Wants To Pitch Baseball To Young Blacks (Rick Morissey)