The Amazins - MLB The Show

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The Amazins

Opening Day Roster
March 23, 2030

Spring Training is complete, and the Mets have broken camp down in St. Lucie. They are headed north for the start of the regular season. Below is the Opening Day roster for your 2030 Mets:

Lineup
CF Nick Craven
SS Corey Seager
2B Steven Logan
RF Elvis Valido
C Luke Wray
3B Jackie Maurer
1B Ray Velazquez
LF Alexis Quevedo

Bench
OF Michael Conforto
OF Henry Armas
IF Barney Nowak
IF Oliver Paniagua
C Roosevelt Fox

*OF Nick Karnitz sprained his ankle in the last game of Spring Training, and he will start the season on the IL. His roster spot will go to Henry Armas. Fortunately, that was the only injury of the spring.

Rotation
RHP Anderson Espinoza
RHP Michael Whitehead
LHP Julio Fernandez
RHP Travis West
LHP Jeremy Pacheco

Bullpen
LHP Howard Sanchez
RHP Lincoln James
RHP Jermaine Butler
RHP Barney Shipman
LHP Ramon Chavez
RHP Otis Morgan
LHP Donald Beals
RHP Cesar Ferreira

*Lincoln James was the last arm to make the team. He struggled during the spring, but the Mets want to keep the likes of Giolito and Blair in AAA as reinforcements. At least that's the plan for now.


Mets In Philadelphia For Opening Day

The Mets will be on the road to kick off the season. They have a singular game against the Phillies and then a day off before finishing the 3 game set in Philly.

Fellow NL East teams will be the opponents for the first 12 games of the year. 3 in Philly, 3 in Washington, and then Philly and Washington again - this time in New York.

RHP Anderson Espinoza will get the ball for the third consecutive Opening Day. He'll be facing off against RHP Orlando Gill, who had a 3.33 ERA in 32 starts for the Phillies last year.

Play Ball!

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Start Season With A W
March 24, 2030

Opening Day is here in all its glory. The pageantry and the excitement is palpable across the sport of baseball. The slate is clean, and everyone is hopeful that they can put together a magical season and be the last team standing. The Mets took the first step in making that a reality as they beat the Phillies in Philadelphia 6-3.

The Mets exploded for 5 runs in the first inning, the capper being a 3-run HR by 1B Ray Velazquez. Velazquez would also add an RBI single in the 5th. RHP Orlando Gill didn't last long in his season debut as he was unable to record an out in the second inning before being pulled from the game. He had issues with control, but he was not alone. The Philllies walked 9 Mets batters throughout the course of the game.

RHP Anderson Espinoza, on the other hand, was stellar. He gave up 4 hits and struck out 6 through 6 relatively low stress innings. It wasn't until the 7th that the Phillies broke through with a 2-run HR by 3B Willy Chacin off RHP Jermaine Butler. RHP Cesar Ferreira would get taken deep in the next inning as well before LHP Donald Beals sealed the deal in the 9th.

RF Elvis Valido was 0 for 3 with 2 walks in his Mets debut.

The Mets will get a day off before resuming their series in Philly. 2030 is officially underway!

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Open Season With A Sweep Of The Phillies
March 27, 2030

After a 6-3 win on opening day, the Mets completed a 3-game sweep over the Phillies to open up the 2030 season. Citizens Bank Park looked like the site of the Home Run Derby, as the Mets managed 10 HR over the course of the three games.

The Mets plated 11 runs in Game 2, 4 of which came courtesy of a RHP Michael Whitehead grand slam. It was the first of his career and was a clear statement in opposition of the universal DH. RF Elvis Valido also hit his first HR as a Met in a 7 run 5th inning. On top of his grand slam, Whitehead was lights out on the mound. He pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 2.

Game 3 was a 6-0 Mets win, with RHP Travis West starring in his season debut. He threw 8 shutout innings, striking out 5 and giving up 4 hits. CF Nick Craven, SS Corey Seager, and 2B Steven Logan all went deep in the win.

All in all, the Mets outscored the Phillies 23-6 in the opening series of the year. The Phillies finished 20 games under .500 in 2029, and it looks like they got worse. I wouldn't expect them to be in the hunt for the NL East or wildcard this season.

The Mets now travel to Washington for three against the Nationals (2-2).

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Suffer First Loss, But Win Series
March 30, 2030

New York traveled to Washington and took the first 2 games of the series before losing the finale for their first defeat of the season.

The home run bashing continued in Game 1, as SS Corey Seager, RF Elvis Valido, and C Luke Wray all mashed solo shots in the third inning of a 6-4 win. LHP Julio Fernandez was good until the 5th, where he would surrender 4 runs to the Nationals. The bullpen wouldn't give up any damage as LHP Donald Beals collected his second save of the season.

Game 2 featured a pitcher's duel between LHP Jeremy Pacheco and RHP Paul Rhiency, with Pacheco getting the better side of the matchup thanks to 2 runs in the 5th. Pacheco was brilliant in his season debut. He got through 6.2 innings, giving up 5 hits and just 1 run while striking out 7 in the 2-1 win. It was exactly the type of outing the Mets were hoping for from the youngster to kick off his first full season in New York.

The Nationals got the better of the Metsies in the series finale as the home bats were held in check in a 4-1 loss. New York loaded the bases in the top of the 8th with one out, but CF Nick Craven and 2B Barney Nowak both struck out to end the inning.

The Mets (5-1) return to New York to face the Phillies (0-6) in the opener at Citi Field. Expect the crowd to be rowdy as it's the first game at Citi Field since the season ended in that devastating Game 7 against Colorado. RHP Michael Whitehead will take the bump for the home team as the Phillies are still looking for their first win of the season.

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The Amazins

Karnitz Activated, Armas Outrighted To Syracuse
March 31, 2030

Following today's 4-2 victory over the Phiilies, OF Nick Karnitz was activated from the IL. In a corresponding move, OF Henry Armas is being sent to AAA Syracuse. He will have to clear waivers first as he is out of minor league options. Armas had one hit and an RBI in 3 AB in limited action thus far this season.

Karnitz sprained his ankle in the final game of Spring Training and has been on the IL since. The Mets have a day off before their series continues against Philadelphia. Expect Karnitz to start in left field in his season debut. OF Alexis Quevedo has gotten the majority of the playing time in Karnitz's absence. He is hitting .176 in 17 AB.

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The Amazins

Mets Continue To Roll, Sweep Phillies
April 3, 2030

The Mets handled their business against the Phillies for the second time in a week. This time at Citi Field, but the result was no different. Three games and three wins. The Phillies are now 0-9 and continue to search for that elusive first win.

RHP Michael Whitehead delivered his second gem of the season in Game 1. He gave up just 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6 over 8 innings. The Mets would use the longball to score all 4 of their runs. 2B Steven Logan opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first. He would also add a 2-run HR in the third. LF Michael Conforto would get his first start of the year and mash a homer to right in the second inning of a 4-2 victory.

Game 2 saw the Phillies take their only lead of the season over the Mets. With the bats quiet and down 2-0 headed into the 7th, C Roosevelt Fox would hit his first career HR - a 2-run no doubter to right that would tie the game. An inning later, SS Corey Seager would give the Mets a 5-2 lead with a blast to center, his 4th of the year. LF Nick Karnitz would go 0 for 3 with a strikeout in his season debut.

In Game 3, CF Nick Craven would give the Phillies no time to get settled as he took the first pitch he saw deep for an early 1-0 lead. Craven hit another one in the second, this time a 2-run shot. He's already got 5 on the young season, good for a tie for first in the majors. C Luke Wray also had a nice day, going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. LHP Julio Fernandez was tagged for 3 runs, and RHP Jermaine Butler would give up another before LHP Donald Beals came in and closed the game for a 5-4 win. Beals recorded a save in all three games.

Next up, the Nationals (4-6) are coming to town. After these next three, the Mets (8-1) will already have a third of their games completed against Philadelphia and Washington.

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The Amazins

New York Sweeps Again, Now 11-1
April 6, 2030

The Mets continue to take advantage of the weaker teams in the division, sweeping the Nationals (4-9) by scores of 6-3, 5-1, and 3-1. Admittedly, New York has had a light schedule through the first two weeks of the season. All they are able to do is play the games on their schedule, and they have done so with great success so far.

LHP Jeremy Pacheco shined in Game 1 and has delivered two excellent starts so far this year. He went 7.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4. Through two starts, Pacheco looks every bit the future top of the rotation starter the Mets were hoping they had in him. On the other side, RF Elvis Valido had himself a big game at the plate. He went 3 for 4 with a homerun, a double, a walk, and 3 RBI.

2B Steven Logan blasted 2 HR and RHP Anderson Espinoza went 6 scoreless in Game 2 en route to the 5-1 win. It was a sloppy affair with rain coming down steadily for the duration of the evening. Both teams combined for 5 errors, including 3 by Nationals' first baseman Kevin Schmoll. In Schmoll's defense, he's naturally a corner outfielder, but the Nats are trying to mold either him or OF Mackenzie Whitlock into their every day first baseman. Schmoll added another error in the finale, and Whitlock had two errors in the opener. Safe to say the experiment has been an unmitigated disaster, and that they need a true first baseman in Washington ASAP.

The finale was a lazy mid-week matinee with little action. OF Nick Karnitz and 1B Ray Velazquez delivered back to back RBI singles in the 4th to give NY the lead after former Met SS Gilberto Pineda got the Nats on the board in the 2nd with an RBI double. RHP Michael Whitehead was spotless afterwards and would get through 6 innings before handing it over to the bullpen.

New York will get a day off before heading out west for their first real test of the season. It'll be a quick trip with 3 against the Padres (5-7) and then 2 in Texas against the Rangers (7-6) before returning home.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Around The League: Cardinals Still Undefeated
April 7, 2030

Despite the New York Mets being 11-1, the St. Louis Cardinals are off to the best start in baseball. They will take a 12-0 record into their matchup with the Reds this afternoon.

These Cardinals are no stranger to success, as they were a playoff team in 2029. They were eliminated 3-0 in the NLDS by the World Champion Rockies. So far this year, the Cardinals have handled the Blue Jays in Toronto, the Reds in Cincinnati, the Brewers in St. Louis, and are now a win away from sweeping the Reds again, this time in St. Louis.

St. Louis is enjoying a crazy hot start from a majority of their lineup. Currently, they have 5 players with an OPS over .950: RF Dan O'Neill (1.295), 3B John Henson (1.138), 1B James Maris (1.089), SS Edmundo Sosa (.994), 3B Sammy Fernandez (.966). You might recognize Dan O'Neill, who just won a World Series in Colorado and was signed to a 4 year deal worth $67.6M this offseason. He's pacing this Cardinals offense, which ranks second in the Majors in home runs and runs scored.

The pitching staff ranks third in the Majors in ERA (2.81), only trailing the Mets (2.27) and Rockies (2.77). The rotation is headlined by RHP Otis Goetz, RHP Francis Martes, and RHP Junior Fernandez. The St. Louis rotation might also be home to the coolest story in the Majors this year. Mauricio Ramos, a 37 year old from the Netherlands, is seeing his first MLB action in 2030. He's made 2 starts and in 10 IP he's only given up 1 run while striking out 9. Ramos was signed to an MLB deal as an international free agent this winter, and is immediately making an impact on one of the best teams in the NL. Very cool!

12-0 and counting...

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Chavez Headed To IL
April 10, 2030

During the 9th inning of last night's lopsided win over the Padres, LHP Ramon Chavez felt discomfort in his lat and was removed from the game. He will head to the IL. Injuries are a part of the sport, but are especially hard to swallow when they happen in a game that is essentially over. Chavez has surrendered one run in 3 relief innings so far this year.

Replacing Chavez on the roster will be be newly acquired RHP Aaron Blair, who was recalled from AAA Syracuse this morning. Blair has thrown 2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen so far this season.

The decision indicates the Mets desire to keep RHP Lucas Giolito in a starting role in Syracuse at the moment. It is likely that the Mets are saving Giolito for when they shift to a six-man rotation - a move that will probably happen once the calendar flips to May.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Padres Hand Mets First Series Loss Of The Year
April 10, 2030

Leaving the friendly confines of the NL East for the first time this year proved to be a challenge as the Mets dropped their series in San Diego this weekend.

The ball was flying out of Petco Park in Game 1 as the two teams combined for 6 homeruns. Unfortunately, New York was on the short end of the total as the Padres prevailed 6-2. RF Evlis Valido and SS Corey Seager opened up the scoring with two solo HR. Then the Padres would hit 4 unanswered homers. RHP Travis West would take the loss, giving up 4 runs in 6 innings while walking 4 and striking out 3.

The Mets offense exploded for 12 runs on 20 hits in the second game. CF Nick Craven, SS Corey Seager, and LF Nick Karnitz combined for 9 of the 12 RBI. Reliever LHP Ramon Chavez would exit in the 9th inning and was replaced by RHP Otis Morgan. Morgan gave up 3 hits including back to back homeruns. It would have been three consecutive homers, but Craven made a catch at the wall to end the game. 12-5 Mets. It was Morgan's first hiccup in his 4 appearances this year.

LHP Jeremy Pacheco pitched into the 8th inning of the rubber match. He gave up 10 hits and 2 runs on the day, but his pitch count was low so manager Mark Langford sent him back out there in a 2-2 ballgame. RHP Jermaine Butler entered after Pacheco gave up a single, and he failed to get through the inning unscathed, giving up 2 runs. IF Barney Nowak would come up with a pinch-hit HR, but the Mets would score no more. 4-3 Padres.

New York (12-3) is now headed to Texas for a quick two game series with the Rangers (8-9).

Cardinals Suffer First Loss Of The Year

Welp, a good old fashioned jinx. The Cardinals winning streak to start the season was halted at 12. They were unable to complete the four game sweep over the Reds as they lost the finale 5-3.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Rotation Shining Bright Early
April 11, 2030

We have now completed three turns through the rotation, and it continues to be a strength of this New York team. Pitching has been the mainstay in the organization since 2016, even as the faces and numbers on the mound change. Not only is the 2030 rotation no different, but early on it looks like it could be the best 5-man rotation Flushing has seen since the likes of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz stalked the mound at Citi Field.

As a staff, the Mets have a 2.86 ERA. That's good for second in the Majors behind only the Cardinals (2.69). The rotation itself has an ERA even better - 2.73. Anderson Espinoza, Michael Whitehead, Jeremy Pacheco, and Travis West combine for a 2.17 ERA. It's outstanding. Julio Fernandez is the only current outlier (5.52).

Espinoza and Whitehead are the two-headed monster that sets the tone for this Mets squad. They both have an ERA under 1.75, ranking top-6 in the NL. The two power pitchers use high velocity to put hitters on their heels, and they both feature deadly changeups.

It is quite an advantage when seemingly every day the Mets are trotting someone out there that can deliver 7 scoreless. Perhaps the most exciting piece of this rotation is the fact that everyone but Espinoza is back for another year, with Whitehead, West, and Pacheco being under team control through at least 2032.

It's early, but if the Mets are going to accomplish something special this season, this rotation is going to be smack in the middle of it.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Split In Texas
April 12, 2030

The Mets split their two game series with the Rangers and will now have a day off before returning home.

Game 1 was a low scoring affair, but the Rangers won 2-1. RHP Anderson Espinoza gutted through 6 innings, but the offense was kept quiet. He gave up just 2 runs, the nail in the coffin a HR to LF Jahmai Jones in the bottom of the 6th. The offense scattered 5 hits, the only RBI thanks to a double from 2B Steven Logan.

The bats would not be held down for a second game in a row, as the Mets plated 9 in a 9-3 win. SS Corey Seager started the game with a solo blast and CF Nick Craven would open the game up with a bases clearing triple in the second inning. RF Elvis Valido would add two more with a HR in the 4th. RHP Michael Whitehead would breeze through 7 innings, giving up only 3 runs, two of which came on a HR with 2 outs in the 7th. RHP Aaron Blair made his season debut and threw two scoreless innings to finish the game.

The Mets (13-4) will now get a day off before returning to New York where they'll face Cincinnati (3-14) for 4 games. The Reds are finishing a two-game set with Boston tomorrow before making the trip down I-95 to NY. They lost game 1 tonight 1-4.

Mets Depth Takes A Hit, Margot To IL

OF Manny Margot tore a ligament in his pointer finger while attempting a diving catch in yesterday's game with Syracuse. He'll require surgery and will miss significant time. 28 year old Edmund Ferreira will replace Margot in AAA.

While the injury does not impact the team in New York right now, it might at some point. With the veteran Margot sidelined, Henry Armas and Johnnie Hernandez are the only reserve outfielders on the 40-man roster.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Win 3 of 4 Against Reds
April 17, 2030

The Mets continue to take advantage of a weak schedule this April as they took 3 of 4 from the visiting Reds, the only hiccup coming in the second game of the series.

Game 1 saw the Reds jump into the lead on a 4th inning SS Mike Lugo 2-run HR, but the Mets would tie the game at 3 in the 6th. IF Barney Nowak proved clutch once again, coming up with a pinch-hit double that plated two runs and would give the Mets the lead for good. New York would tack on two more for a 7-3 win. 2B Steven Logan had 3 RBI in the win, and the bullpen threw 3.2 scoreless innings behind a Travis West start.

The Reds came back in Game 2 and gave the Mets their only loss of the series. LHP Julio Fernandez would give up 2 first inning home runs, but Steven Logan would tie the game in the bottom of the inning with his own 2-run bomb. The Reds took the lead again in the 4th, but 1B Ray Velazquez hit the equalizer - a solo shot to left - his first since the opening series of the season. RHP Aaron Blair would be the goat, as the Reds scored twice in the 7th to secure a 5-3 victory.

The Mets fell behind early once again in Game 3, but knotted the game at 2 in the 5th with RBIs from LF Nick Karnitz and CF Nick Craven. 2B Steven Logan went deep for the second game in a row in the 6th to take a lead, but the Reds would tie it in the top of the 8th. RF Elvis Valido provided the fans at Citi Field with their first walk-off moment of the season when he took a 10th inning pitch deep to left for a 2-run HR. LHP Jeremey Pacheco was solid in the 5-3 win. He pitched 6 innings while giving up 2 runs on 7 hits and striking out 3.

The finale was a game of fireworks as New York's offense exploded for 12 runs on 18 hits and Anderson Espinoza notched his 100th career win. 2B Steven Logan would launch his third home run in as many games, and 3B Jackie Maurer would have his best offensive game of the young season. He was 4 for 4 with 3 RBI, a double, two walks, and a run scored. He continues to impress, his batting average hovering around .300 while smacking 8 doubles already. He is still looking for his first homerun on the campaign.

The Mets (16-5) will now welcome the Padres (10-12) to Citi Field. They'll try to avenge their series loss to the Padres out in San Diego a week ago. RHP Michael Whitehead (2.25 ERA) will face RHP Jonathan Parra (6.26) in the opener tomorrow evening.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Take 2 of 3 vs Padres
April 21, 2030

New York managed to take the series from the Padres thanks to some late-inning clutch hitting from their most veteran player in the rubber match of the three game series.

The opener was not the Mets' best effort as the Padres managed a 6-1 win. Several runners were stranded on base, the Mets offensive game encapsulated in the third inning when 2B Steven Logan, RF Elvis Valido, and C Luke Wray came up with the bases loaded and nobody out, but the Mets could not manage a single run. The only run was produced by a 1B Ray Velazquez homer. RHP Michael Whitehead was not much more inspiring, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings and only managing a single strikeout.

Game 2 looked like it was destined to be a back and forth affair all night, but 1B Ray Velazquez blew the game open in the 7th with his second homerun in as many days - this time an opposite field grand slam. He's got 5 HR already this season after totaling 10 all year in 2029. Velazquez taking a step this year would be huge for the Mets and their title hopes. It wasn't all Velazquez, however, as CF Nick Craven enjoyed himself a 4 for 4 day, including 2 homeruns himself. LF Alexis Quevedo, getting the call in left vs the lefty, managed his first extra base hit of the year in what has been a disastrous start otherwise. When all was said and done, New York had managed an 11-5 win.

OF Michael Conforto played hero in the rubber match when he came in as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 8th with the game tied and the bases loaded. He worked an 11 pitch AB before hitting a sac fly to right-center field and a 2-1 lead. LHP Donald Beals closed the door in the 9th by striking out the side and picked up his 8th save of the year. He has yet to give up a run in 10 appearances this season. LHP Julio Fernandez kept the padres in check going 5.1 IP and only giving up one run on three hits. His ERA has come down to a respectable 4.50.

New York (18-6) is back on the road in Arizona this weekend. The Diamondbacks (12-13) have won 5 of their last 6 when they welcome the Metsies to town.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

What Has Happened To Luke Wray?
April 22, 2030

Through the all star break last year, Luke Wray looked like not only the best hitting catcher in baseball, but one of the best bats in the sport. He went into the Midsummer Classic as a huge weapon in this Mets offense, and he managed to put together a darn good season when you look at the whole body of work. An .889 OPS with 29 HR and 95 RBI is nothing to turn your nose up at. The concern arises when you look at his numbers since the midway point of last year.

Since the all star break last year, Wray has only managed 10 HR and his OPS is sub .600. The numbers get even more offensive when you look at them from the start of 2030. Through 70 AB so far this season, Wray has 1 HR. He has 3 RBI. He's walked 6 times to 21 strikeouts. And he's slashing .157/.224/.200 - good for a .424 OPS. To compound the issue, Wray is widely considered the worst defensive catcher in baseball. At a position that a lot of teams sacrifice offense for defense, the Mets are currently getting neither.

In short, Wray HAS to hit if he wants to provide value to this team. And for the most part, he has. Wray has had an OPS north of .800 in each of his 5 full time seasons in the big leagues. In fact, he was so productive last year, that the Mets traded away fellow catcher Eric Chavez to the Blue Jays because they couldn't take Wray out of the lineup. This year has been a different story. Wray recently saw his spot in the lineup drop to the 7-hole, down two spots from his usual 5th.

As a result of the drastic decline, Roosevelt Fox, whose path to the majors was cleared when Chavez was traded, has seen an uptick in playing time. He's made the most of it - good for the Mets, not so good for Luke Wray. In just 26 games in 2029, the Fox had an OPS of .835. This year, the 27 year old's OPS is 1.137 in 8 games. On top of the production with his bat, Fox's defense is far and away better than Wray's. Now, while this level of offense is not expected (or sustainable), Fox is carving out a legitimate role on this team.

Unfortunately for Wray, we are well passed "slump" territory and are quickly approaching "unplayable". It is hard to give up on a player that has been such a steady presence in the lineup for several years, and It will be interesting to see what the Mets do if the problem persists. Wray is out of options, and his value on the market could not be any lower than it currently is. Perhaps the best thing to do is to ride out the last year of team control with Wray as a backup. Time will tell how management will decide to handle the dilemma.

The short term solution is to play Fox more. He'll be behind the plate and batting 7th tonight in Arizona.