Although gloom and doom is the feeling of the past two days, there are ways the New York Mets can get themselves back into this series.
By David Hong
The Mets lost a tough one in Game 1 in 14 innings – one they were two outs away from winning.
In Game 2, the Mets were outplayed in every phase of the game, getting blown out 7-1.
Hope lost?
Not yet.
There have been teams who’ve came back down 0-2 to win the World Series. One of them was the last Mets team to win the World Series back in 1986. The Mets actually lost the first two games at Shea Stadium before coming back to beat the Boston Red Sox.
The 1996 New York Yankees also lost the first two games at Yankee Stadium to an Atlanta Braves who that was coming off a World Series title the year before. But, as we all know, the Yankees came back to win it in six games.
It’s now the Mets turn. Even though they were badly outplayed in Game 2, there are still reasons why the Mets could still come back in win this, and here’s why:
1. Home Sweet Home
The Mets will be back at Citi Field for the next three games, which will clearly be a much more favorable atmosphere than it was at Kansas City. The Mets have been great at home for most of the season. They are 52-33 at home this season, including 3-1 in the playoffs. They have beaten Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta back to back in the NLCS. Add to the fact that it will be a raucous crowd at hand for the Mets first ever World Series games at Citifield and first Mets World Series home game since 2000, the Mets should benefit more from the atmosphere.
In the last nine World Series, AL Teams have not fared well at NL ballparks, going 8-17 in NL stadiums. The 2006 Detroit Tigers, 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, 2010 Texas Rangers, and the 2012 Tigers all failed to win a game at NL turf.
There will also be no DH in the NL, so the Royals will lose their best power hitter Kendrys Morales for the games at Citi Field. Even though the Royals are stacked at 1-9 in their batting order, losing a key power bat always diminishes the lineup a bit. Plus, the Royals pitchers will have to bat as well, which they are not familiar with.
2. More Young, Hard Throwers Looming
The Royals may have gotten to Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom, but they still have a couple more studs to go through. Noah Syndergaard will start Game 3 and he is the hardest thrower of the group. So far, Noah has been brilliant in the playoffs, showing now signs of any jitters while flashing some electric stuff.
Steven Matz will start Game 4, and while he didn’t last past the fifth inning in his two playoff starts, he does have lots of potential and throws hard as well. I won’t be surprised if he actually has a 2010 Madison Bumgarner moment in Game 4. Bumgarner, then a rookie, shut down the Texas Rangers in 8 innings in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series, which started his legendary postseason resume.
So far, the Royals tendency to not strike out and put the ball in play has been too much for even the Mets power starters. But can they keep doing it against more young hard throwers, including the hardest thrower in the game?
3. Erratic Ventura & Familiar (Perhaps Tired) Young
The Royals will send out Yordano Ventura and Chris Young for Game 3 and 4 respectively. Ventura has electric stuff and can dominate when he’s on, but he doesn’t always pitch at that level. When he’s not on, he can be really erratic. One way the Mets can do that, is score early off Ventura and fluctuate him and take him off his rhythm and it will be tough for him to recover.
Former Met Chris Young received the Game 1 win by shutting the Mets out in the final 3 innings. He will only have 3 days rest from it and from a guy, who’s durability has always been in questions with the various injuries he suffered, Young might not last long in Game 4. Plus, the Mets should be more familiar with him after seeing him in Game 1. Young’s 6’10 frame makes him tough to hit but the Mets have seen his arm angle now so they should be more equipped to face him in Game 4.
4. Game 1 Proved The Mets Are Legitimate
Sure, Game 1 was a gut wrenching loss, but the Mets were a Jeurys Familia misplaced fastball away from stealing the opener on the road. The Royals may have been able to get to Harvey in that game, but the Mets hung in there and led twice in that game. Forget about the Game 2 blowout for a moment, Game 1 proved that the Mets can play with the feisty Royals team and had the Mets been able to get a couple of clutch hits with men on, they could’ve easily taken it and the series would’ve been even.
5. Mets Offense Isn’t This Bad
The Mets have struggled offensively so far in this World Series. That being said, the Mets offense is not that bad when it’s on. They were one of the best second half teams offensively and they have enough power to scare any opposition and Citi Field will suit their power prowess more. They have drawn their fair share of walks in the World Series. They just haven’t driven them in much.
Maybe the Citi Field atmosphere will wake up their bats, just like it did in Game 3 NLDS when the Mets scored 13 runs in their first ever playoff game at Citi Field. Friday will be the first ever World Series game at Citi Field so maybe that can create a boost.
The Mets definitely need more from David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto, and co. Wright and Duda enjoyed some moments in the NLCS, Cespedes can instantly boost the Mets offense with one swing like he did in the regular season; Flores provides power and had a great August; and Conforto put forth a great rookie regular season, flashing some pop on his own too. So, in essence, they all are capable of breaking out.
Curtis Granderson has been one of the few effective players offensively this series; Travis d’Arnaud has had his power moment at times in the playoffs, and there’s also the Ruthian Daniel Murphy. Murphy may not have homered yet, but he collected two hits in Game 1 and may have not gotten favorable calls on some pitches which led him to complain a little to the umps.
The Mets also have a secret weapon off the bench in Juan Uribe. Uribe missed the first two rounds in the playoffs but he is on the roster and with the pitcher’s spot, he can be used as a pinch hitter in a big spot. Uribe has won two World Series rings and has always had the knack for the big hits and he already had a few with the Mets.
Also, it’s not like the Royals are sending out Clayton Kerhaw, Zack Greinke, Jon Lester, or Jake Arrieta on the mound. Mets beat all of them in the playoffs and they can certainly hit some vs Ventura or Young in the next two games.