Tag Archive for Tyler Zuber

Pop Star

It sure looked like we were never going to win another game after that Pittsburgh series. What would be the catalyst? It turns out, a few unexpectedly effective bullpen games and a few Brandon Nimmo grand slams.

The big wheel keeps on turning. Several retreads have made their way back, like Chris Devenski and Austin Warren. Tyler Zuber, whom I thought they saw something in, was DFAed, as was Colin “The Pooch” Poche, who I think may have resigned a minor-league deal. Then there’s newly arriving reliever Zach Pop, who deserves to hang around just because his name is Zach Pop (he should pitch to Coco Crisp). New York, London, Paris Munich–everybody talkin about Pop’s uni. It’s No. 56.

Prepare for reckless speculation from now till July 31 about the Mets’ appetite for starters and relivers, maybe some from here. I’m officially starting the Zac Gallen to the Mets rumor. He wears No. 23!

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Dick Move

As the Mets encounter the worst stretch of the year, the obligatory recycling of fringe pitchers has come for the lineup. Francisco Alvarez was sent to Syracuse yesterday and Luisangel Acuna joins him there today as the reeling Mets make more moves.

The headliner is Dicky Lovelady (that’s what he prefers to be called) a lefty reliever let loose by Minnesota. He’s apparently here and suiting up in No. 57, most recently belonging to Kevin Herget who was a Met for about 15 minutes in April. Does anyone remember the last Dicky to play for the Mets? That was Dicky Gonzalez (39) back in 2001. I was at his debut; I’m pretty sure he lost to the Astros.

And back 15 years ago, I wrote a series of articles on Mets named Dick. Real mature.

Also back with the Mets is Travis Jankowski, who takes Acuna’s place. Jankowski you’ll recall played for us in 2022, becoming the answer to the trivia question “Who was the last Met to wear No. 16 before Steve Cohen in a desperate attempt to make the Mets look more historically formidable retired it”?

So this marks Travis’s second stint in orange and blue; he’s since played for Texas, the White Sox and the Rays, who lost him to free agency earlier this month. Jankowski is listed in 21.

Also you may have seen the debut for Mets reliever Tyler Zuber (53) last night; he’s since been sent back to Syracuse along with Blade Tidwell (40). I’m pretty sure Justin Garza (71) also got sent down as Dedneil Nunez returned.

As for Alvarez, he’s been replaced by Heyden Senger who can probably hit singles with the same infrequency. Acuna gets everyday play that got harder to come by with Ronny Mauricio hanging around. Tyrone Taylor is also likely to take a playing time haircut with Jankowski here. Jankowski takes no haircuts of course.

 

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Reinvention

So the trade deadline passed without any major moves for the Mets, just a lot of stitching up the corners. Will the new guys make a difference? Sure, as long as the other 22 guys already on the team continue doing what they can do well.

Until he broke out with three hits last night, I was worried about Nimmo who wasn’t even sprinting to first on walks with the same gusto. And if you stayed up late last night you also saw Paul Blackburn make his debut, wearing No. 58 and ringing up his WHIP score with guys on base every inning. He persevered though, with the help of a couple DPs and generally wasn’t hit hard.

The other night it was Huascar Brazoban making his Mets debut, wearing R.A. Dickey’s former 43. Tyler Zuber has been assigned No. 54 but is still in the minors.

One way the Mets made room for the new guys was cashing out Jake Diekman and Adrian Houser, trading Josh Walker to Pittsburgh and Cole Sulser to Tampa Bay and releasing Ty Adcock. Will Adam Ottavino survive the pending return of Sean Reid-Foley and Reed Garrett?

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