PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #146
2017 Pittsburgh Pirates (75-87) vs 1983 New York Mets (68-94)
The Pirates were hoping for much better in 2017 but Clint Hurdle and the team could only manage 75 wins despite some real talent still on the roster. The point of criticism of the team had to be their starting pitching that just did not come through as expected with a mediocre 4.22 ERA. Gerrit Cole was supposed to be better than 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA and 31 home runs allowed. Still Cole was a strikeout artist who could hit triple digits on the gun and whiffed 8.7 per nine. Ivan Nova lost 14 times with an even better ERA of 4.14 but had a 4.46 FIP and also saw 29 home runs leave the yard. Chad Kuhl struck out 8.1 better per nine and held a 4.35 ERA in 31 starts. At 24 years old he was still learning the craft and did show some good command. Trevor Williams and Jameson Tailon were both 25 years old and threw about 150 innings. Tailon was the more power pitcher but arm trouble and a 1.49 WHIP were of concern while Williams worked with what he had for a 4.07 ERA and was more consistent. Tyler Glasnow really struggled with a 7.69 ERA and likely wont be seen in this series. Felipe Vazquez saved 21 games with a 1.67 ERA to win the closers job while Tony Watson from the left side saved 10 games but had a 1.52 WHIP and fell out of favor. Wade LeBlanc and Daniel Hudson made up the bulk of the pen with Juan Nicasio maybe the most impressive showing a 2.85 ERA in 65 games. The promising Pittsburgh outfield was a but of a letdown as many thought it was among the best in the league. Starling Marte hit .275 with 21 steals but did not have the power profile yet although his glove made up for a lot. Gregory Polando hit just .251 with a .695 OPS and only 35 RBI in 108 games; he simple seemed overmatched at times. Former MVP Andrew MCCutchen with .279 with 28 home runs and 88 drive in proving that he was still a legitimate star even if not in his prime. David Freese at third bat was average with 10 home runs and a .739 WHIP while at first 24 year old Josh Bell hit an impressive 26 home runs with 90 RBI providing much need support in the lineup. Jordy Mercer hit .255 with 14 home runs and some clutch hitting out of short stop. Mercer 204 total bases and 5 triples. Francisco Cervelli hit .249 at catcher with 5 home runs and was backed up by Elias Diaz; netiehr man was anything special. The leader in WAR was Josh Harrison who hit .272 but scored 66 runs, hit 16 home runs, and stole 12 bases. Harrison was also a fine defensive asset and was even HBP 23 times. Adam Frazier was the main man off the bench hitting .276 with 53 RBI and John Jaso hit 10 home runs with a .730 OPS and not a bad bench option. Jose Osuna played in over 100 games but most of the talent the Pirates had was already in the starting lineup. Pittsburgh does have some talent and if tis young pitching can come through, should be able to take care of a interesting Mets team.
From aging Tom Seaver to young phenom Darryl Strawberry, the 1983 Mets had it all but one thing they didn’t have was a winning record. Saver started in 34 games at 38 years old and had a good 3.55 ERA with 135 K and 2 shutouts. He still had that old Mets magic at times when he needed it. Mike Torrez was also up there in age at 36 and he lost 17 games and had a 4.37 ERA. Torrez walked 113 batters and at times seemed to be his own worst enemy. Ed Lynch went 10-10 with a 4.28 ERA and gave the team quality innings when needed. Walt Terrell and Craig Swan were the 4th and 5th options with Terrell the much better option holding a 3.57 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Young Ron Darling also made 5 starts with a 2.80 ERA but it would be a bit of a stretch to see him in this series. Jesse Orosco was proving himself as a good closer and he took over the job with 17 saves and a 1.47 ERA. Doug Sisk had 11 saves with a 2.24 ERA making him a very good second option when the Mets had the lead. Carlos Diaz and Scott Holman rounded off a very promising season for Mets relievers. New man Keith Hernandez had a great first season in New York also making himself a team leader. Hernandez had the best glove in the league and hit .306 in the process with an .858 OPS. Hubie Brooks hit .251 at third but never showed power with only 5 home runs and 58 RBI in 150 games. Jose Oquendo was only 19 but played in 120 games at short hitting .213 with only 8 extra base hits, his glove was nice but the bat was at a low minors level. Brian Giles had 17 steals and 15 doubles but alos no power. Giles had only a 70 OPS+ in 400 atbats. Ron Hodges was the catcher hitting .260 with 12 doubles and 21 RBI, the Mets really needed an upgrade at this position. The focus however was on the Mets outfield, 34 year old George Foster hit 28 home runs with 90 RBI making him the most feared bat in the order. Foster didn’t hit for average anymore but had 252 total basses. In center Mookie Wilson stole 54 bases and hit .276 making him a fine leadoff bat. Wilson scored 91 runs and was one of the smartest players on the field. He walked only 18 times but came around with 176 hits. Finally in right was Strawberry, one of the best young talents at 21 that anyone could hope for. He hit 26 home runs and drove in 74 while stealing 19 bases, there was really nothing that Straw could not do. Dave Kingman had 13 home runs off the bench but hit only .198 while Danny Heep was the best left handed pinch hitter on the roster. Bob Blair played in 118 games and hit .250 backing up a very light Mets infield. Even 39 year old Rusty Staub managed to get into 104 games solely as a pinch hitter, he could still swing it hitting .296. One has to say that the Mets were not as bad as their 68 win season, and betters may love their underdog status against Pittsburgh, but in order to win, they would have to have it all come together, both young and old.
Game 1 At PNC Park
Partly cloudy 51
1983 Mets...........................2
2017 Pirates.......................10
WP: J. Taillon (1-0) LP: T. Seaver (0-1)
HR: A. McCutchen (1), J. Harrison (1)
POG: Josh Harrison
2017 Pirates lead series 1-0
Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison each have three hits, 2 RBI, and a home run as the middle of the lineup punished Tom Seaver in an easy Pirate win. Seaver lasted only two innings allowing 5 runs while Jameson Taillon allowed only 2 earned runs and 5 hits over 7 innings. A Ron Hodges doubles was the only extra base hit for the Mets.
Game 2 At PNC Park
Clear skies 57
1983 Mets......................5
2017 Pirates...................2 (10 inn)
WP: J. Orosco (1-0) LP: F. Rivero (0-1)
HR: D. Heep 2 (2)
POG: Danny Heep
Series tied at 1
A three run home run by Danny Heep, his second of the game, put the Mets up 3 three runs in the 10th and carried them to the win, Gerrit Cole and Walt Terrell went back and forth as Cole struck out seven and Terrell worked into the 8th inning. Heep had homered in the 6th, but in the 10th Felipe Rivero fell behind in the count and left a breaking ball up for the dramatic finish.
Game 3 At Shea Stadium
Partly cloudy 57
2017 Pirates.......................2
1983 Mets..........................3 (10 inn)
WP: J. Orosco (2-0) LP: I Nova (0-1)
HR: S. Marte (1), B. Bailor (1)
POG: Neil Allen
1983 Mets lead series 2-1
A wild pitch in the 10th inning gave the Pirates the lead and appeared to give them the edge they needed with Ivan Nova on the mound to close things out. The Mets had a rally in them and when Gary Rajsich drew a walk, Bob Bailor came up representing the winning run. Bailor nailed a 397 foot shot over the left field wall for a Mets walk off and the lead in the series. Trevor Williams was excellent for the Pirates over 8 innings allowing only one run but Neill Allen was right there with him for the duration. Danny Heep went 3-4 to continue is hot hitting.
Game 4 At Shea Stadium
Partly Cloudy 55
2017 Pirates.......................0
1983 Mets..........................1
WP: M. Torrez (1-0) LP: I. Nova (0-2) S: C. Diaz (1)
HR: None
POG: Ron Darling
1983 Mets lead series 3-1
Ron Darling had his game face on all evening and frustrated the Pirates striking out seven but his opponent Chad Kuhl was just as sharp in what became a scoreless pitchers duel in game four. The Mets again came through with the game on the line, this time it was veteran George Forster who doubled off the wall to score the only run of the game. Carlos Diaz closed out the ninth and Ivan Nova took his second loss in as many days. The Mets now look to Tom Seaver to close out the series in five.
Game 5 At Shea Stadium
Partly cloudy 48
2017 Pirates.........................1
1983 Mets............................2
WP: T. Seaver (1-1) LP: J. Taillon (1-1)
HR: F. Cervelli (1)
POG: Tom Seaver
The magnificent Mets pitching continued and Tom Seaver went 6 strong innings allowing only one run and striking out six before the New York pen closed the door. Game 3 hero Bob Bailor drove in a run as did Darryl Strawberry as Jameson Taillon was good but not good enough. The Mets take four games in a row including all three at Shea for an impressive series win.
1983 New York Mets Win Series 4 Games To 1
Series MVP:
Danny Heep
(.467, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, .600 OBP)