By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
First half and not as expected for the Mets with exception of Jacob deGrom who could get the starting nod for the NL All-Stars Tuesday not in Washington D.C. Brandon Nimmo should have been considered and an all-star first half deserved consideration.
Meaningless win Wednesday night for the Mets in the standings, and when there is a win or more in the second half it will only mean playing for pride and rebuilding for next year or the year after. The Mets know about the disappointment of this first half. Just ask Jacob deGrom and listen to Brandon Nimmo the latest walk-off home run hero who finished off first place Phillies in the 10th inning.
“Sorry for Jake and the fans who keep coming out,” Nimmo said “Had a feeling I was coming up that inning. Even more special to do it coming off the bench.”
He has become the popular Met, gets on base, and says the right things to the media. . And Nimmo can come off the bench and deliver as he did hitting a first pitch curveball to right-center. His first career walk-off gave him a good feeling and also secured his spot as Mr. popular along with Wilmer Flores who hit one of three Mets walk-off home runs for wins this week.
Nimmo has Captain written all over. When David Wright walks away, Brandon Nimmo has that persona and backs it up with his play in the field. In a struggle, Nimmo said the home run was hard to put into words.
Credit: Neil Miller
The torch this night as the “Walk-Off King” went from Wilmer Flores to Brandon Nimmo. Monday, Flores became the walk-off home king with the 10th of his career that became a franchise record.
“Now I know how “Flow” feels all the time,” Nimmo said with a smile. And on a night when Jacob deGrom did not get run support, which lowered his Major League leading ERA to 1.68, Brandon Nimmo apologized.
That is the makings of a leader and a captain. So as the Mets go forward into the second half, and assuming that deGrom is still a Met, there is optimism. Nimmo is a part of this future, so is Michael Conforto despite his struggles at the plate, and Amed Rosario is starting to show some discipline at the plate and on the base paths.
And make no mistake about it, Jacob deGrom will be a part of this future, that is unless the Mets get blown away with an offer that will be too good to resist, and with the non-waiver trade deadline approaching, it seems more likely that deGrom will be a part of this rebuilding process for the Mets.
Nimmo deserved recognition as a reserve to represent the Mets and the National League. Instead, he will go home and rest for the second half and there will be other opportunities in the years ahead. He has a future and with the Mets.
As for deGrom, who goes into the break as an All-Star it was another season tying 8.0 innings, BHis 19th start of at least 7.0 innings and allowing one earned run or fewer. But a 5-4 record is hard to envision with all the no-decisions, with another one Wednesday night and Jacob deGrom with that 1.68 ERA is the second lowest by a Mets pitcher before the All-Star break in team history.
The other name, Doc Gooden before the All-Star break in 1985. When manager Mickey Callaway was asked about his hard luck pitcher, who should have 13 or 14 wins with run support, he said, deGrom was an All-Star.
“He should be starting the All-Star game. If he’s not that will be a bad decision,” Callaway said. But maybe not as bad as the no-decisions that have been a part of this first half of a season for Jacob deGrom.
Regardless, the Mets have something with Brandon Nimmo and with more playing time it can only get better. So with disappointment there is that bit of hope. The name of Brandon Nimmo is one and of course the other is Jacob deGrom.
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