Marlins hit deGrom hard and stop Mets’ winning streak, 9-3

Yet, I need to acknowledge something else: The Mets’ other outfielders have been exceptional lately, too. “Doesn’t his nickname mean “The Talent”?” “I’ll bet he says no and says he’s fine”.

Frank Robinson is still the only player to win the award in both leagues. The key word in that sentence, however, is “had” because Cespedes and his new team, the New York Mets, eliminated that clause from his contract on Tuesday. New York’s payroll exceeded $100 million this season for the first time since 2011.

But Collins has been in enough situations in which his team has wound up falling short of the postseason that he’s not taking anything for granted – to the point where he practically contradicted himself. But it sure is working right now. It’s all about getting in right now.

Travis d’Arnaud also homered for New York. However, given the small sample size of his current play, his free agency, who pays him and how much, will become one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason. Every time you needed him to step up, he stepped up. The Mets are 46-25 at home this season and are third in wins in the National League this year behind the St. Louis Cardinals (50) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (48).

Adam LaRoche, 1B, vs. Oak (Martin), $10: Check on his health, but this is a cheap price for someone with his track record in such a great hitter’s park facing a pitcher making just the second start of his career.

Harper also hit a homer off Tyler Clippard in the eighth that sliced the lead to 4-3.

“It’s one of those games where I was having trouble locating the ball”, deGrom said “I feel fine”. In all other games, those same teams are 169-214. “Last year, he had a two-week hiatus because of the shoulder injury”. The Marlins rallied for three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.

Ortiz connected off Drew Hutchison (13-4). He did the same thing before he left Cuba, stepping up when he played for his nation in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Yet perhaps a more precise reflection of the passion of a fan base is viewership on a team’s cable television channel. Aside from David Wright’s 14-year, $192 million deal, the next biggest contract on the Mets belongs to Curtis Granderson – a paltry four-year, $60 million deal (for a New York franchise).

“It’s not the bad kind, either”, Johnson said. There’s just an “it” factor with him.

“If he can hit like Yelly, we’ll put him in the lineup”. Considered World Series favorites heading into the season, the Nationals now find themselves nine games out of the second Wild Card spot in the NL playoff race.

“You see the huge difference some help will make”, Collins said. “It looks like he likes that, and he responds in a favorable way”.

Logan Verrett gets the start Monday night as the Mets try to limit Matt Harvey’s innings. It allows everyone else to relax and just fit in. In July, the Mets’ top 11 plate appearance leaders included names like Juan Lagares, Kevin Plawecki, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Eric Campbell, Michael Cuddyer and John Mayberry Jr. Hearing more talk about how the Mets keep finding ways to win?

With the Mets, Cespedes owns a.308 AVG/.353 OBP/.680 SLG line and has launched 16 home runs, second-most among Major League Baseball hitters since the beginning of August (Baltimore’s Chris Davis has 17 during that time span).

It really has been a flawless fit.