There were no pitches delivered with intent. No retribution. No payback. Just a good, low scoring baseball game where teams were presented with opportunity. Only one club capitalized.
WPA Play Of The Game
That would be the only swing of the bat that generated runs. Chris Young walked two batters in the first three innings, but danced around trouble by avoiding surrendering a hit. Not the case in the fourth when he walked Yoenis Cespedis on four consecutive pitches out of the zone. He followed that by falling behind 2-0 to Lucas Duda before retiring him on a fly to center. He fell behind 1-0 to Neil Walker. Then, this happened.
The wind was howling from right to left all day, but the way Walker stung the ball, it didn’t matter. He yanked it down the line, the only thing the wind did was assure it stayed fair. One swing and the Mets Win Expectancy jumped from 50 percent to 72 percent.
Worst WPA Play Of The Game
Opportunities were limited for the Royals, but they did have chances. Alcides Escobar led off the game with a triple that split the gap in right-center. Kendrys Morales led off the fifth with a screamer over the head of Cespedes in center field. Both times the Royals failed to advance the runner.
The best chance of the game was when the Royals loaded the bases against Met starter Noah Syndergaard in the sixth inning. Syndergaard was indeed Thor on this day, throwing both thunderbolts and lightening. Against Morales, he took a shade off his four-seamer and got Morales out in front. He continued the trend with a slider down and out of the strike zone. For the final pitch of the at bat, Syndergaard went slider again. This time, Morales actually was able to place a sliver of bat on the bat, but it was not enough.
There’s just no hitter in the game who is going to barrel a 93 mph slider on the outer half.
That whiff was Syndergaard’s ninth and final of the day and shaved an additional 11 percent off the Royals Win Expectancy.
The Syndergaard Show
This one was all about the Mets young starter. That was as dominating a performance I can remember witnessing in person. Upwards of 100.8 mph on his four-seamer. Hitting 93 mph on his slider. Averaging 99.5 on his two-seamer. (Averaging!) Of his 92 pitches, he generated 18 swings and misses. That’s impressive against any team, but against the Kings Of Contact? Otherworldly.
You may not like him for buzzing Escobar’s dome in Game Three or for his, “Meet me 60 feet, six inches” comment. That’s fine. But after today you absolutely have to respect his stuff.
A tip of the cap from this Royals site.
The Bling Is In The Ring
The highlight of the game was the ring ceremony celebrating the World Championship. As expected, it’s loaded with diamonds. I’m sure it costs a little bit of cash. They aren’t selling these at the Authentics store. Yet.
White gold. Yellow gold. Sapphires. Diamonds. You name it, it’s on the ring. The Royals are reportedly giving out close to 700 of them. Present at the ceremony was an advance scout. I’m sure he was the guy who wrote those reports about Lucas Duda. Well deserved.
It was good to see Alex Rios, Jason Fraser and Greg Holland return for another round of applause. As we’ve all learned that when you win a title, you’re always welcome home.
Up Next
The Royals are off the next two days. Did someone confuse the first week of April with the All-Star Break? This is awful.
Come back soon, baseball.
I love when baseball comes back.
I hate baseball’s scheduling when baseball comes back.