One Last Look at Mets-Dodgers NLDS

Before we move onto the Cubs, let’s take one final look back at the Mets miraculous win over the Dodgers in the NLDS.

I use the word “miraculous” without hyperbole. The Mets had to face the two best pitchers in baseball four times in a five-game series. It meant they had to win at least two of those games. That is a tall task for even the most talented offensive teams. And somehow the Mets did it.

I’m still not sure how.

Well, the Mets pitching wasn’t too shabby, either. Jacob deGrom was brilliant in Game 1 and although he struggled in Game 5, he was able to power through when it mattered to keep the Dodgers from running up the score. The same went for Matt Harvey in Game 3. Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz were bested by Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, respectively, and there’s no shame in that.

Jeurys Familia was superb, not allowing a run in four games and picking up two saves. He threw two innings in the clinching Game 5, the first time he had ever done that.

As far as the hitting, Daniel Murphy was incredible. He hit three home runs, all of them coming off the two Dodgers aces. He also had that heads-up base running move that stole the tying run in Game 5. He hit .333 in the series with five RBIs.

Curtis Granderson led the Mets with a .389 average. Despite only scoring one run, he did everything a leadoff batter should do.

Yoenis Cespedes had two homers and four RBIs. Travis d’Arnaud also had four RBIs, including the sacrifice fly that drove in Murphy to tie Game 5. He only hit .158, but he came up big when he was needed.

But there is still improvements that need to be made if they want to advance to the World Series,. David Wright had the biggest hit of his Mets career in Game 1, but it was the only hit he had.

Lucas Duda was a nightmare, batting .111 with 11 strikeouts in 18 at bats. He needs to start hitting.

Michael Cuddyer was dreadful. Aside from hitting .000, he was brutal in the field in Game 1. He was benched for the rest of the series, save for a couple of pinch-hitting appearances. He is now an expensive benchwarmer.

Out in the bullpen, Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed disappointed. Bartolo Colon was probably the most effective middle innings guy, and he was just okay. As a group, the relievers must do better.

Still, it really was an incredible series. And there is no reason that this run can’t continue.