Next Man Up

By : Mike Rifkin

Mark Canha is the latest Met to step up in a big way as his two home runs led the Mets to a 10-9 victory over division rival Phillies. After a rain delay Canha hit a game tying three run home run to tie the game at 7. After Jean Segura homered to give the Phillies an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the Eighth. Canha delivered a two run home run off David Robertson in the top of the Ninth to give the Mets a 9-8 lead. For Canha it was his first two home runs against the Phillies in the season series and wound up driving in 11 runs. 

For the 2022 Mets they have had a next man up mentality all season and Sunday was no different.  With injuries to starters Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker and having to play a doubleheader on Saturday the Mets had Jose Butto make his Major League debut and it got off to a shaky start. Butto gave up four runs in the first inning including a three run home run to Alec Bohm. He then threw two scoreless innings allowing the offense to tie the game. In the Fourth inning he gave up a second three run home run to Alec Bohm but Butto did give the Mets four innings. Then Nate Fisher who was doing finances last year came on and gave the Mets three scoreless innings in his MLB debut. 

When a team has a special season they get contributions up and down their organization. I think this should be attributed to Buck Showalter who believes in his players and gives everyone their opportunity. When Butto was struggling in the first inning Showalter could have pulled him and I think a lot of managers would have. Sunday was the latest example of the Mets next man up mentality.