That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies Opposition Roadblock: New York Mets

By Mike Azzalina

Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; General view of fans outside Citi Field before a game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; General view of fans outside Citi Field before a game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits a three RBI home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits a three RBI home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Position Player: Yoenis Cespedes

A week ago, the Phillies welcomed a limping Met offense into Citizen’s Bank Park. Throughout the course of game one, it looked as though the struggles would continue with Eickhoff dominating a majority of the game. Then, our roadblock pick, Jay Bruce, hit his second of two homeruns on the night. From that point on, the Mets owned the series.

Thanks in part to Yoenis Cespedes. I had the sheer pleasure of sitting in the Diamond Club on Tuesday night for the show that Cespedes put on against Clay Buchholz and Adam Morgan. I have seen some impressive homeruns in my baseball going days, but never anything like the moonshots Cespedes was displaying on that gorgeous evening.

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Cespedes can be controlled, however, and we saw that last week. If you are able to get ahead of him early with good pitches, he will chase. Making a pitch way out of the zone to him ahead 0-2 and 1-2 is not wasting a pitch. As a matter of fact, it may be better than trying to freeze him with something in the zone.

As Zach Eflin makes his first start in 2017, the Phillies hope this turn in the rotation goes much better than the first time the Mets saw it. After Eflin’s start, it will be up to Vinny Velasquez to try and get himself on track and Aaron Nola to continue his encouraging start.

If they want success, it will start with getting Cespedes out, or at least helping Cespedes get himself out.

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