The New York Mets didn’t just beat the Chicago Cubs last night; they offered a crash course in how quickly the fortunes of a ballgame swing on a few key choices. Some decisions injected energy into the lineup and gave the Mets the spark that shifted the balance of the night. Others showed the danger of waiting too long to act, with one call unraveling before anyone could stop the bleeding. It was a reminder that in baseball, boldness often sets the tone, but hesitation can leave even the best-laid plans in pieces.
Brett Baty starts at third base and delivers
With the Mets in a must-win game, Carlos Mendoza turned to Brett Baty at third base, a choice driven as much by defense as by circumstance.