It was not a good day in Mets-land, as the Mets dropped both games of their twi-night doubleheader against the Pirates.
Game 1: Pirates 3, Mets 1
- Steven Matz started this one for the Mets. While he wasn’t great, he certainly pitched well enough to win. He threw only five innings with eight hits, two earned runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts. If only there was some offense hidden in that lineup beyond Matz himself, who had a triple and another hard hit ball that would have been for extra bases if not for a great Andrew McCutchen play. It was his second career loss, which in itself is pretty amazing.
- Jon Niese, pitching in his first game against the Mets since being traded to the Pirates in the off-season, threw seven shutout innings against his old ball club because why not. He was the beneficiary of great defense both in the infield and outfield, which I’m sure Mr. Niese appreciated greatly.
- Curtis Granderson hit a solo home run in the eighth, his tenth of the year, putting the Mets on the scoreboard for the first time in 16 innings according to the booth. That’s all you need to know about how the Mets offense did in this one, really. They only managed five hits. They weren’t overpowered (they only struck out three times), and they even walked three times. They just couldn’t get the hits to fall in this one and spent most of the time hitting the ball on the ground.
Game 2: Pirates 3, Mets 1
- Like Matz before him, Jacob deGrom was pretty OK in Game 2, just not dominant enough to overcome the Mets lack of offense. He went six innings while giving up three earned runs and striking out nine. Mets starters struck out 17 batters combined in the two games, in 11 innings. They each lost their respective games.
- Michael Conforto hit a long double in the fifth and Kevin Plawecki, whose batting average dropped below .200 before his plate appearance that inning, singled him in. It would be the last of the Mets’ offense on the night.
- The team decided to switch it up in Game 2. Instead of consistently getting on top of balls and pounding them in the ground, they just struck out instead. They struck out 14 times in this one. Over both games, the Mets went 9 for 61, scored two runs, walked five times, left ten men on base, struck out 17 times, and were 1 for 7 with RISP.
- The Pirates continued their thrashing of the Mets, now having defeated them nine straight times going back to 2014, and including the Pirates sweep of the season series last year. In those nine games, the Mets have been outscored 14-48. Welp.
- I really tried to find something positive to put here, guys, because of all the negative. But even the bullpen was shaky. Matz and deGrom pitched pretty well, considering, I guess.
Oy!
The Mets are currently starting two players who were cut by Tampa Bay during Spring Training.
That’s the new farm system.
Oh man. I didn’t even notice this. Yikes.
It was very boring baseball. It was very boring baseball. (repeated twice for the doubleheader).
The offensive woes are casting a shadow on the starting pitching which has been good enough to win these games.
Wright, Duda, TDA and Flores have visited the DL and Cespedes and Lagares are playing with injuries. Granderson, Conforto, Cabrera and Cespedes are not hitting. They will and some of the injured players will heal. They need to tread water. It has nothing to do with a farm system because the Mets aren’t going to sit any of these players for a minor leaguer to start. Patience, get behind your team, they are in playoff position and the offense is just going through a very poor stretch. Lets Go Mets.
Yeah… Get behind the team, Jim!!!!
Ha!!!!!!
I guess the farm System is a separate thread, and maybe I am feeling grouchy. Always a possibility.
My restlessness stems from the fact that five minutes after Alderson arrived on the job, the blogosphere exploded with articles about how he had “fixed” the farm system. That finally the Mets were doing things right. And how they were now in a position to achieve sustained success.
And I always thought: Hey, not so fast. It’s one thing to say you’ve fixed it, but saying isn’t exactly doing. There have been some successes. But today, we are finally looking at a full system that is the direct result of almost six years of the Alderson regime — and it is a system that is mediocre at best. A system without top tier talent and lacking in depth. Under .500 overall. The Mets have needed help this year at C, 1B, 3B, OF and reliever — and there’s been no significant contributions from the AAA squad. When the club looks to trade for real talent, it is dubious to think that the Mets have the necessary chips.
I think the farm is very, very important. Today is the day of Aldersons sixth draft as Mets GM. I truly hope they do a better job than in the past. Because it does directly effect the ML club in dozens of meaningful ways. Can they identify and draft talent?
Days like that really make fans feel like crap.
Can Chichinni, Dilson, or Rivera play a part in 2016?
Yesterday’s Bench: Reynolds, Campbell, Kelly— I don’t believe all 3 can play a part here—I’m doubtful that any of them can.
I believe they need to test some internal options…quickly!!!— the pennant race won’t wait for them!
Flores is probably more effective as a “Floater”…. Cabrera needs some down time…. with the present roster, yoiu cannot address Rest or Platoon Advantage…. the bench guys are not Major League Ballplayers!!!