Noah Syndergaard did his part, holding the Nationals to two runs over seven innings, but the offense forgot to show up. Other than a solo home run by Asdrubal Cabrera, the Mets lineup did just about nothing against AJ Cole and a bunch of relievers. New reliever Fernando Salas kept us in the ball game with a scoreless eighth, but the wheels came off in the ninth as Jerry Blevins gave up opposite field hits to Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper to lead off the inning. Hansel Robles came in and immediately gave up two more hits, resulting in two key insurance runs for the Nationals. Mark Melanccon had little trouble shutting down the Mets in the ninth to secure the loss.
While this is just the first in a three game series, this was the must win game with our ace on the hill. Games two and three we’ll be trotting out Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo against Tanner Roark and Max Scherzer. The good news is the Marlins, Giants, Pirates and Cardinals all lost so we didn’t lose any ground in the wild card hunt.
This is what we can call a lucky loss. Did not lose any important ground to anybody. Lets hope they go on a tear next week against the Reds and Braves.
Losses happen, but if this team has a-n-y heart, they will take the next two games. When a team absolutely has to win, they need to be able to overcome no matter the opponent or situation. Losing either one of the next two tells us this team doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the big boys.
There are times that “talent” is more important than “intestinal fortitude.”
I agree Norm, but tonight it was a one run game into the ninth. The Mets are a “sit and wait for it to happen” team. However, you have to be able to manufacture a run here and there against A.J. Cole. They have enough talent, and when your ace is on the mound, and you must have a win, and you are at home, but you one get one run across the plate (even that was a solo shot), that’s embarrassing.
Everyone hates the small ball approach, but it has its place. Good teams aren’t good by accident, so you won’t get many chances. As Lawrence Taylor told Richard Todd after another sack, “Son, y’all gotta do better than this”.
Come on, we are not in kindergarden anymore in the land of unicorns and fairies where if you believe and wish hard enough, all your dreams will come true and every kid can become the president when they grow up.
Reality check : the other team wants to win too and its players want to do well.
Bruce…Flores….Rivera…K Johnson….Cabrera…..Cespedes(injured Leg)…. Grandy…… That’s a Lot of Swings and Misses and Plodding Feet–I don;t see the Small Ball there.
Correct. In addition, we are seeing a very low BA team.
Gotta at least win game 2 to keep pace in the wild card. Because this offense against Scherzer is going to be ugly.
Noah Syndergaard has to improve on controlling the running game. It is costing him wins.
Asdrubal Cabrera is scorching hot. He has “heart” just a bum knee. For that matter, Cespedes has “heart” just a bum quad.
JdG is going to miss a turn. The injuries just haven’t stopped.This team should not be in the middle of a playoff chase, but they are. This team with all their injuries are out manned and out talented but they are in a playoff chase. When they win on homeruns it goes without saying but when they lose they need small ball players. They have heart and should not have their intestinal fortitude questioned.
I do not for one second question their heart.
They are like a boxer in the late rounds, who has been staggered by blow after blow, trailing on three judges’ scorecards, but still standing, still throwing punches.
Metsense, I appreciate the reply but I will not back down. They needed more than one run against this kid. They have the players and if they don’t perform it should be said as such. It’s easy to show heart against the Phillies and the Marlins, who have way less talent than this current Mets team does, but I want to see it against a team that has been spitting at your face all year.
Eraff, you’re right. We realize most of those guys are windmills, and that’s a problem too, but that is a problem to talk about in November. Small ball isn’t just about stealing bases and hitting and running, small ball is also about productive outs and making contact when it must be made. They need to be hungrier than they are to do “whatever it takes”, and I just don’t see “whatever it takes” on this team. Bear down fellas! As I told Metsense, I would like to see it.
Not sure if baseball reference or fan graphs tracks it, but it feels like the Mets are on pace to set a club record for hitting into double plays.
According to FG, the 2016 Mets have hit into 108 GDPs in 135 games. If they keep up their current pace, at the end of the year they’ll have 130 GDPs. That would rank tied for 14th in club history. The franchise record is 148 for the 1999 club.
Ignoring strike-shortened seasons, the fewest in a year is the 87 that the 1989 club amassed.
Can always count on you, Brian.
I don’t know of any way to check it but it sure seems like we hit into a ton of DPs when there are two or three runners on base.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/split.cgi?t=b&team=NYM&year=2016#bases
39 GDPs out of 440 ABs (8.9%) when 2 men on base. League average is 6.8%
6 GDPs out of 96 ABs (6.25%) when bases loaded. League average is 6.2%
Thanks for this.
And last I checked, Mets had fewer times with RISP than average, so they certainly haven’t hit into a ton. Just goes to show why we need to keep track of things and why you can’t trust your eyes or your memory.