The Mets lost 9-2 to hand the Marlins the sweep in one of the ugliest series they’ve played in a long, ugly season. The good news is we don’t have to face the Marlins again until 2018.

Rafael Montero struggled, allowing five runs in just four innings and Erik Goeddel threw gas on the fire, putting the game out of reach with four earned runs in the ninth. The Marlins broke out their whoopin sticks with home runs by Justin Bour, A.J. Ellis, Miguel Rojas and, of course, Giancarlo Stanton (56!). The Mets countered with a solo shot by Brandon Nimmo and two hits apiece by Kevin Plawecki and Phillip Evans. Not much else to report from this one-sided affair.

Tomorrow the Mets kick off their last three-game series of the year against the Washington Nationals who hold a 20-game lead atop the National League East. Let’s hope that’s us next year. Meanwhile, it would be nice to stick to the Nats. Jacob deGrom will get us started in a bid for his 16th win.

14 comments on “Gut Reaction: Marlins 9, Mets 2 – 9/20/17

  • Pete

    I’m just curious as to why it would be nice to stick it to the Nats? They have a good manager, a good GM, a smaller payroll, and probably just as many key injuries as the Mets have had as well. Is it the Nats fault they are the only team above 500? Kudos to the players and the organization. We as Met fans have only our beloved FO to blame for the fiasco of a season. How many seasons under 500 are the Mets with Alderson as GM? What makes you think next year will be any better?

    • Jimmy P

      According to one site, the Nationals had the 9th highest payroll in baseball at the beginning of the season at $168 million, behind the Cubs and ahead of the Orioles. They’ve always shown a willingness to spend.

      The Mets were 12th at $155 million, though the real money spent will go down significantly due to the massive sell-off. If lower that number by $15 million, conservatively, to $140 million, it would tie Mets with KC Royals at $140 million.

      • Pete

        More like 25 million Jimmy. And I do believe the Wilpons have an insurance policy based on the number of games David Wright plays. So you can skim off another 15 million there. Which brings the payroll comparable to the miserly Marlins. Scary thought huh? I don’t know what
        market size the D.C.- Baltimore area is but I do know New York is still number one.

    • MattyMets

      Pete – first of all, the Nats are our rival and there are several players on that team that are no favorites to Mets fans. Secondly, as far as the finger pointing, I think the front office, ownership and coaches all deserve some blame, but let’a not get crazy. Our team is built around a power rotation that was the envy of the league not long ago. That 4/5 of it got wiped out by injuries was not something that could have been predicted or properly prepared for.

      • Jimmy P

        The point about the injuries to the pitchers is undeniable.

        My worry was always that the Mets were too reliant on starting pitching. Sandy did not bother to build a top bullpen, and did not strive for excellence in the position players, relied too heavily on a poor defensive team, and had zero depth on the farm.

        But whenever I wanted my preseason prediction to go down to, say, 85-87, I kept looking at those starters: Noah, Jake, Matt, Zach, Matz and felt they would overcome all the team’s shortcomings. The weak pen, the poor defense, the lack of depth, the average offense.

        I thought they’d win 91 and compete for the WC. Looks like that number would have gotten them to Game 163 this year. It was always the master plan. I wished they aimed higher, but that’s a very old complaint with this ownership.

        I loved that Omar once, fleetingly, sold the Wilpons on the idea of being the best. Of spending big and winning. I still think that’s the model for success. Use the asset of NYC, use the resources available. Unfortunately, our owners are under-funded, unmotivated, and lack vision.

        The business model is there but they ignore it.

        • Pete

          I agree with you 100% Jimmy. The only issue I have had for the past few years is the Wilpons acting like the Mets are a small market team and their dumpster diving. Again next year this team has more holes and question marks than proven players. The team has no identity. It’s a jigsaw puzzle every year hoping the pieces fit (or don’t break). Lastly they don’t ignore the business model Jimmy because they can’t afford it. Please sell the team. We have a few billionaires here in NYC. I’d love to see Michael Bloomberg buy the team and run it they way we Met fans deserve to be far better treated.

  • TexasGusCC

    Except for a regretful hot streak, the Mets are locked into the fifth draft pick fight with the Reds, as the Mets are one game worse. With only ten games left in the season, improving to fourth is unlikely and falling to seventh would be a shame because they have a three game advantage on the Padres.

    If I were making out the lineup, Lagares would lead off, Nimmo would hit eighth. We all got an idea as to what these guys can do, no reason to mess up a good thing by doing anything else. Also, if Philip Evans gets too much playing time and some team likes him, he won’t pass through waivers should there be an attempt to take him off the forty man roster. The Mets are more brilliant than we realize.

  • Pete

    Gus there is a method to their madness. We’re just having a problem recognizing it. And so are the players!

  • Metsense

    Another blow out, another losing series and swept again. The Mets desperately need starting pitching. This year’s team pitching is comparable to the 1962 team!
    Montero has had his moments this season but when reality sets in, he is just a spot starter and middle reliever. He has a 5.0 BB/9, 1.72 WHIP, 5.30 ERA and in 17 starts has only pitched 6+ innings six times.
    Offensively, Nimmo has put up an above average OPS. Plawecki, since his August call up, has shown marked improvement. Both are “pieces” for the 2018 roster.
    For “Let’s hope that’s us next year” to happen the Mets are going to need some heavy lifting this winter that even Mike Barwis can’t provide.

    • MattyMets

      Metsense, as you and the other 360 faithful know, I am an optimistic Mets fan. It’s very hard to accept that we’re on par with teams like the Padres and Reds when we had a far more talented roster entering the season. Despite all the veteran pieces we traded away to save money/stockpile minor league relievers, this team still has a solid core that can be built around. If ownership loosens the purse strings and Alderson is smart, you can add two bats and two arms this off-season and get us back in contention.

      • Pete

        Matty can you please name a few of the Met core? Solid when healthy

        • MattyMets

          deGrom-Syndergaard is a strong 1-2 rotation punch. Sign a good #3 type and let the injury prone guys battle it out for the last two spots.

          Conforto-Cespedes is your 3-4. Bring back Jay Bruce or sign JD Martinez and you have a very solid middle of the order. We have excited young players at first and third to build around as well.

          Bullpen needs a few arms, but it’s not bare. Familia, Ramos and Blevins plus one more gives you a solid late inning group. The middle relief can come from competition among a lot of inhouse options.

          Add two reliable bats and two arms to this and you have a serious team again.

  • Pete

    And “hopefully” doesn’t. Let’s see how deep the Wilpons pockets are this off season.

  • Pete

    How well will Smith and Rosario hold up in their sophomore seasons? The reliable bats need to come from second and third via FA. My question marks are Conforto coming back from surgery, Cespedes’ hammy, Matz ‘s elbow, catcher. Your assumption that Thor is healthy and ready to go by ST as the 2? We’ll see. The team needs improvement on defense. The team needs to have starters who can and will deliver 6 innings or more consistently thus alleviating the need for playing match ups. I’m so sick and tired of TC’s philosophy on that.

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