Rick Porcello had a New York debut to forget, as he allowed 7 R in 2+ IP, digging the Mets a hole they could not get out of, as the Braves took the series with a 14-1 win Sunday night.
We can hope that it was just a fluke outing for Porcello but neither his stuff nor command looked major league caliber. And for all of the talk about how he was going back to pitching at the bottom of the zone, there sure were a lot of weak-sauce pitches above the belt.
As disappointing as Porcello was, the Mets’ approach against Sean Newcomb was just as bad. Newcomb’s a guy with a long history of throwing pitches outside of the strike zone. Yet it seemed like the Mets were more eager to swing than normal. In the first inning alone, they had two outs recorded on checked swings.
Newcomb was so bad with his pitching that he was removed with one out in the fourth inning with an 8-run lead because his pitch count was at 82.
And speaking of disappointing, Brandon Nimmo batted ninth in this game. Jeff McNeil still hit second despite a lefty on the mound. Michael Conforto hit fifth, after batting cleanup on Opening Day. Robinson Cano still hit sixth. Nimmo drove in the Mets’ only run with a double and he also drew a walk. The other three lefties were a combined 1-8.
With Porcello’s early departure, Corey Oswalt was called in to give innings. He gave the team four rotten frames and eliminated himself for a start on Tuesday. Who will get the nod now is anyone’s guess.
In this type of game, you usually shrug your shoulders and say – at least no one got hurt. But Eduardo Nunez rolled his ankle running out a grounder. Oh well, a lot to digest for the Mets as they bus up to Boston for their first road series.
Ugly ugly game. I seriously hope that Porcello doesnt pitch every game like this, or we could be in a world of hurt.
What has surprised me is the lack of offense. Even Alonso seems timid. Lots and lots of pop ups.
Let’s hope we get started up in Boston.
Todd Zeile just said “You gotta remember this is a sprint not a 162 game marathon……. Long batting slumps won’t be a good thing “
I read on some beat writers twitter accounts that right after the game the Mets are taking a caravan of six buses up to Boston. I might be concerned a bit about their energy level for the next game .
Hope all those buses are in good running condition .
When Nido is putting up the second best at bats on the night for your team you know it’s bad. The team is chasing like crazy even when up in the count. McNeil can’t throw and it may or may not have something to do with landing on his shoulder on opening day and has looked bad at the plate after a strong opening day. Nimmo really should have been on base three times today and should really be leading off. Porcello was very bad but Davis and McNeil did him no favors either, but a very ugly start nonetheless.
Oswalt is the king of the hanging slider as he just got absolutely destroyed. The Mets might be the only team that won’t give Lugo a shot to start at this stage what a joke. I’m sure they’ll be fine but Pete and McNeil look terrible up there and Ces is getting beat by velocity up in the zone. Davis looks awful up there and I might give Dom a start tomorrow if a righty is starting for Boston.
Hopefully Hughes and Brach are back soon as it’ll would make the bullpen deeper and possibly allow Lugo to start.
If the Mets don’t hit the Red Sox rotation I’ll be officially worried as even Baltimore’s terrible lineup beat up on the Red Sox staff.
They even struggled against the portly fireballing perennial Cy Young candidate Jhoulys Chacin.
Cano looks like he is swatting at the ball rather than swinging.
At least they are only one game out!
The collage of Met fandom is full swing by game 3.
– Mets current Pythagorean win total worst in majors.
– 7 Line Cardboard cutouts getting very restless.
– Rojas officially on the hot seat.
– Brodie’s prioritization of Syndergaard over Wheeler not looking good at this point.
– Is it football season yet?
Porcello as a #5 starter is average but as a #3 it is worrisome.
JD Davis is lost in left field.
Oswalt doesn’t carry his MiL successes to the majors. He had an opportunity but didn’t cash in.
Ramos hits LHP (.946 OPS 2019) and should always start against LHP.
Two straight ugly losses. Hopefully they will turn it around in Boston.
Ive said it before, and Ill say it again, I think the McNiel at 3B experiment will fail, and only continue to highlight the disastrous Cano trade that moved him off 2B. Alonso saved him 2 more throwing errors on Saturday.