Well, you couldn’t have scripted a rougher start than the Met’s opening series against the Nationals. The Mets, one strike away from an exciting, hard-fought win, lost a heartbreaker Opening Day after an implosion of the bullpen in the late innings. After two more lackluster games, the sweep became inevitable culminating with five more runs coughed up by the already beleaguered bullpen in an 8-2 loss.
As a fan, you have to put in perspective the fact that this was only three games out of 162. The media will do their best to make these three games out to be everything, but in reality, it is just that: three games. So what should fans objectively be concerned about from this small fraction of a season? It’s pretty obvious: the bullpen.
The line for the bullpen in the three-game series was: 9.1 IP, 15 H, 11 ER, 9 BB, 11 K, 10.61 ERA. The performance was an unacceptable and horrendous showing regardless of the caliber of opponent. Terry Collins had a hard time finding solace in any reliever he brought in besides a 1.1 inning stint by Jose Valverde on Monday. It was just ugly, there’s just no other way to put it. While there was some bad luck sprinkled within those outings (tight strike zones, bloop hits, etc.), looking back it’s hard to find a silver lining or reason for encouragement. In fact it’s difficult to recall the bullpen actually recording those 28 outs because every inning seemed prolonged with bad command and numerous hits by the opposition. The worst statistic for the group might have been that three different pitchers yielded walks on four straight pitches with their first batter. With the revelation that Bobby Parnell’s recent elbow issues may end his season, the already under question relief corps will have to rally and regain its composure quickly under what will assume to be a sparse yet impatient crowd this weekend against the Reds.
What is most concerning about the three games was the similarity to last season. The starting pitching, as usual, did their part to keep the opposition at bay with the bullpen in turn sabotaging any chance of a victory. This became a recurring theme in many games with most of the usual suspects to blame residing in that gated area beyond the wall in right-center field. As for this past series, only Dillon Gee pitched into the seventh inning and all three starters yielded at least three runs, but the starters for the most part pitched well. Each starter suffered through an inning that relinquished the lead, but the offense did little to mount any consistent attack after scoring first inning runs. The lineup could’ve been better and probably will be, but the bullpen has to be a concern after this showing. Parnell’s possible season-ending surgery could also be devastating regardless of the performances this week. The team will have to rely on Valverde, who wasn’t a guarantee to make the team two weeks ago, to take over the closing duties.
It’s still ok to be optimistic about this year; besides Parnell, the pieces are still here to have a competitive season. Collins will have to do his best to push the starters and micromanage the bullpen productively if the Mets are to have any chance at consistency. It’s normal to be concerned, and even frustrated early in a long 162 game season. I would’ve predicted it would have taken much more than only three games for those emotions to stir, but so it goes.
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I don’t get it. If Parnell had issues with his arm why didn’t he tell management? Why wait until the season starts to air it out just to find out he can’t? Some blame has to go to the FO for not securing a better back-up plan for a pitcher coming off neck surgery. I understand the bull pen is a crap shot every year. But the Mets really have this ineffective pen down to a science.
I don’t know what Parnell’s velocity was like over the spring, but his numbers were perfectly cromulent. He may not have realized it was as bad as it was when he tried to toss in a regular season game.
But you’re definitely right that there needed to be a better backup plan – Valverde, like LaTroy Hawkins before him, isn’t viable in the long run.
Parnell says he felt no discomfort in the elbow until Monday afternoon, postgame.
But he hasn’t pitched that much during spring training. It’s just odd how quickly he developed this discomfort.
SA needs to take a lesson from an old Seinfeld episode: “The opposite.” Surely he could do no worse than all he has done so far.
Let’s assume that Parnell thought any discomfort or lack of velocity was related to his neck. After all, if you’re neck is tight it impacts all your extremities. I’m trying to look at this bullpen fiasco as a positive. Familia and Rice have been particularly bad, but we have seen them be better. Even if they falter, we have arms waiting to prove what they got in the minors. Sooner or later the right guys will find the right roles. It will unfortunately take time, and we might lose games in the process, but hopefully it’s a stronger bullpen for the future.
Yeah, the ‘pen stinks, but the offense is troubling. Case in point, yesterday afternoon: 4th inning, Mets still ahead. Lagares smacks a leadoff double. d’Arnaud works out a 6-pitch walk. Tejada — the 8th place hitter, batting in front of the pitcher, mind you — swings at the first pitch and skies out to right. Wheeler can’t get the bunt down and Ks. Eric Young, Jr., with some big RBI on the table, swings at the first pitch and dribbles out to 2nd.
DC took the lead in the top of the 5th. Of course.
This on top of the fact that the Mets took the lead in the top of the first by making the pitcher throw 28 pitches. After that, they were simply hacktastic, having very few at-bats that went past 4 pitches.
Bad baseball I can take. Dumb baseball makes me insane…
Editor’s Note – And random capitalization does it to me…
What’s wrong with Tejada and EY swinging at the first pitch? We are all complaining that the Mets as a whole are too passive at the plate, and when the Mets try to be a little more aggressive, they get slammed for doing so. I didn’t see the game live so i don’t know good the pitches were, but there’s a good chance that EY and Tejada thought that the first pitch was going to be the best one they were going to see.
It just so happens that it didn’t work out. If it did, we would be praising their aggressiveness. I don’t see how you could call it dumb baseball.
But not immediately after the pitcher has shown shaky control. It that case, you make him come to you and pick out the pitch you can drive.
How do you know that Tejada didn’t think that he could drive that pitch? I can easily see Tejada’s thinking for swinging on the first pitch. You’ve got a pitcher struggling for control, and maybe looking to groove the 1st pitch in looking for a quick strike. So it didn’t work out; he got beat. Doesn’t mean his approach was wrong.
It’s fine that you’re miffed that Tejada and EY didn’t get the job done. But I think you’re placing the blame in all the wrong places and judging in hindsight.
For the past couple of years we’ve been hearing how the Mets are too passive at the plate and need to more aggressive. Well now they try that and fans are being hypocritical by saying that instead they need to be more patient. Just because the results didn’t work out doesn’t mean it’s because of the approach.
Name, you asked about Edgin recently, and I just saw this about the 51s loss last night reading MMO:
Jacob deGrom was solid in his first outing of the season going six innings and allowing just one run while striking out 6. The game seemed to be in hand until the ball was turned over to relief pitcher Josh Edgin. Edgin lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed five runs.
I agree. That Tejada at-bat was pivotal, not just because he swung at first pitch, but because he wasn’t selective. He swung at an eye high heater, just what the pitcher wanted. The pitcher was laboring at that point too, would’ve like to see Tejada make him work more. I have no problem being aggressive, but would rather that approach from my RBI guys. EY was anxious all series, swinging at balls out of the strikezone
Valid nitpicking, and I’m not one to nitpick
Not random. It was for emphasis, since the comments don’t allow for italicization.