The Mets suffered a demoralizing loss to the Braves Friday night, seizing a loss from the jaws of victory with a 2-1 setback.
- Terry Collins utilized four pitchers in the eighth inning and with better play and better managing he would have used just one. An inexperienced (14 games) Ruben Tejada at third base killed any shot of getting the runner on a sacrifice and an experienced (598 games) Wilmer Flores at shortstop failed to get an out on easy play. Collins yanked Jacob deGrom to play matchups because any time you can remove deGrom to put Sean Gilmartin in the game, you’ve just got to do it. Gilmartin allowed both inherited runners to score when he gave up a two-run double to the lefty hitter.
- It was the second time in a week that deGrom pitched great and got nothing to show for it. Well, that’s not true, he got a loss tonight. That’s 14.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB and 12 Ks in his last two outings.
- Flores went 0-4 and saw his OPS drop down to .686. But he had plenty of company in not getting it done offensively. Along with Curtis Granderson, Lucas Duda and Dilson Herrera, there was a combined 0-15 against a guy making his MLB debut.
Brutal loss. This one is mostly on Terry, with the infield defense shouldering much of the blame as well. You can’t give teams 2 extra outs in an inning and expect to come away unscathed.
I was at the game last night. Tejada’s play was boneheaded on multiple accounts. 1) he obviously didn’t scout and had no clue of the speed of the batter; 2) in real time, watching it unfold, it felt like minutes elapsed while he looked Simmons back; 3) most crucial, throw the ball to first! Worst case 1-1, two outs, nobody on base.
I hate to pile on but Collins is not a great strategist. What Met fan would have wanted Gilmartin to replace JDG at that moment? We’re not talking about a confidence instilling set up man. JF has bailed him out all season. He has shielded Collins’ inadequacies.
When Gilmartin came in, I looked at the Met fan next to me. Simultaneously, we both said: there goes the ballgame. Bummer.
That particular boneheaded play was made by Flores.
Maybe the only silver lining here could be that they finally make some changes. This feels like the worst loss of the season. The infield play was terrible. Granderson needs to be benched. Collins needs to let deGrom pitch. Familia now looks like he’s hurt. DL I bet. Parnell will be closing until July now. What’s Long doing? He was so visible during ST and now he’s silent. And while i like Teufel, as the IF coach, his stock seems to be fading fast.
IMHO, this was the worst loss of the year. Very demoralizing.
Post-game report on Familia was a simple cramp.
Kevin Long craves the spotlight more than any hiitting coach in baseball. But he’s joined the witness protection program. The guy is in hiding.
Remember all those dozens of blog posts — here, there, and everywhere — about how he was going to fix Curtis, then fix everybody else? All the hype about how he watched videos over the winter and sent emails to everybody (i.e., how he did his job)? How Wilmer reminds him of Cano and Wright reminds him of Jeter? How Curtis is comfortable again and blah blah blah? Some people lapped that up.
I think the last time he poked out his head was after Duda’s 2 HR day.
Punxsutawney Long must’ve seen his shadow.
Terry Collins had his ace on the mound. Going into the 8th inning he had given up just two hits. JdG then hung a slider for a double to Simmons for hit #3. Next a sac bunt, runner to third, one out. The next hit (?) was weak grounder directly at Flores who inexplicably held the ball too long before throwing to first. JdG was still dominant, had thrown only 97 pitches, and did not look tired. It should have been his game to win at this point. TC, instead of managing by baseball instinct and observation, chose to manage for matchups. It was the dumbest handling of an Ace pitcher I have ever seen. JdG at that point was still better than any relief pitcher that the Mets had sitting in their bullpen, and that includes Familia. Ace pitchers are entitled to lose their own games. Ace pitchers usually don’t.
I totally agree, Metsense. Especially with the phrase, “entitled to lose their own games.”
I have a question and I’m curious to read your collective thoughts on this. I think your answers could be interesting, or revealing.
Yesterday I looked it up, so I’m typing from memory here, but I’m pretty sure this is accurate:
In April, Curtis Granderson in 78 ABs had 16 BB and 16 Ks.
In May, Curtis Grandersin in 97 ABs had 12 BB and 27 Ks.
In June, Granderson in 68 ABs had 5 BB and 25 Ks.
Why do you think he’s not walking anymore?
Im glad I missed this game. I’m a mess just reading about it.
Granny is definitely not walking as much. Pitchers have found a major hole in his swing inside and they just keep busting him. He watches or swings through and then can’t believe the inside is a strike. Because he can’t hit otherwise, he’s no threat so it’s a full on attack on him. He’s looking horrific.
Because pitchers are challenging him more since he has not been a dangerous hitter.
The book is out. Throw strikes, get ahead in the count, and he’s toast.
The only escape is for him to hit his way out of it, and I doubt that he’s capable.
Time to move the fences in . . . again.