The Mets started off things right in the second half, as Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff homer, but the offense struggled after that. The game would end 3-2 in favor of the Cardinals.
- Noah Syndergaard had electric stuff tonight, pitching seven innings, and allowing two runs. He struck out six, and finished the game with 96 pitches. The Cards had a single, home run, and triple in the sixth inning and scored two runs.
- Lance Lynn had a great game for the Cardinals, going seven innings and striking out nine.
- The sixth inning did not feature the Mets best defense. Kevin Plawecki bounced a throw to second that got by Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores. Even though the throw bounced, the ball has to be kept in the infield, and Kolten Wong would end up on third, and scored on a ground ball. Then Jhonny Peralta‘s home run hit off of Kirk Nieuwenhuis‘ glove. Now it is a difficult play (without question), but Nieuwenhuis may have had it if he was at the wall and timed his jump. Then Juan Lagares got beat in deep center field on Jason Heyward‘s triple. Again it was a difficult play, but if he ran to the wall first, he probably would have had it.
- Terry Collins was ejected this game after arguing balls and strikes when Lucas Duda was up. The ball was pretty low, and the umpire called it a strike, giving Duda a 3-1 count. The ejection did not seem to motivate the team, as the offense would go quietly throughout the rest of the game.
- The ninth inning was interesting as the Mets capitalized on the Cardinals defense miscues, as Tejada would get an RBI infield single, making the score 3-2. Eric Campbell was the tying run at third base when John Mayberry Jr. struck out.
Without offense, the Mets need to play perfect defense to help out their pitching staff, and that did not happen tonight. The Mets face the Cardinals tomorrow, as Bartolo Colon is scheduled to pitch against John Lackey.
It took 37 innings, but Tejada finally broke the streak of all the runs scored via the long ball when he singled in the 9th inning to score a runner.
Looks like playing matchups in the 8th inning was a dismal failure.
Also, why was Flores batting 2nd? It’s better to bat two lefties back-to-back than to put a guy with a sub .300 OBP that high in the order.
Terry being Terry. Sigh.
I really like Kolton Wong’s game. The speed, power, and defense. Do you think Herrera can become a good comp for him? I think yes.
I am so conflicted. I can tie myself into intellectual knots over various trade scenarios. How the Mets shouldn’t trade one of the young arms, how the cost of X might be too much, how they simply need to bring up Conforto now — now, now, now! — and just sort of deal with it. But then I watch another game like last night and it almost feels immoral to put Syndergaard out there and give him so little support. A wasted start, a wasted season. Somehow, the Mets have to do something. Because despite the injuries, right now the Mets have Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard. Let’s make a run!
It kills me that neither Syndergaard nor Matz started the season with the Mets. Just to save a few bucks. Thinking small. They were ready. It’s a sad reflection of the Mets business model under Sandy that he is quick to seek out “internal solutions” for any problem, provided that the athlete isn’t highly valued. We’ll bring up Muno & Kirkkkkk & Campbell — try Robles & Goeddel & Verrett — but it that athlete is considered something special, oh no, that’s not a solution at all.
Conforto needs to be playing with this team right now.
I don’t want the requiem for the 2015 season to be, “What a waste.”
Why Conforto? He’s hitting .315 at AA, not .415.
James, do you really thing he can provide higher than .240 right now? We have guys like that already.
I think Conforto is the best hitter in the Mets system, regarded as the best bat in the draft, he’s 22 years old and mature.
The current Mets team has Muno, Campbell, Kirkkkkk, Mayberry, etc.
I don’t know what Conforto will hit. But I strongly suspect that he’d be an improvement — and possibly a huge improvement. A jolt.
He’s worth a try. I don’t understand the mentality that is afraid to call this guy up.
Good starting pitching by Syndergaard + 3 runs but they only got 2 + turn the ball over to Familia which they were unable to do = a loss. A pretty simple solution is to score another run or two but for some reason Sandy is taking his time in getting a bat or two therefore the equation results in a loss. This team obviously needs some bench improvement. It also needs an infield upgrade and a fourth outfielder.
The entire lineup sucks. The whole teams sucks. Collins told them that when he proclaimed that dropping Granderson down will not matter because no one will get on base anyway. Loser mentality+ Loser front office = a team without energy and drive.
Batting Lagares #9 is b.s., and enough of it; batting Flores #2 is b.s. also. Flores at cleanup and Duda #5 had given them four straight wins to end the first half. Let’s change that.