Before tonight’s game, I had never heard of Tyler Saladino. I now hate Tyler Saladino. What’s a Tyler Saladino, you ask? He was the starting shortstop for the Chicago White Sox in tonight’s game, the main villain in a most dispiriting defeat. Sporting a stylized fu Manchu moustache that dangles away from his face — kind of makes him look like a Brooklyn hipster crossed with the bad guy from The Manchurian Candidate — he brought out a visceral reaction not felt since the heyday of Shane Victorino.
The Mets scored runs in the first three innings on a couple of sacrifice flies and Neil Walker’s thirteenth home run of the year and Steven Matz was cruising. He entered the sixth inning staked to a four-run lead and tossing a shutout on a minimal pitch count. His only blemishes to that point were a walk and a base hit by Saladino and a single by Melky Cabrera. In that sixth, though, it all came apart. A leadoff single from Jose Abreu and a long home run off the bat of Todd Frazier cut the lead in half. After a single followed by a big double play, Guess Who worked out another walk. He then stole second, stole third and scored on a weak single by catcher Dioner Navarro. Jim Henderson came on and got the final out. In a bold move, Terry Collins had Noah Syndergaard get his work in by pitching the seventh. He came through that unscathed. Hansel Robles entered the eighth to nurse a one-run lead. He couldn’t. Melky Cabrera led off with a walk — always a bad sign in the late innings. Avisail Garcia struck out, but the fatal blow was delivered by…right, you guessed it. A two-run homer deep into left field. For good measure, Robles then walked our ol’ buddy Jimmy Rollins. That was more than enough from Robles. For good measure, Rollins stole second and scored on a single by Brett Lawrie off Logan Verrett.
I don’t usually get caught up in the Xs & Os, but I thought Collins completely mismanaged the bullpen in this game. Either Addison Reed or Jeury Familia was going to be unavailable tonight, as they’d both pitched three days consecutively. So it was puzzling that he’d burn Henderson for only one out. Conversely, he could just as easily left Syndergaard out there for the eighth, instead of having Robles tote his can of kerosene to the mound.
This was a bad one.
Jacob deGrom tomorrow…
Charlie, in the chatter I said that I too was surprised to see the Syndergaard bullet used in the seventh. Figuring Familia to be a bit tired, I would have saved Syndergaard for the ninth.
Second point, I’m tired of seeing Blevins pitch to one batter and get yanked. If the guy is a good pitcher, why can’t he pitch to righties? He’s better than Bastardo, but Bastardo pitches to righties and lefties. I don’t see why this guy gets treated like that. His numbers are good. Why the disrespect?
Thirdly, and another thing we discussed, is Robles’ home run susceptibility. Reminds of Bobby Parnell’s early years where even his 100mph was turned around because it was board straight. Parnell succeeded only when he learned the splitter to change the plane of his pitches. Robles needs to just get rid of the four seamer and go with his two seamer and slider. If he throws another four seamer (ever!) he needs to go straight to Vegas. End of story, end of discussion. I don’t see Robles being a necessity in this bullpen and even though he throws hard and has balls, if he doesn’t have smarts, it doesn’t matter. Get rid of the four seamer now, or you will learn in another city.
Name mentioned how he never heard of a reliever being traded in-season and making a difference in a pennant run. He muses that few relievers are good enough to turn a tide by themselves. He’s most likely right (probably because I’ve stopped debating with Name about a year ago) that there probably isn’t a reliever the Mets can add that will make a substantial difference. This will have to be our bullpen all year long, thus better usage is advisable.
I completely agree about Collins mishandling the bullpen. Hopefully, this spells the end of his love affair with Hansel Robles. This is another win we let slip away.
First time I’ve heard Saladino mentioned in the same breath as Victorino. Funny because Saladino’s Grandfather is from Maui and went to the same high school that Victorino later attended.
I went to High School with a kid named Carl Saladino. I didn’t like him either.
After the previous game, many of us noted the positive impact that Rivera had behind the plate, concluding that he earned the next start and more starts in general. Last night, the Mets were hurt by stolen bases that directly led to two runs. I think TC needs to make the adjustment here. Many managers — not just TC — tend to get a fixed idea about roles and are slow to change. This is generally good, a steady hand on the wheel during the stormy seas of a long, tumultuous season. The key is making those (correct!) moves at the right moment. It’s time to see more of Rivera behind the plate, which might also have the effect of increasing his meager offensive production.
There were 108 reliever in the National League that pitched 30 innings in 2015. Robles was ranked number 96 with a 1.33 HR/BB ratio. Robles has had a hot and cold career. Sometimes he strikes out the side with the bases loaded and other times serves up the Gopher ball. I can’t fault Collins for using him under the circumstances Last night. Reed And Familia we’re both unavailable.Going forward though, Robles and Bastardo should only be pitching in low pressure situations and multiple innings.
The stolen bases hurt the Mets last night. Rivera should be getting more starts because Plawecki’s offense does not justify him starting.
We went from Cruisin’ to a Bruisin’ last night.