The Mets’ eight-game winning streak against the Cubs came to an end Monday night, as Chicago defeated New York, 5-1.
- In a familiar refrain, the Mets had their chances but couldn’t come up with the big hit. Four different innings they had two runners on base but they could not cash in on any of them.
- Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo delivered a three-run homer for the Cubs in the third inning. The big blast came at the end of a lengthy at-bat, where he continued to foul off pitches. Steven Matz and the Mets were unwilling, or unable, to change Rizzo’s eye level by burying one in the dirt.
- Wilmer Flores had two hits, including a solo homer, to account for the Mets’ lone run. Flores now has a .202 ISO.
- Yoenis Cespedes threw out a runner at the plate from left field. He also let a ball go by him in the eighth as he was charging for another play at home, allowing the Cubs’ final run to score.
- Michael Conforto came on as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and delivered an opposite field single. He did not play the field, so his CF debut will have to wait at least another day.
Geez Brian, the sarcasm in your last bulletpoint hides your enthusiasm, LOL!
Honestly, there was no intended sarcasm.
I don’t envy Collins here. Conforto was a mess — he needed to be sent down. But first he hit for AVG and then he was hitting for power. There really wasn’t a ton to be gained by leaving him in Las Vegas. And now Collins has to make it work somehow.
Ideally, he would have gotten some game action in CF while in the minors. I can see leaving him down a little while longer to give him just that. But I’m not going to crucify Collins for trying him there. It doesn’t have to be permanent and it doesn’t have to be full time. I just think it’s worth trying.
I know Lagares has been hitting better lately. But if Conforto is back to where he was in April, it’s likely that he’s a better option, all things considered, than Lagares. We heard he was a poor defensive outfielder and then he came up and was pretty good last year.
As I said in the Chatter last night, I think it’s possible – not likely, but possible – that Cespedes in LF and Conforto in CF > Cespedes in CF and Conforto in LF. Cespedes pretty much earned the Gold Glove he won in LF last year and he’s below average in CF. Conforto is average to slightly above average in LF. It’s a legitimate upgrade going from Conforto to Cespedes in LF. I don’t think it’s a guarantee that Conforto is going to be significantly worse than Cespedes out there.
Our point is Granny has previous CF experience and as a better defensive outfielder stands a better chance than being successful than Conforto does, who can have an adventure or two. Why put a player in a position he probably won’t be adequate in?
I don’t believe it’s a slam dunk that Granderson is a better defensive outfielder in 2016 than Conforto is.
I’m sure the logic is that if you play Granny in CF and Conforto in RF, that you’re playing two guys out of position. For better or worse, Collins values Granny’s experience in RF.
Conforto in CF…. “Solving Problems with Even Bigger Problems, Since 2011”.
Eraff on Conforto: $$ Priceless $$
Yeah…even I spit my own coffee when I wrote it!!
I doff my cap in your general direction. Next coffee is on me!
I laughed!
+1
The Mets biggest problem this year is that they don’t get hits with runners in scoring position. They were 0-7 last night. If the law of averages balance out then they will have an offense to sustain a nice winning streak.
The Juan Samuel Mets, still trying to fit square pegs in round holes. The quadricep should keep Cespedes in LF, the .800 OPS the last 30 games should keep Lagares in CF and Granderson and his fine season in RF. When Lagares cools off then bring up Conforto and put him in RF and move the more experienced Grandy to CF. Conforto could also be playing CF and RF in AAA to see if he can. Nimmo goes down for more development (sitting him on the ML bench would be a crime). The “Samuel Ol’ Mets”, fitting square pegs into round holes.
Flores and Johnson have been on fire but they grow mold on the bench.
Walker has been their worst hitter for a while yet he bats clean up. At this point he should be dropped in the order and platooning with Johnson.
TC has been too rigid with his lineup and Alderson has me scratching my head on the Conforto move. All would be forgotten if they start hitting with RISP. LGM
I don’t believe there is a law of averages in these kinds of situations. It is far easier to do poorly than to do well. This isn’t flipping a coin. We summarily have a terrible batting average. You want runs? You need hits. Exactly 0 .300 hitters. That just won’t get it done. Loney and Ces are our top guys in BA.
The one-off HR is fine, but solo HRs won’t git-r-dun.
The ops is being propped up by HR. We are 14/15 in BA and 11/15 in OBP. Thus the key hits never come.