In a matchup of journeyman starters, the Angels’ hurler didn’t implode in the first inning and the visitors emerged with a 12-5 win.
- Tommy Milone gave up 8 R in 1.1 IP, including 3 HR. In three starts with the Mets, he’s allowed 14 ER in 12 IP. Maybe he deserves a chance to see how he’d do as a reliever but I don’t want to see him start again.
- In the search for a positive, most of the relievers did well in low leverage situations. Rafael Montero allowed just 1 ER in 3.2 IP, while Neil Ramirez, Josh Edgin and Paul Sewald each contribued a scoreless frame.
- But when the Mets cut the lead to 9-5, Hansel Robles gave up three runs. It was the third straight outing where he was lit up. In those games, he’s allowed 12 ER in 2.2 IP. Much like Fernando Salas earlier in the year, an extended stretch of days off did not cure him. Salas seems back on track after giving up runs in six straight, as he has a 2.45 ERA in his last nine games. Hopefully Robles can have a similar bounceback.
- The Mets hit three homers in the game. Matt Reynolds and Curtis Granderson had solo shots and Jay Bruce had a three-run blast. Granderson also doubled in the game, giving him 10 XBH in his last 16 games, as he pushes to remain relevant once Yoenis Cespedes returns from the DL.
disgusted
I have regarded Robles as a fairly decent pitcher with upside…but how does a reliever fix himself 20 pitches at a time? I guess the next step is to give him “the Neil Ramirez Innings”
The Mets took the series against an Angels team that had come to town with winning ways. That was a positive sign.
Tommy Milone is not the solution. Nor was Rafael Montero. Hopefully Lugo and Matz can plug the dike but they won’t be stretched out until June. Maybe try Tyler Pill?
Is it going to be Granderson or Duda who goes to the bench when Cespedes returns? It bears watching.
Flores, with two hits, seems to be moving ahead of TJ on the depth chart at third base but it is brutal to watch Flores throw from third. Speaking of throwing, Wright has once again been shut down from throwing. It is so sad
Finally, how much playing time will TDA get when he returns on Tuesday?
Hopefully the Padres will offer some divine intervention and answer some of these questions.
Id DFA Flores and Montero tonight. Neither are professional baseball players. there is no aspect of Flores bat that can cover up the atrocity he is in the field. Id put a crippled Wright in a wheelchair out there before ever putting him at 3B again. Montero needs no further explanation. He is reprehensible.
DFA Flores in favor of whom? The Mets have no one who can do his job right now. I’d rather deal with a few bad throws than see Matt Reynolds get any more time than he deserves.
Gump is terrible. Period. I dont care who plays 3b. Its not a few bad throws. He cannot make the throw at all. And he cant field. Ill keep TJ out there and pray to the BABIP gods, or promote Evans. Anyone, anyone but Gump.
While my view of Flores is not as harsh as Chris F, I agree that he does not belong at third base. I coach 10 and 11 year olds and I have third baseman who can make that throw more consistently than he does.
Flores has a .925 OPS in May and mashes LHP.
He is not a good defender, whose best position is 2B. But he can fill in at 3B, SS, and 1B.
I think all the hate he gets here is strange and a little ugly.
A useful role player. When all the focus is on what he doesn’t do well, the positives get ignored.
I believe in the business world, a smart manager recognizes strengths and weaknesses and utilizes each employee to the fullest.
He’s a great bat against LHP. Not good, not very good, but great. I’m always shocked to learn that has no value to some people out there, especially when you consider the Mets overall vulnerability against LH starters.
But, whatever. Just strange to see a role player and a “good guy” become the focus of so much hate.
He is the classic 0.5 tool player. His only talent is hitting lefty pitching. That makes him a pinch hitter or a specialized DH. There is no defensive position he can even approach passable at, with the closest being 1B, for which he is blocked to high heaven.
He has no defensive instincts. He is ploddingly slow. His first step reflex is aweful. He cannot throw from anywhere on the diamond. He’s terrible against RHP. So maybe he’s a 25th guy, but trotting him out there on any kind of regular basis says raise the white flag. He stinks.
How would you grade Flores?
my grades for Flores.
hit tool: 50
power tool: 55 average. 60 v LHP, 45 v RHP
run tool: 35
throw tool: 35
fielding tool: 40
tough to be thrilled
I’m also confounded by the Anti-Wilmer venom. I believe his best position is 1b…. I don’t believe he’s a better glove at 2nd than 3rd or short. If I thought he had a Hope of Catching….. the Lead Feet would cause even bigger throwing problems
I do believe he would be most successful in an AL Floater/Platoon/DH—I believe he will Hit Righties, and I think his results are distorted.
All that said, he’s the first guy I’d trade….but I would not expect a big haul. A limited guy who’s repetitive here for a Limited guy who’s repetitive “there”…maybe he’s a throw in that makes a deal work
I think you’re being too generous with his run and throw tools and possibly his fielding, too. Outside of Steve Sax and Chuck Knoblauch, who developed their throwing issues later in their career, I’ve never seen an infielder have such trouble making a throw to 1B. His throw tool has to be a 20. The run tool is better — 25 or 30.
But you can’t get hung up on only what he can’t do. He’s a good platoon bat.
and people think I’m rough! The thing is, thats just not a major leaguer.
But I wouldn’t go that far. I think he’s a major leaguer – easy. He just needs to be used carefully. I think you could make a case for him playing nearly every day – as a PH. With the pitcher, days that Plawecki starts, a lefty reliever in the game — there’s multiple opportunities for him.
The anti-Flores venom comes from the people that have become frustrated at the fact that he is slow, didn’t get many opportunities against righties so he wasn’t successful against them, and he is playing out of position. Even his longest detractor, Name, admits to a competence and better hitting when Flores is playing second base.
Flores would help himself to start focusing more on his defense because he is too inconsistent on routine plays, but has shown an ability to even make an eye-popping play when his head is focused. At shortstop, he improved the second half of the season in 2015, so to see a step back when playing at third may be a combination of reps and focus.
In truth, he doesn’t seem to be long for the Mets, as Cecchini is basically the same type of player, and he is becoming expensive. While many people think he is trash, those same people in a few years will bitch about how he became the next Jeff Kent. Teams that will plug in a 20-HR hitting second baseman tomorrow morning: Angels, A’s, White Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Rays, Royals, Phillies (for sure in that park), Giants, and Padres seems like a decent start to the list. He may not have much value, but there is definitely value there.