Once again it seems that every time the Mets win the first two in a series, they flop in game three. Be it a hangover from his recent high pitch performance or just an off night, Jacob deGrom had his worst performance of the season, allowing seven earned runs in just four innings. He struggled with control (five walks), a high pitch count (105 pitches to get through four innings) and surrendered two home runs and three doubles. His control was clearly off. He missed badly with some pitches while leaving too many on the fat part of the plate. On the day after an extra inning game, the Mets sure could have used another big performance from their ace, but alas, deGrom let them down tonight.
Of course, deGrom doesn’t deserve all the blame as the Mets couldn’t seem to muster any runs against journeyman Junior Guerra who flustered them for six innings with his splitter. The Mets lineup stranded 10 runners and went 0 for 9 with RISP. They seemed to spring to life in the seventh as they loaded the bases but Jay Bruce hit into an inning-ending double play. Their loan run came with two outs in the ninth when Michael Conforto drove in Juan Lagares with an opposite field double.
The lone bright spot of the game was Josh Edgin‘s three scoreless innings in relief. Neil Ramirez also managed to eke out two scoreless innings, despite issuing three walks. Curtis Granderson continued his hot hitting (.322 in the last 18 games) with two singles and a walk. Conforto also made a terrific catch in left field. And that’s about all for the good news tonight.
The Mets wrap up the four-game series with the Brewers tomorrow afternoon with Zack Wheeler opposing Chase Anderson.
wow that sucked…deGrom had nothing
Scary about deGrom. I mentioned earlier, a couple of starts back, that he looks off somehow. I hope he’s okay.
Guerra is a tough pitcher and I knew it was going to be hard to score runs off him. Don’t think “journeyman” was a fair characterization.
A win tomorrow makes the whole series feel right. A loss and we’ll be back to slitting our wrists. No pressure!
Getaway day for the Brewers. Mets need to take care of business and it begins with Zack.
Jimmy P – Guerra is 32. He was drafted as a catcher, converted to pitcher, failed a PED test and was suspended as a minor leaguer, was out of MLB for 5 years playing on independent league and international teams, then got picked up by the White Sox at age 30. The Brewers picked him up on waivers and he seems to have found a second life because he mastered the splitter. I’d say that qualifies as a journeyman.
Where’s the mic drop?
Well that killed the momentum.
A bad offensive night against a decent pitcher who was on his game and deGrom with a clinker.
Flores again with a hit and two other hard hit outs. BTW Granderson has a .897 OPS over his last 30 games. Once again Edgin proved that he is much more than a LOOGY. Nice hustle Lagares with the two out infield hit and then scoring from first on the left field double. He shows character when so many players would have mailed it in. Lets get a series win today (or stay away from sharp objects).
Metsense, what players do you feel have mailed it in?
Currently on the Mets, no player has mailed it in but not every player would give such a supreme effort under the circumstances as Lagares did.
Did you see Jose get doubled off second a while back? That was really bad. Can’t remember the game, it was away. I believe he had a couple of baserunning errors lately.
The other night when he didn’t/couldn’t lay down a sacrifice bunt. First attempt, trying to bunt for a hit. I wasn’t impressed by the effort.
I just don’t see a player who is fully engaged. A fading veteran can still have huge value in the way he carries himself, the way he “plays the game the right way.” In this case, I’m seeing a guy who is no longer the solution.
However, in fairness, it is hard to look involved when you are popping out and having bad ABs.
Seems like he’s at the end of the road to me. Needs some kind of jolt and, at least, a much different usage pattern.
Hey, the Mets would be better off if Jose can turn it on, get on base at the top of the order, solidify the defense at 3B. I can understand why TC is trying to give him every opportunity to turn it around. Yet I don’t think the Mets can wait all season. It’s not a good bet.
Need Rosario.
I agree with you about Jose. We all wax nostalgic about young Jose, but he’s not playing anymore. This older version is only useful in a reserve role. Aside from not hitting or stealing bases, he looks like his head’s not in the game sometimes. Unless he turns it around over the next month I think he’s a DFA candidate when we bring up Rosario mid summer. Even if he turns it around, I like Jose as a left side infield back up while Flores backs up the right. With TJ Rivera proving he belongs and Rosario coming up soon, Jose may be the odd man out.
Let me also speak on Jose Reyes: Those bunt attempts to me were a player that isn’t playing “veteran baseball”, that is relaxed and knowledgeable. I disagree that Bozo the Manager should “give him every chance” to get right. Why isn’t TJ Rivera getting every chance? What about Flores getting every chance, he has been producing? At this point, Reyes is probably the fifth or so the best infielder, at best. If his name wasn’t “Jose Reyes” he would be getting the Matt Reynolds treatment. Speaking of Reynolds, where’s his chance?
Why isn’t TJ Rivera getting every chance?
I like TJ, but face it, he’s living on BABIP. I went down that rabbit hole with Lagares, and when reality hit…
What about Flores getting every chance, he has been producing?
Hes gotten plenty of chances. The idea Flores is somehow forgotten mystifies me. In 2015, Flores has >500 PAs, and posted an OPS of .703. When he plays less, and in games that optimize his ability against LHP, his offense goes up. Its simple, thats exactly how to get the most out of him. Playing him every day exposes Flores to the agony of his plodding defense, which drags his whole value down.
Matt Reynolds? Really?
Im no Reyes fan, but I’ll take him, even lagging, every day at 3B over Flores, whom I would like seeing in a platoon with Duda. I dont believe Duda will solve LHP, and certainly not at the level Flores can perform at. Sure, Flores can keep an infielders mitt in his bag for the weird occasion where a physical body needs to be at any other IF spot, but I would put that thing in a locked bag that he cant get in to.
Chris, give me a beat:
Momma said they’d be days like this, they’d be days like this my
momma said…
I think Mr. Met summed up this game perfectly.