The Dodgers continue to bash their way to wins over the Mets, as they clubbed five homers en route to a 7-4 win Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.
The Mets used three solo homers in the first inning to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. Michael Conforto led off with a blast and with two outs, Wilmer Flores and Curtis Granderson left the yard back-to-back.
Seth Lugo held the Dodgers hitless for 4.2 innings but the roof caved in on him in the sixth as he allowed two homers to tie the game. Paul Sewald came on in relief and gave up two more blasts and ended up taking the loss. And just for fun, Fernando Salas surrendered a gopher ball in the ninth.
Rene Rivera hit a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets 11 HR in six games against the Dodgers this year. But L.A. has 23 HR this year against N.Y. In the booth, Keith Hernandez talks about the need to pitch upstairs against these guys who employ a big uppercut swing. Instead we see too many pitches that are thigh high to belt high over the heart of the plate.
Once again the Met starter could not get a quality start having fallen short by one out. This is very troubling. Wheeler, Matz, Montero and now Lugo all have started strongly in a game only to fall apart in the 5th-6th inning. Are they training properly in order to build arm strength and endurance? Are they training properly to avoid injury? There is too much coincidence not to look deeper into this situation.
The Dodgers are a juggernaut and are very impressive.
Metsense beat me to it. I also am concerned about how no one other than deGrom seams to be able to get through a third turn through the lineup without falling to pieces.
I did not understand pulling Lugo–was He hurt? At 85 Pitches, getting out of the jam or failing to get out of the jam would be a growth experience for a young Pitcher. As the inning and the trouble progressed, I was hoping he’d leave him.
The Double Switch pulling Conforto—how much of this had to do with Terry’r desire to make a Baseball Move while leaving their trade prospects in the game? I just laughed when they did it…WTF???!!!
Eraff, don’t think anyone is going to learn anything more about those players than they already know. It’s Terry being the player development guy he was named by the con men that put him in place. So, the kid sits.
I have a theory on the state of the pitching staff: On our last trip to Los Angeles, I noticed a bravado and confidence in the Dodgers and noted it. I’m wondering if the Mets starting pitchers are suffering from an “ain’t-bravado” of sorts. If Lugo held them hit less for 4 2/3, he must have been doing pretty well. When he stumbled, did anyone go calm him down?
I didn’t see the game, but I did see the day before in Denver where no one went to calm Robles down when he was obviously falling apart. While the Mets have veterans, it’s obvious they don’t have leaders. Granny may be, but I’m not sure there is any leadership on the infield. Seems like everyone steps on egg shells, keeps their mouth shut and does their job. Opinions may not welcome.
Further, I would be surprised to learn the Collins has any confidence in his pitching staff. Do the players sense this? These players are young and have very little experience in the majors. They need to be brought along, but who on the Mets would do that? Doesn’t the manager tell the pitching coach to go out there? Does he? We obviously don’t know, but with young pitchers, shouldn’t they be more proactive?
While we can spew venom at their results all year, let’s not forget that they have been playing with possibly one of the worst defenses ever assembled. A shortstop that couldn’t move, terrible third basemen, second basemen without much range, right fielders playing center field, two catchers where one barely shifts to block balls in the dirt and the other one doesn’t seem to have zip on his throws, and who is there to call a game? Got me.
No I don’t mean that ultimately the pitchers aren’t responsible for their results, but surely the circumstances affect those results and I’m wondering how much better those results would be had the Mets had all the elements in place to fully support the pitching staff, especially the lesser experienced pitchers.
Has anyone in the Mets organization looked at Travis d’Arnaud’s splits? They are insane. Roughly .400 OPS-points higher vs. LHP than RHP.
Against lefties he’s a stud. Against righties a dud. The BA is like .340 vs. .208.
So there’s Rich Hill on the mound and Wilmer Flores batting cleanup. Because: you know.
And Rene Rivera batting 8th.
Also, if TdA was in the game, you know he would have taken that .600+ SLG and batted in front of the pitcher.
Again, I fully recognize the disappointment in d’Arnaud’s season. I thought he’d be at .750+ OPS. Unfortunately, he’s batted 8th all season and hasn’t earned regular playing time (only 221 ABs so far, for a guy who has lost too many over his career).
I can’t help but feel he’s been used sub-optimally, but again admit that he hasn’t knocked down the door either.
I see that starting pitchers going long is the big issue here at 360. Everybody’s talking about it, and of course it’s wonderful when starters give you seven strong.
But did you see the game?
Rich Hill went 5. This is the NL pitcher of the month in July.
I did a quick look and the Mets and Dodgers have thrown an almost identical amount of bullpen innings.
So I’d contend that in today’s modern baseball, some of you guys are barking up the wrong tree. The difference here is that LA has put together a great pen. Did you see Baez in the 7th? Wow, just wow. Somehow Salas is still on the team, still lighting fires.
I don’t think the answer is to long for the old days when pitchers gave teams longer outings. I think it’s to admit reality, accept that a solid 6 innings is the new 7, and build a great, deep, talented bullpen.
I believe a healthy Zack Wheeler, if such a thing exists, and a healthy Stephen Matz, are assets if they can consistently give us 6 low-scoring innings. (Obviously, that hasn’t happened in 2017 because of injuries.)
It’s not the six innings that’s the problem. It’s the 4 runs. It’s the absolutely abysmal bullpen TC has had to work with all season long. The guys he’s bringing in night after night are not any good.
And again, sure, the modern usage of 4-5 relievers a night is very possibly destroying the game of baseball, rendering it too long and dull and unwatchable. But everybody does it. The stats demand it, and all the managers do it. Much to our horror and dismay. But I don’t think it’s going away.
If I want a great team in the future, I’m building the pen.
Jimmy, you are correct.
A few weeks ago there was a story about the Dodgers not wanting/expecting their starting pitchers to go more than six innings (with the exception of Kershaw). The idea behind this is the desire to keep the starters fresh for the playoffs. Where some teams consider it a successful season if they just make the playoffs, the Dodgers will not be content unless they win it all.
Too implement this policy takes a good offensive team and a deep bullpen. If you have to rely on the pen for three to four innings every day, it better be deep and talented.
The Dodgers are willing to spend a lot more than most teams to achieve their ultimate goal.
Perhaps they should rethink their usage of Kershaw, given his comparative sub-prime work in the post-season.
The National League average innings pitched for starters is 5 2/3 and the average ERA for starters is 4.41. A quality start , defined as 6 innings and three or less runs, is therefore is very close to being average. Met starters should be able to achieve this result and if they can’t (but still have above average stuff) they may be better suited for the bullpen.
I agree that having at least four good relievers is the way to go. The Mets should go out and get a solid #3 starter this winter and use some of the current starters in the bullpen.
The point about TDA is just another head scratcher and just another reason that TC has run his course as the manager.
BTW—Lugo and Spin Rate and Great Curves…is a Curve ball a swing and miss pitch?…. why is Lugo not getting swings and misses on his 2 strike curves? It seems he’s getting some early strike called strikes, but no 2 strike take outs with the pitch.