The Mets were unable to recover from another first inning deficit, as they fell to the Colorado Rockies 8-7.
Maybe it was the negative aura of the designation for assignment of Matt Harvey still in the air, or maybe it just wasn’t Zach Wheeler’s day on the mound as he gave up 5 first inning runs to begin the game. These hits were all hard hit, with Wheeler looking destined for a short start like Jason Vargas yesterday. Wheeler was able to settle down though, and ended up throwing six innings. Over those six innings, he eventually would give up an additional two runs for a final line of eight earned runs, three walks, and two home runs given up. After a promising start in his last outing, this start should be considered a major step backwards for Wheeler. My Gut Reaction is that Wheeler will take this game as a learning experience, and will go out in his next start and pitch like the third arm that the Mets need him to be.
The bats of the Mets were more awake than their previous two games. The Mets registered nine hits on the night, including two two-run home runs. The first was struck by Asdrubal Cabrera in the bottom of the first, with Brandon Nimmo on first following a leadoff single. The second was delivered in the bottom of the eighth inning off of the bat of Todd Frazier. After Yoenis Cespedes drew a walk to lead the inning off, Frazier blasted a shot off of the face of the second deck in left field.
A rally was started in the bottom of the ninth by Wilmer Flores, who doubled to lead off the inning. He was driven in by Amed Rosario in the following at bat, as the shortstop laced a single up the middle to make the score 8-5. The Rockies then decided to put Wade Davis in, much to the liking of Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera tripled to drive in Rosario and make it an 8-6 game.
After striking out Cespedes and walking Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier came to the plate with two away and runners on the corners. Frazier delivered by lining a single to score Cabrera. Michael Conforto came to the plate then with Frazier having after stealing second base. Conforto struck out swinging, which gave him an 0-5 day at the plate.
Despite the loss, this was a huge game for the Mets after being shut out the past two games. Their three run ninth inning gave the feeling to Mets fans that this team still has life.
This was the fourth consecutive loss for the Mets, and it drops their record on the season to 17-13, and 7-8 at home. Tomorrow at 7:10 PM, the Mets will be back at Citi Field again to take on the Rockies. Steven Matz will try to get back to winning ways on the mound against Chad Bettis.
Well, after 30 games, the Mets are about where we expected that they would be. Just didn’t expect it to be the good, the bad and the ugly already so early in the season.
Including last nights game, Conforto has 75 ABs with 4 extra base hits. His only homer came in his first game on April 5, a month ago. He is supposed to sit today. I’d do more than that: send him down until he finds his stroke. .200 is not going to cut it. The guy has been a total joke. Nimmo and Lagares are able replacements.
I am completely on board with a minor league stint, especially because it gives more playing time to on base machine Brandon Nimmo.
Would have liked to have seen Gonzalez bat for Conforto in the ninth last night. Certainly seemed like a better option. In fact, based upon his body language in his first 3 AB’s, I think Lagares should have hit for him in the eighth against the lefthander as well.
Liked what I saw from Bruce at 1B. It would be nice to see more of that to give Nimmo more opportunities. A little concerned though as Bruce doesn’t seem to be completely embracing the idea, based upon his cryptic statements in the Post this A.M. about playing there.
Bruce is made for New York because he has a big mouth and is opinionated on everything. There’s two kinds of Texans: his kind and the “yes sir”, “no sir” kind. That is, the latter ones aren’t stupid, but they respect authority and others. Bruce’s comments about Harvey showed a lack of respect and appreciation to the team that signed him on his terms, and his lack of production should have Bruce focusing on his craft rather than his focus on everything around him. I guess he figures he has two years before he needs to give a damn again, which shows why his better years were contract years.
When I wrote my description of Bruce, I meant it towards the many newspapers that all look for a different angle. I realize now that it doesn’t read that way.
In a historically bad week for Mets fans there are a few positives to be taken from this game. Some of the bats came to life and at least some of the players showed some fight.
Conforto looks late on every pitch. The Mets can not afford to carry another automatic out. He needs either a demotion or reduced playing time until he figures it out.
How about doing what Cespedes and Bruce did last week, go early to the stadium and take an extra hour of hitting?
Wheeler’s first start this year was a curse in disguise because it turned a spot start into 4 bad starts. He needs to follow the Harvey route and be banished to the bullpen, and if he fails, then you can DFA or let him rot in the minors for the rest of the year (as he has an option remaining).
I don’t think many people realize how bad he is at home. This year he’s given up 11 runs over 6 innings, to bring his career Citi Field ERA to 5.12 in 32 starts.
I do.
Also, he made a comment today along the lines of “that first inning has always been tough for me” or something like that…and that eleminates his usefulness in the pen. The long and short of it is, he, like Harvey and Matz and Gsellman are mop up pitchers. This team has 2 starters and then a lot of nothing after that. Starting pitching was a clear demand after last year, and instead of addressing it, Alderson elected to go the same route as the year before…hoping that a large number of unproven, recovering from injury, hope-for-the-best pitchers would all dial in. It was a mistake then, and it is now too. The idea of an Arrietta or Darvish (I know I know) was essential, and we sat around and got Vargas.