Despite putting up a fight in the later innings, the New York Mets were unable to get over another poor start by Jason Vargas, as the lost to the Colorado Rockies 10-8.
You could tell from the onset of this game that it was going to be the type of back and forth slugfest we’ve grown accustomed to with baseball at Coors Field. Running out starter Jason Vargas was a recipe for disaster, as the low velocity on his pitches does not pair well with the thin Colorado air. This showed true in the third inning, when Vargas allowed back-to-back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third inning to Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, and Ian Desmond. The deflated Vargas wouldn’t see life past the third inning, with his stat line finishing with 2.1 innings pitched, and 7 earned runs. My Gut Reaction is that after watching Vargas this season, it might be safe to say that last year’s 18 win season was a fluke, because he has been absolutely dreadful in a Mets uniform.
Offensively, the Mets didn’t have that bad of a night. Usually eight runs is enough to get the win, but it wouldn’t cut it against the Rockies. An interesting thing to look at is how the team scored their runs in the loss. Four of their runs came across the plate through the hitter making an out, whether it be a fly out or groundout. There is nothing wrong with sacrificial baseball, and it was interesting to see the Mets employ it to score half of their runs last night.
The only Mets position players to not register a hit last night were Dom Smith and Todd Frazier, two players who need to produce offensively for different reasons. Smith for the purpose of staying afloat at the Major League level, and Frazier to break out of the visibly frustrating slump that he has been in since his return from injury. The run production was wide spread, as six Mets drove in a run last night, Asdrubal Cabrera the lone Met to drive in two.
The Mets received a mixed bag of success from the bullpen, as Hansel Robles, Chris Beck, and recently called up Tim Peterson came in to relieve. Robles came first, and he lasted only 1.2 innings while giving up two runs and three walks. Beck was next, and despite the four hits he allowed, only one run crossed the plate during his tenure. It was Peterson that pitched best out of the pen for the Mets, as he put up two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
The loss dropped the Mets to 31-39 on the season, in addition to snapping their three game winning streak. On Thursday, Seth Lugo will do battle with Chad Bettis at 8:40 pm.
Hierarchy in preferred ways to score runs:
With a hit > with an error > with a WP/PB > with a walk > … > with an out.
In a game where the Mets needed at least 11 runs to win, it’s tough to come out ahead when you’re requiring multiple outs to score runs. Sure, it’s way, way better than not scoring at all. But “sacrificial baseball” comes at a cost and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise by saying that there’s nothing wrong with it.
Of course but 8 runs should win any game. Sac flys, FCs that score are perfect baseball. Sure both lead to outs, but both lead to runs.
What galls me is the 2nd and 3rd no out followed by 2 Ks and a pop up all trying to hit an 8 run HR. That’s worse in my opinion, by far.
It’s only perfect baseball in a low-run environment.
If it’s 1968 and Bob Gibson is pitching, it’s great. It’s another thing entirely in 2018 in Coors Field. Especially with Jason Vargas as your SP.
I don’t get the people who think it’s an end in and of itself to score runs by making outs. That there’s something ideal about scoring two runs and leaving zero runners on base compared to scoring six runs and leaving 10 men on base. Scoring runs by making outs is a means to an end and the absolutely least productive way to possibly do it. It’s a consolation prize, a participation trophy. It’s better than nothing but it shouldn’t be the ultimate goal in all but a few select circumstances.
I’d rather have a $200 million payroll and win 95 games than a $100 million payroll and win 85 games, even if the latter is way more efficient. And I use the same principle when it comes to scoring runs. I choose quantity over efficiency every day.
Efficiency is scoring runs when the opportunity presents itself, regardless of how they are scored. The runs the Mets scored last night — half of which came on outs — would have been more than enough if Vargas wasn’t pitching. And Robles was his horrid self as well.
Simple is as simple does. Runs are runs. Scoring more runs than the other guys score is winning baseball. No matter how you score them.
We win if Vargas and Robles didn’t pitch last night. Simple as that.
I also fail to see why scoring a run with a hit is higher in the “pecking order” than on a walk or error. A new runner is reaching base in all of those situations, in addition to the one scoring. Those three methods all seem like a wash to me.
I’ll take 2 runs and 2 outs every time over 0 runs and 3 outs, ya know, the “homerun” way.
You’re arguing for something that no one is arguing against.
I actually agree completely with Chris on this. Brian, give me just one run each inning of each game and that will make me very happy.
The problem with this Gus is that the Mets can score one run per inning and still lose.