A day after it seemed the Mets bats were coming back to life, they went back to sleep, managing just two runs off Matt Strahm and the San Diego bullpen. Mets hitters struck out 13 times and again failed to support a solid pitching effort.
New Met Wilmer Font made the start and gave us a chance, allowing two runs in four innings of work. And it would have been just one run had Jeff McNeil been able to snare the just-barely hit home run that he missed catching by a whisker. It was indeed a game of inches as Pete Alonso was later robbed of a home run that would have given the Mets the lead. The one ball the Mets actually did hit out came courtesy of Tomas Nido, who also delivered a single in addition to his solo home run. Amed Rosario‘s RBI single drove in the other Mets run. Jeff McNeil had yet another two hit game.
Robert Gsellman kept the Mets in it with two scoreless innings of relief but Mickey Callaway then made his first of two bad calls that may have cost the Mets this ball game. Gsellman was cruising and had thrown just 29 pitches. He surely could have gone one more. Instead, in a tie ball game, Callaway chose to hand the ball to the just called up Tyler Bashlor who immediately coughed up a home run to Met killer Hunter Renfroe to put the score at 3-2. Drew Gagnon threw a perfect ninth inning to keep hope alive, but it didn’t matter as the Mets couldn’t do anything against Gerardo Reyes, who entered the game with an ERA of 13.00.
In the ninth, the Mets had a great opportunity to at least tie it up. After Padres closer Kirby Yates made quick work of Pete Alonso and Michadel Conforto, J.D. Davis, who played third, rapped a single. Juan Lagares, pinch running, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then Brandon Nimmo drew a walk. Inexplicably, Callaway allowed Nido to hit in this spot while Wilson Ramos sat and watched from the bench. Nido looked completely over-matched by Yates, who struck him out on three fastballs. Ball game over. The box score puts the loss next to Bashlor’s name, but this L belongs to Callaway.
The Mets have the day off tomorrow before returning home for a three game set with the Marlins. This may be just what the doctor ordered.
Well Matt. should we open up a betting pool as to when Callaway will be fired? I hope it’s before this month is over.
I was surprised when Ramos didn’t PH for Nido in the 7th and shocked when he didn’t do it in the 9th. Yeah, I know, Nido had two hits on the day. But he was overmatched in those last two ABs.
It’s up for debate if the ball that Nimmo hit in the 7th would have been out if Margot didn’t get a glove on it. But Conforto still should have scored from second on that play.
I agree – Callaway has to go – how many more “mistakes” will he make that will cost us games – Preseason it was how good our hitting would be – sounds like a hitting coach problem (didn’t Chili have the same problem with his previous team?). We will not make it through the season wearing out the pitching staff like we did last year. With a new GM it is time for a new manager – he has had his chance and we have had the talent.
By the way – as much as I like Todd Frazier he needs to either head back to Toms River, become a bench coach or sit on the bench. How long can we afford to carry a .150 hitter – we did the same thing last year with Reyes.
This morning I was contemplating how long Callaway should stick around, and I liked Callaway. However, managing is more than just making out a lineup card, you need to have a feel for how a game is going and you need to prepare your team to win each game. Preparation can be to an individual or as a group. You need to inspire players and you need to give your team its best chance to win, within reason.
For those that felt Collins didn’t hurt the Mets’ record, you need to see that certain people keep winning everywhere they go. That isn’t an accident. Do we still think leadership and management are overrated? Although Callaway is better than Collins, the Mets need some kind of new approach. Callaway is more interested in being popular with the vets than winning. Good riddance, please.
Here’s a thought – we’ve seen plenty of GMs that had no direct BB job experience (as a player, for example), most notably Theo Epstein, but has there ever been an outsider hired as field manager? Maybe now is the time for the Mets to hired… wait for it…. wait for it…
Brian Joura!
Think he could do better than Callaway? Just a thought
Well, I do have the manager pot belly already. And I can work on walking around with my hands in my back pocket and cupping my hands around my mouth to bark out instructions, like the managers used to do in the baseball cards of my youth.
Gut reaction: this was a well-played game which the better team won. The Mets again failed to win a rubber game and take the series. This is a repeating problem. Callaway has done some questionable decisions. Brody has done some questionable roster moves. There is too much talent to be 3 games below 500. Management needs to right this ship by remedying the roster and properly utilizing the proper personnel in game situations. Good teams win rubber games. I expected this road trip to at least be 2-4. It was disappointing.
Sorry Metsense, there is not enough collective talent to have this team be much more than .500. Sure 85 wins may take the division, but the holes are many and deep.