The Mets came into this Sunday afternoon contest trying desperately to avoid the ignominy of being swept by the worst team in baseball, the Miami Marlins. Oh, and there was the added bonus of manager Mickey Callaway’s job possibly hinging on the outcome. While the players themselves had no say about the latter situation, Noah Syndergaard was entrusted with staving off the former.
He would be opposed by the young right hander, Sandy Alcantara and for the first five-and-a-half innings, there was nothing to choose between them: each near-perfect, each throwing a near-minimum number of pitches. J.D. Davis became the first base runner of the day, worming a single into left with one out, but was he erased when Robinson Cano failed to run out a squibber at the plate he assumed would roll foul (it did not). Miami got its first runner when Neil Walker led off the fifth with a broken-bat flare over second base. Starlin Castro bounced back to the mound for a double play of his own. After Miguel Rojas drew the first walk of the game, Chad Wallach grounded out to short. Rosell Herrera roped a 3-1 double to right center to start the home half of the sixth. He advanced to third on a bunt single by the pitcher Alcantara. That brought up old buddy Curtis Granderson, who hit a one-hopper to Cano at second. The double play was turned and the Marlins took the lead. With the Mets in the midst of a scoring drought eighteen innings long, that turned out to be enough.
The Mets got their second hit of the afternoon when Davis blooped a one out single to right center in the seventh, but Cano hit into another double play, running this one out, at least. Walker laced a double to right center to start the Miami seventh. Castro hit a grounder up the middle that was scooped up by shortstop Adneiny Hecchavaria for the first out, Walker crossing to third. He would score on a fly ball by Rojas, hit just deep enough to center fielder Juan Lagares. In the eighth, Pete Alonso walked on four pitches leading off — the 3-0 count passing for a rally these days — but Brandon Nimmo struck out. Hecchavaria hit a bouncer back to the mound, but Alcantara threw it to nobody and suddenly, the tying runs were on base. Dom Smith pinch hit for Lagares and hit into yet another Miami double play. Seth Lugo replaced Syndergaard in the eighth and was greeted by a one-out homer by Granderson, possibly shoveling a little more dirt onto Callaway’s managerial tenure.
The Washington Nationals come in to Citi Field tomorrow, Patrick Corbin for DC, vs. the ever popular TBD for the Mets. Presumably after the press conference…
Hey 2 hits is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a trend in the right direction.
Also, it should be noted that the game lasted right around 2 hours. If you’re going to stink, at least do it in the least amount of time possible.
Does Callaway get fired tonight or tomorrow morning?
I was at yesterday’s game and had the pleasure of watching today’s game with local announcers in charge. It’s a strange feeling watching the Miami fans enjoying their (bad)team at the stadium knowing that these guys are pretty bad.
The announcers were quick to claim the two starters have tremendous talent and have just suddenly put it together. Three hits allowed in two games. Maybe Miami wins the pennant and we Met fans go into dark age hibernation for the next three years.
Hope all the people on social media that complained about the Mets hitting too many homers enjoy Chilli’s hitting approach of hitting the ball on the ground and not drawing walks or hitting homers. The guy has been fired three times in four years for good reason. Brodie is a snake oil salesman so no surprise the Wilpons fell for the product he was selling. Lagares in the lineup everyday is torture but at least he’s gone after the year we’ve got five years of Cano, oy vey. Mickey is a bad manager but his ouster will do very little honestly but hey Riggleman probably saw Koufax pitch so he can talk to Fred so that’s enough for Fred.
Oh please. In the glory days of HR Sandy ball the team had one of the worst offenses in baseball. The problem is not approach, the problem is talent, specifically the lack thereof.
I skipped the game, so can someone please explain how a pitcher got a bunt single in an obvious sacrifice situation?
As for Mickey: Mick, you’re a great guy, but leadership is not a passive thing; it’s a never ending exhaustion. Your leaders of Frazier and Cano were the wrong people based on their salaries. Your real leaders are Conforto and Nimmo. Alonso and McNeil may become leaders down the road, and Frazier meant well but is “all talk, no action”. Cano is the proverbial coach killer that the Mariners are belly-aching laughing about while looking at Kelenic’s and Dunn’s numbers that present prospect watchers have ahead of Justus Sheffield in the rankings.
Good luck on your next gig Mickey. Word of advice to the next guy: Stop worrying about what the newspapers will write about you.
And word of advice to BVW: shut up. Seems like the past three GM’s have been smug clowns that talk crap to the press and then don’t back it up. Then, their players talk crap to the press and don’t back it up. There is no focus on this team. Ever since McNeil said that the Mets should win every game against the Marlins in the NY Post, they haven’t won a single one. Respect your opponents and shut up.
The disrespect starts at the top, with clowns that hide behind their henchmen.
The bunt got past the pitcher. Davis initially went back to 3B for a potential play and then changed direction to get the ball. And by then it was too late as the Marlins’ pitcher was more Matz than Cano while running to first.
Ok. Thanks Brian.
The team needs a shake up. Callaway needs to go. Getting shut out twice and being swept by the Marlins is an embarrassment.
I’ll be at the game on Tuesday for my birthday; my wish is that Mickey is fired by then and I start a new winning streak alongside Riggelman
Gut Reaction : I puked
As if it is not bad enough, the crosstown Yankees call up whomever when their starters go down and they carry the team. That’s because they have a minor league system that contains talent, young talent, and not mediocre ex ML players hanging on. Our lack of scouting and evaluation of players has led us to where we are today – not enough ML talent and a lack of suitable call ups. Didn’t BVW represent any good young talent or are they all at the end of the line? No doubt Cano will end up hitting .290 with 20 HR and 70 RBI but they will be meaningless stats. Expiring contracts will help with Frazier, Lagares and Vargas gone but what confidence do we have that they will be replaced with better players? We will likely be sellers by the end of July at the rate we are going. The hope that Ces returns and transforms 2019 into 2015 is getting less likely with every loss to a struggling team. Nimmo and Rosario have gone backwards and Ramos has not been the hitting force we expected despite the team’s won loss record while he is in the lineup. As a life long Mets fan I have a world of patience and each year is just another frustrating experience. To make matters worse I’m a Knicks and Giants fan too. If I cancel cable and XM radio will life be easier to take?
My adult baseball game was rained out yesterday. The good news is that my grandson has gotten guidance from Mickey Callaway’s & Robinson Cano’s leadership.
1.Stop running hard when their are two outs.
2. Don’t run at all if you think it’s foul.
3. Blame the scoreboard. If that fails
4. Blame younger player. If that fails
6. Blame the umpire
Malaise is more contagious than enthusiasm. This is due to cynicism -whether in sports , business or any human organization.
When 23 year old kid sees the flame Troy’s star making unbelievable money while being “casual”, it leads to not only emulation, but to a team—cynicism.
“Why should I, at minimum wage, risk an injury when I see ______ …?”
It’s common in biz time theft. The one who does the full work load begins to resent those who slack but still get paid the same.
Shift the goal posts to millions and watch the Mets promote game after game as “Cano versus…” and then add Mickey Callaway flinging linguistic gymnastics to make sure Cano’s feelings aren’t hurt and his prime batting spot in tact.
What I do not know is whether this is Mickey being Mickey OR if it’s Mickey on orders from Broadie …