With the Mets needing to run the table the keep their slim playoff hopes alive, Steven Matz gave up two homers to Jorge Alfaro, putting the Mets in a hole from which they could not recover, as they lost to the Marlins, 8-4, Monday night at Citi Field.
Matz gave up a solo homer to Alfaro in the second inning and a scratch run in the third. Then Alfaro blasted a grand slam to put the Marlins ahead, 6-0, and knock Matz out of the game.
Amed Rosario gave the Mets a brief glimmer of hope, as he delivered a slam of his own in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to two runs. But the Marlins added two more runs in the seventh and the Mets could not put up any runs in three innings against the Miami pen.
Bottom line:
The Mets are entertainment, and they gave us enough to have us interested all year. Not everyone gets to win, and as long as they gave their all, we should be happy. Did they give their best? It’s debatable, but I can’t say they did. From the GM to the M, there was alot to be desired; a lot of games given away and talent was literally given away. But, the core seems good, the rotation is good, the bench is good. Just get a bullpen, a real manager, and a real GM so BVW and Jefferey can go back to playing golf.
Ironically, before they got on that 21-5 run after the all-star break, they were offering 80% off on all remaining tickets. They sure were optimistic, huh? But, let the off-season start already so we can figure out how this tangled web of second basemen and corner outfielders will become a balanced and complete team.
Questions as I see them for the off season:
1. Is Cano really the starting 2B?
2. Id be lyin’ if I said I liked McNeil (and even less) Davis as starting at 3B daily.
3. Mets sure have a lot of corner OF Ces (R), Davis (R), Nimmo (L), Conforto (L), McNeil (L), and even Smith (L), but not a single legit center fielder.
4. I’m not all teary-eyed over deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman, Matz, ?, ?, ?, ? as 8 possible starters
5. Cant anyone in the bull pen actually throw a ball consistently?
6. Will The Mick be calling the shots from the top step?
7. Payroll, and the lack thereof.
Chris,
They’ll be many months to debate and discuss 2020, but here is a quick stab –
1. I can live with that, especially with McNeil and Lowrie on the roster
2. Agreed. Prefer McNeil (better D) but Davis has a gun if he could improve
3. I’d love a true CF too, but pitching and possible another big bat bigger needs to me
4. Agreed – still overrated as a group. At this point, I’d rather invest in Wheeler (within reason), move Lugo into the rotation, and deal Sydergaard for pitching, but the Wheeler signing and Syndergaard depend on what the market is bearing on each front
5. Probably not. I would try to add two backend-type arms, maybe a proven guy and young stud (via trade). Familia and Diaz virtually have to return due lack of trade value, but they should be slotted into low leverage roles. If they can regain some prior form (especially Diaz) the pen could be deep.
6. IMHO. The least expensive way to find another 3 wins is to replace the manager with Girardi.
7. The Wilpons have been cursed (perhaps deservedly so) with their big money players being iffy due to injury (Cespedes, Wright, Beltran). Frankly, the entire offseason budget depends on Cespedes. Worst case scenario is if they are stuck with him at full price and he stinks. Best case scenario is he returns and rakes on a contract year. I’s settle for him being finished and insurance overing half of the $30 million salary.
The offseason should be entertaining, but Brodie scares me.