In a game direct from the Mets’ 2020 playbook, complete with lousy starting pitching and terrible clutch hitting, the Mets fell to the Phillies, 8-2, Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The second batter of the game for Philadelphia hit a homer and it kind of snowballed from there, as the Phillies put up four runs in the first inning and never trailed.
The Mets had runners on base in every single inning, including seven frames with a runner in scoring position yet only scored two runs. And to make it even worse, the second run scored on a wild pitch.
If you’re looking for a scapegoat, look at the Mets’ third-place hitter. Here’s how his day went:
1st inning – Runner on 2nd, hit a 5-3.
3rd inning – Runners on 1st and 3rd, hit F9, not deep enough to score a run
4th inning – Bases loaded, KL
6th inning – Runners on 1st & 2nd, KS
8th inning – Runner on 1st, hit F7
Tough to win when your third-place hitter comes up with nine runners on base, five in scoring position, and he goes 0-5.
We saw the season debut for three relievers. Jacob Barnes grooved his first pitch as a Met and J.T. Realmuto promptly hit a homer. Next was Dellin Betances, who looked no different than last year. Joey Lucchesi, who warmed up in the first inning but didn’t get in the game until the seventh, finished things out and was easily the best pitcher of the day. While he looked good, he also got some generous calls from the home plate ump.
Would have been easier to take this loss if the Mets hadn’t blown the first game of the series.
Series One Report Card on My Guys:
These 4 guys I’ve been praising did not do too well in this first too-familiar, typically-Mets series.
Luis Guillermo makes two throwing errors… totally embarrassed… will bear down to make up for it, though. McCann should have saved one…
Conforto looked terrible at the plate. Could have turned the game around and crushed Nola… needs to step it up immediately.
Great players don’t go through prolonged cold stretches, Mike.
David Peterson obviously was misinformed as to a game plan (poor coaching). Very disappointing.
Barnes also, not great.
But in the Sicilian tradition, these terrible starts are sometimes considered good luck… like stepping in dog shit on your way to someplace important.
Gut Reaction: when opportunity knocks then answer the door Mr Conforto.
Lucchesi pitched well in his two low leverage innings and Nimmo was a on base machine in the lead off spot.
Yes, this game was reminiscent of the games in the 2020 season.
I think your last line said a lot – “easier to take this loss if the Mets hadn’t blown the first game of the series” – gotta win the games you can. That is a big difference between a playoff team and a 4th place team. Mets are looking like a 4th place team to me.
Well, certainly it would have been nice…
This Philly team is going to hit lefties very well. I understand that the team wanted to save Walker for the home opener, but against Segura, McCutchen, Realmuto, Hoskins, and Bohm, I didn’t like Peterson’s chances in Philly. I completely felt this game was a throw away from before it started. But, they had their chances.
The Phillies are drinking the Girardi Kool-Aid right now and are playing very confidently.
Not to look for excuses, but I will give Peterson a mulligan given the bizarre start to the season and the long layoff for the pitchers. That being the case, I think Peterson is on a very short leash and will be the first sent down, time he could likely use to refine his craft. Conforto…obviously a game to forget. It happens, but this is the Met norm until proven otherwise.
Yes, the last sentence is the key. There were two starter mismatches this series. The Mets blew theirs, despite a strong performance from their ace, with poor hitting an a late inning collapse. The Phillies won theirs, despite a poor effort from their ace.
This division is tough. A poor start could be quite costly.
A disappointing opening to the (delayed) season. Yes, we’re only through three games, but there are troubling signs.
Peterson did adjust his pitch selections and had better location after the first inning. His ERA got inflated more because of Barnes terrible first pitch to Realmuto too, which put the game out of reach.
I am worried about the pitching, particularly the bullpen. I think the five present starters are OK and will be great when Carrasco and Syndergaard return. The bullpen—even with the addition of Lugo in awhile—is still suspect. We have only one LH reliever and Familia, Betances, Gsellman and Barnes are all iffy. Castro should be OK, it’s not a given that that will be the case. I don’t understand why they didn’t sign another reliever or two in the offseason.
I have hopes that the RISP numbers will improve as the season progresses.