For the second straight series, the Mets entered the last game with a chance to sweep, only to come out on the short end of things, this time by a 2-0 loss to the Cubs Thursday night at Citi Field. Still, after splitting with the Orioles, if someone gave you a chance to go 5-2 against the Padres and Cubs, you would have taken that in a heartbeat.
Marcus Stroman gave up a two-run homer in the first inning but settled in to go seven strong innings. But his teammates just couldn’t recover from the early hole.
The offense was held to just two hits.
For the 3rd time in the last 5 games the Mets have a pitcher absolutely cruising and Rojas the idiot goes for the quick yank. If not these games when if ever are starting pitchers allowed to be starting pitchers? It’s June so he can’t claim the season is early. It’s summer weather so he can’t complain it’s cold. Did i mention we are in a stretch of 33 games in 31 days? Rojas has no clue about the big picture, his tiny brain can only comprehend the current day.
Luchessi: Retires last 12 of 13. Pulled at 72 pitches
Walker: Retires last 12 straight. Pulled at 92 pitches
Stroman: Retires last 11 straight. Pulled at 92 pitches
You could even add Peterson to the list but at least there was some rationale there because the guy was struggling so bad in his prior 2 starts.
Meanwhile 2 days ago Don Mattingly lets his pitcher start the 9th inning at 93 pitches. That’s the guy i want managing for the Mets.
I guess I’m ok with the bullpen getting 6 outs, but only when the game doesn’t hang in the balance and while the SP is obviously in a groove. The worst case was last Sunday with Lucchesi cruising and trying to nail down the sweep of the Padres. Everything pointed to sticking with him, but stodgy old Rojas pulls him and hands the lead over to a depleted pen. Duh! Then he leaves a completely spent Familia in to lose the lead before making the change… horrible. Hey, I can tolerate horrible once in a while, but not chronically, as you are pointing out here, Name.
I’d like to see some guts offensively. Move Lindor out of the 2 spot… it ain’t working. I’d try Guillorme there against a RH… good contact, bat control, high baseball IQ… Lindor far too unproductive in such a crucial role. If he were not the guy who just swindled the new owner for 340 million, he’d be hitting 8th.
I totally agree with Wobbit regarding Lindor being moved from the #2 spot in the order. I understand that as a switch hitter why he’s there, but that’s assuming he’s being productive; and he hasn’t been. I guess they are afraid of “hurting his ego/feelings” with such a demotion, then being stuck with a surly millionaire for 9 more years; but I think it would be for his own good; and the team, if he was moved down the order.
I agree with Name, barring a particular reason why the starter has to be removed (admitted fatigue, injury, game situation) it makes zero sense to be pulling these guys now given all the factors he mentions. Why a starter can’t go 105-110 pitches in June is bewildering, but what do I know. More evidence that 90 is the new 100.
I’ll also agree regarding Lindor. He has had a few flair ups, looking like the Cleveland Lindor, and then just gone back into a funk. He is definitely allergic to breaking balls, which is scary. His June OPS is over .800, even in spite of his recent slide, but he just does not look like an offensive threat at this point, and we are approaching half a season. With some bats coming back (McNeil, Conforto, maybe more…) if Lindor does not look like the Cleveland Lindor before those guys settle in, especially McNeil, he absolutely needs to be dropped until he hits himself back to the top of the order…regardless of the contract.
The way I see it, the Lindor signing is almost assuredly a debacle. Signed him before we knew what he was, and now we have to tip-toe around his feelings?
Unless he can slash .285/.350/.400 for five years, steal 20 bases, hit 20 HRs… he will have been overpaid. All the smiles on earth will not make up for that wad of moolah. And if he doesn’t start “taking the ball early” on routine hoppers, he will cost the pitchers some slippage in ERA…
That batting line is not even worth half his price tag. He needs to do much better than that to justify his contract.
Amed Rosario is slashing .284/.338/.403 right now.
Less than half a season into an 11 year commitment, it is way too early to project. However, excluding the “branding” component of a deal like this, from the baseball side only, the risk to the team is monumental.
Excluding the 2020 season, Lindor averaged about 5.5 fwar a season in his first 5 years. This was built on premium defense and all-star positional offense, and doing so at the SS position made him a top player in the game. For the Mets to get baseball value, he would need to replicate that average for the next five years and the ease down out gently of his supposed peak seasons. He is more or less giving the Mets his elite glove, but his bat has been brutal, especially out of the two spot. He needs to OPS above .800 and swipe some bags, at least in key running situations, in order to hold that two spot. Otherwise, it hurts the team that is trying two win the division this season. He needs to start hitting right now, and hitting with a bit more pop.
+1. Very thoughtful comment. Good analysis. It wasn’t a knee jersey reaction and was a realizable expectation to solve the problem.