It was the type of game the Mets needed to play, a low-scoring, one-run game into the eighth inning. But Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer off Edwin Diaz and the Phillies moved into first place with a 4-2 win over the Mets Friday night in Philadelphia.
Everyone talks about Diaz’ split this year when he’s pitching in a save situation versus games that are not. But what no one ever mentions is the huge home/road split he has. At Citi Field, Diaz has a 2.00 ERA with a 0.926 WHIP. But in road parks this year, Diaz has a 7.56 ERA with a 1.740 WHIP after he allowed two runs, two hits and a walk in this game.
And someone please tell him to stop imitating Hansel Robles and pointing straight up when he gives up a gopher ball. Harper hit the ball 442 feet – quit pretending like someone is going to catch it.
Luis Rojas tried to win the game with the bullpen, pulling Marcus Stroman after 91 pitches and five innings. The Phillies had two lefties up in the sixth, so Rojas pulled a Terry Collins special and called for the lefty. Aaron Loup got out of a jam in the sixth inning. But when those lefties were up again in the eighth, Loup was used and Diaz was roasted by a LHB.
Phillies deadline acquisition Ian Kennedy pitched the ninth and picked up the save, despite surrendering a gopher ball to Jonathan Villar. Mets deadline acquisition Javier Baez struck out two times and had an error.
Oh, and the Mets had a bases loaded chance with nobody out and failed to score.
No matter who or what your personal beef with on the 2021 Mets is, he or it probably failed miserably in this game.
The Mets rank next to last in runs scored in baseball only ahead of the lowly pirates. Couldn’t find a stat for comparing how they did with RISP but I would have to imagine it is equally dismal. This really frames their season. If not for early pitching successes by Jake, Walker and Stroman, we likely would have been sellers at the deadline. A timely hit last night could have shifted the momentum and given us some breathing room. Diaz is a mystery and should be seeing a shrink. I know Cohen asked for 3-5 years to make us a competitor every season and also bring home a title, and I had no delusions of grandeur going into this season, but their play of the last three weeks has been so disappointing. How can no one be on a tear at the plate. How can Dom Smith lead the team with a BA in the 250’s? They could have tried to squeeze a runner home with Stroman, but oh I forgot, no one on the team knows how to bunt. Thanks for the chance to express frustration. Today’s another day but the light at the end of the tunnel seems more and more like an oncoming Amtrak
This was the worst game if the year. The Mets were lifeless. That is on Rojas.
Watching Stroman take three strikes made me sick. Thats on Rojas.
Let’s forget about Baez for now. This team just can’t hit. This team hits hits far too many weak ground balls. Alonso is the only one would scare opposing pitchers, but even he is not too scary, because he has a hard time with off speed pitches and chases too many.
Diaz is Diaz. We know who he is. Time to trade him. I do believe that Lindor will rebound next year. Pitching, who knows for 22. Hope deGroms arm issues wont resurface.
We know that we need a new third baseman. But here is where we really got stung this year. Conforto and Smith. Let Conforto walk. He can’t hit curve balls and everybody knows it. Wont be worth signing him to a big contract. And I finally think we see what Dom really is. So, we also need to retool in LF and RF.
Wish we had some of our prospects ready for the show next year, because we need them now. It stings to see Kelenics name in the box score every day and it will sting to see the Crow patrolling CF for the Cubs in a few years, probably with Baez playing short, ha.
Our schedule is much more difficult than the Phillies for the rest of the year. If this was any regular year, we would be 8 games out of first. This whole first place thing is a mirage, because we have been mediocre all year.
The Mets need some fire in their belly, because they sure dont have any.
Gut Reaction: their offense has failed them especially in RISP situations and the bullpen has failed them in the last two games. Loup was used too early and Stroman was pulled too early but that is the way that Rojas manages.
The Phillies have won six in a row and the Braves four when the Mets have gone into a skid. It happens. A third of the season is left. This is a tough time but this isn’t the time to write their obituary. A win today will get them back into first place. It is going to be a tough haul but the September schedule is favorable. LGM
Both of the previous comments are extremely right on. Mets fans seem far more aware and reasonable than Mets staff. We know what we see, but somehow the staff and the FO keep doing the same things and expecting different results.
Stroman not doing anything with the bases loaded is unconscionable. There has to be some way to put the ball in play with no out and let the bad Phillies defense deal with it. I have never seen such passive, defeatist crap in my baseball life. Nimmo hitting the very next pitch into a DP was just too predictable and frustrating.
Baez is a crushing failure. Yeah, we get a shortstop while Lindor is out, but an even worse spot in the batting order than we had before. At least Guillorme reached base consistently. Cub fans are breathing easier these days. I’d rather play Drury at 3B and Villar at short.
The season isn’t over. If they can score 5 runs in a game half the time they can be in the race in September. That means every player needs to hit at least a little better… one or two needs to get just a little bit hot. Too much to ask of this unimaginative coaching staff and inept manager???
Same old story…the offense has failed the team. There was a good, detailed story on mlb.com on the specific problems of the offense…2nd to last in runs, last in extra base hits, and near league bottom of how hard a ball is hit when it is put in play. It’s extremely hard to win with that production, and none of that is on the manager. It is not on the hitting coach, or the stat department. It is on the hitters, the guys that actually play the game. This group will either turn it around quickly or the Mets will slip away.
+1
If the Mets do not win the division, Rojas should be fired. I think they will cire him. Stroman was waving the white flag. Bunt, make them make a play. McNeill on second and Realmuto loses the ball. He froze like an ice pop. At least Baez would have taken third. I like Baezs glove and power. But I dont like his strike outs and his poor OBP.
This team needs to be built for Citi Field. That means great pitching, great defense, great baserunning. The Mets dont drive the ball. Need players who hit line drives, hit a lot of doubles and get on base.
They are not fired up. They are rolling over. I hate that. I’d rather have a bunch of players who look like they want to win.
As for the trades, would you rather have Baez or Gibson and Kemnedy? I could not believe the Dodgers got Scherzer and Turner. I know he would never go to the Mets in the same division, but Trea Turner is exactly the player type that we need. The Nats did really get young solid prospects in Gray and Ruiz. The Dodgers have a very deep farm system and still do.
Yes, realistically, this is an eye opener of a season for us. We have a lot of the wrong players. We have to realize that we are probably not going to win with this crew and mix.
Our good prospects are 2-3 years off. deGrom is already 33 years old. Yes. Depending on the offer, maybe we should trade him.
I’m tired of Conforto. Want a better outfielder in RF. Also need a real closet. Diaz is not it. I am a fan of Davis, only if he is a DH.
I honestly have a feeling that after this season, the FO and Cohen will realize this and make some huge changes.