Mets with RISP: 0-7
Cards with RISP: 7-18
Mets HR: 0
Cards HR: 1
You’re not going to win any games with these types of numbers.
Mets with RISP: 0-7
Cards with RISP: 7-18
Mets HR: 0
Cards HR: 1
You’re not going to win any games with these types of numbers.
It’s really quite confounding. McNeill has been one of my three favorite players (along with Nimmo and deGrom), but he has been quite inept with runners in scoring position, as he was last night. What has happened to him (and Smith) that they seem to have lost their skills overnight? How did they suddenly turn into bench players? Any insight/analysis would be welcome.
I agree on McNeill. He’s been a favorite of mine as well and I can’t really explain his drop off. You can point to the downward trend in his OPS+ over the first 3 years of his career, but they were still well above average years, and I wouldn’t expect the trend to take him to the level he’s been at this year. Lot’s of possibilities go through my head, but I have no idea if any of them are right: playing hurt part of the year has affected his mechanics, poor hitting by the rest of the team is contagious, he isn’t as good as his first 3 years (I hope it’s not this and I don’t think that’s it). Maybe it’s just a bad year, and I hope he gets the chance to bounce back with the team next year. If this continues into next year, though, well then it’s a different conversation.
Look at McNeil lifetime stats. This is really his only season not only not good but actually not very good. Same applies to a lesser degree to Smith comforto and lindor. The question seems to be the likelihood of a bunch of players tanking in the same season. Will the four aforementioned players do better next year ? I’d take that bet
Gut Reaction: Again no hitting with RISP. McNeil would’ve changed the temperament of the game if he got a hit. Instead he struck out. The were other opportunities to chip away at the lead throughout the game. It was still 3-0 in the eighth inning and runners on first and third with no outs. Three straight strike outs ensued and three in the ninth. They don’t even produce productive outs or put the ball in play. This has to be addressed with changes in the roster and hitting philosophy this winter.
Lifeless. So much so I fell asleep watching. 6 Ks to end the game. Polar Bear in hibernation. McNeil MIA all season. Total buzzkill from Sunday night’s game. Barring 5 game winning streak starting tonight, I’m hearing Dandy Don Meredith’s Willy Nelson cover in my head.
Second week of September, under .500 and we are *in* a pennant race.
1. Not likely actually in a race
2. Man, the NL East is horrific