It was another glimpse at the 2021 offense for the Mets, as they hit two solo homers but went 0-7 with RISP en route to a 5-2 loss to the Marlins Friday night at Citi Field.
Chris Bassitt pitched well in his return from the Covid IL, going 6.1 IP nd allowing just 2 ER. He was sent back for the mound in the seventh inning despite having already thrown 90 pitches, a move most fans applauded. But he was removed at the first sight of trouble, which for Bassitt was allowing the third double of the game to the same hitter.
Drew Smith relieved Bassitt and put another runner on base. But he got a double play to end the inning. Showalter, despite having a rested pen, put Smith out for another inning. And he surrendered a two-run homer in his second inning of work.
Joely Rodriguez also allowed a run in the ninth inning. After getting such strong relief pitching recently, the pen gave up 3 ER in 2.2 IP.
But with the way the Mets were swinging the bats, it didn’t much matter. No one encapsulated the frustration like Eduardo Escobar, who stranded seven runners in the game, including the eighth inning when a struggling Marlins reliever got him to pop up with the bases loaded.
Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor hit solo homers for the Mets. But both players failed in the ninth inning, with Nimmo grounding into a force play for the first out and Lindor hitting one to the warning track for the third out.
Ok, I came here to discuss Eduardo Escobar, but I’ll touch in Drew Smith first. I didn’t have a major issue with the home run. It was a fly ball the other way that hit the foul pole. Yes, he has given up 16 homeruns in 83 innings, which is a lot, but while it wasn’t a breaking ball with much snap, it was away and sometimes the hitter just beats you.
Onto Escobar… what can I say? When is being the world’s greatest guy not going to be enough? What happened to the new season that started last week? His strikeout with men on the corners and one out in a 1-1 game just sent me into orbit. Enough already! Why are these players so content with failure?? When are players in a slump going to come out and take early batting practice like players used to? When are players going to actually act like they give a shit instead of just telling us how much it hurts them to fail repeatedly while they can’t even focus hard enough to make sure the ball hits the bat? Then having Showalter telling the same bullshit is ridiculous. That strikeout, in that spot, was downright shameful for a player that fancies himself as a middle of the order bat. When McCann plays, Escobar should bat ninth. Embarrass him if it takes that. Make him focus harder! There are times that a strikeout is absolutely unacceptable, and that was one of those times. As for the pop-up later in the game, I was sick of him by then so…
The Marlins aren’t a pushover with that pitching staff.
Gut Reaction: A relief pitcher has to be reliable. Although it is unreasonable, they are expected to put a scoreless inning in the books. Giving up home runs is demoralizing to the team. Smith has a 1.8 HR/9 rate and that is unacceptable.
Escobar killed the today yesterday. He can’t hit RHP. Guillorme can’t hit LHP. Duh.
Another shut up with RISP resulting in another loss. They need another bat.
Let’s win on Keith Hernandez Number Retirement day. After all, he is Keith Hernandez. LGM
Sorry about the errors. My edit feature didn’t work. ( and most of the time it doesn’t work ) Team > today. Out > up. Sorry again.
Drew Smith is befuddling.
Escobar is frustrating.
Alonso hasn’t driven in a run in almost 2 weeks.
And the real season begins Monday. This is a team in need of the all star break and some reinforcements.
The Braves are a different team since bringing up Michael Harris II – who had like 42 at bats higher than A ball and comes up and is a star (wtf).
Do we need some youth? Is Vientos or Alvarez the spark we need?