One of the fundamental questions of the game is: How do you want to win?
For the 2023 Mets, the answer is painfully obvious. They want their SP to go deep and avoid their middle relief whenever possible. When the starter goes six innings, the Mets are 22-3. Now, there have been plenty of times this year where the starters were lousy and unable to go six. And then there was tonight.
Kodai Senga started out struggling right away and found himself down, 2-0, after one inning. But he retired seven of the last eight batters he faced. But because he was over the 100-pitch boogeyman, the Mets went to the bullpen. And the relievers didn’t get the job done. What a shock. The end result was a 5-2 loss to the Brewers.
Senga has said he would routinely throw 120 pitches in Japan. He has 1,340 IP in Japan under his belt. This is not a guy whose arm needs to be babied, like a 20-year-old prospect. And the Mets took him out not because he wasn’t pitching well but because of some imaginary, arbitrary rule.
They deserved to lose because of this decision to pull Senga after five innings. And Grant Hartwig, who had managed to avoid giving up runs despite a bunch of baserunners, gave up a run in the sixth inning and took the loss. None of us saw that coming.
But there were plenty of more reasons for this loss. Bases loaded and no outs and they only score one run. The umpire blowing a strike call that resulted in two tack-on runs for Milwaukee in the eighth inning. The club going 0-6 with RISP. Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty going a combined 1-7 with 5 Ks.
And for all things holy, can we stop with the idea that Starling Marte is back? In his last 23 games coming into Wednesday, he had a .672 OPS. That’s not a hot streak, not even close. And then he proceeded to go 0-4
Tommy Pham was the bright spot offensively for the Mets. He went 3-3 with a homer, walk and SB.
Another loss and another day off the calendar. The Mets would have to play nearly .600 ball to make the playoffs. I just don’t see it. Seems so many pitchers don’t pitch to contact so their pitch counts rise quickly. First pitch strikes don’t seem to be how we roll and getting behind early has been a big disadvantage. Senga should have gone out for one more. Nice we got Miley out we should have done more. Scherzer for the split!
Any particular reason why Alonso is still in the clean up spot?
At this point, I’m in a total tear-down of this roster. Too many high price veterans to move? Why not offer Alonso in a deal for more top tier minor league arms if a Verlander or a Scherzer is included. Yes I know about no trade clauses, but wouldn’t they be wanting to go to a contender right now?
FYI per Spotrac, Nimmo, Senga and Scherzer have the only no trade contracts. Lindor has a limited no trade contract. Supposedly, Scherzer will waive his clause to get on a contender.
Even playing .600 ball for the rest of the way only results in 85 games won. They need more than that.
Gut Reaction: Peterson through 110 pitches the previous game. Senga is a more accomplished pitcher then Peterson. Senga wasn’t struggling. Showalter should avoid middle relief pitchers whenever possible. Senga should have pitched the sixth.
The HBP/strike call was horrible and it resulted into two runs for the Brewers.
Pham turned out to be a good signing. Not bolstering the middle relief was a poor strategy. Good middle relief would have been a better strategy than even signing Pham.