We’ve reached the point where we’re no longer hoping for a win. Instead, it’s wondering how the Mets will lose today. If you had “bring your closer in for the eighth inning only to watch him give up a 3-run homer” – you win! The Giants took the first game of the series by a 5-4 score.
It really seemed like this was going to be a happy recap. Carlos Carrasco looked really good for five innings, the Mets got strong middle relief and the offense did enough for a 4-2 lead. But an error by Pete Alonso – he failed to field the ball cleanly and then threw wild to the pitcher covering – led to David Robertson’s down fall.
Jeff McNeil had two RBI doubles and Tommy Pham crushed a home run to pace the Mets’ attack. After the homer, Gary Cohen mused about Pham being the Mets’ All-Star representative. Not sure if that says more about the hot streak that Pham is on or if it’s a scathing indictment on the other 25 players on the team.
Luis Guillorme drew a walk in the ninth inning and Starling Marte entered as a pinch-runner. And he was thrown out trying to steal. It was a terrific play by the catcher. Still, it felt like a final kick in the pants for yet another loss.
White flag of surrender.
A .500 season would be a real stretch right now.
This is pure stink.
This is so sick, that I am starting to laugh at it. The expectation of our team to lose even after they have a lead is really bad. Sometimes in these situations you have to fire the manager.
I think there is a big opportunity to sell off a bunch of players and to fire Buck. It’s time to punt. My beloved Jets had a horrible second half last year and now this. Been there, done that for many years with this team.
In the past, they hadn’t had a lot of talent to sell off. Now they do. So time to reshape this team and change the trajectory.
It is fitting that Bobby Bonilla Day is just 19 minutes away. Heck, since we are paying him, let’s put him on the active roster.
Here is part of the problem. Can’t see it, but can feel it. Who on the team is taking a leadership role and throwing chairs around in the clubhouse in disgust? I have this awful feeling that it is noone.
On the plus side, it dies appear that Lindor has found his singles stroke…likely regression to the mean.
Stealing a base was the right move for Marte but you have to be successful. You are right, this season is like waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop to see how we will lose that night. Pham has been a bright spot. Lindor with his stats should have been the starting NL all star shortstop but this season the Mets fans are unmotivated to even vote. And quite honestly no one deserves to go. Alonso’s error was the start but Robertson gave up the gopher ball. I’m no longer DVRing games – too depressing.
Gut Reaction: Showalter should not go to a casino. Last night he lost every bet.
• Mendick PH for Vogelbach and struck out.
• Alvarez PH for Mendick and struck out.
• Marte PR for Guillorme and was caught stealing.
Even his sure bet lost when Robertson gave up the three run homerun.
The Mets are snake bitten among other things.
I certainly don’t blame him for PH for Vogelbach with a lefty on the mound.
We needed a homer so sending up Alvarez definitely made sense.
Marte has been tremendous stealing bases this year.
He was just raked over the coals for not using Robertson in the 8th inning a few days ago.
There have definitely been times this year where Showalter takes some blame for the loss. In my opinion, last night was not one of them. Perhaps the biggest questionable move was taking out Carrasco when he did and even that was a very reasonable move. Carrasco had already thrown 92 pitches and it was a long half inning in the dugout, with all of the commotion around the fan interference. And Carrasco has been lousy most of the year. Calling it a night for Carrasco at this point was a pretty logical move
Every move that I listed was a good move. That’s why I said he was snake bitten. Nothing seemed you go his way. I am certainly not blaming Showalter his moves or the loss.
In a credit to Cohen, and Eppler, they knew what they inherited was not a good team or even a good organization. In order to get connected with the fans and show commitment, they splurged to become immediately relevant and we got that last year, until the wheels started to spin off the cart. The fact is this team is wildly imbalanced, way too old, and not staffed enough with really solid baseball players. As a result, its a patchwork of some genuine talent, young guys playing before they are ready, aging vets in key positions that cant get it done, and then a cast of AAA-AAAA players they should never be on a major league team (at least now). It’s a Franken-team bolted together with some OEM parts but then a lot of used bolted together things that dont belong. Maybe the Island of Misfit Toys catches lightning in a bottle, but mostly, square wheels dont roll well. Cohen has exhausted the buy me a title plan, and needs, as he is doing, to build it from the ground up, like Atlanta, Tampa, Dodgers etc. and buy a key piece or two as needed. They need to get players in their prime — not before or after.
Yes. This will take some time and patience. This year is one of those seasons that happens from time time time. Avoid anything like the Ruf trade, make room for kids that could be part of the solution, and let the balance of what 2023 will or won’t be go from there.
Grimly fascinating almost every game, like waiting for the Titanic to hit the iceberg!