It was another lifeless offensive performance for the Mets, who were limited to one run by seven Boston pitchers in what was a bullpen game. The final was a 6-1 loss Sunday night in Fenway.
A four-run third inning knocked Carlos Carrasco out of the game and essentially put this one in the loss column early. If you gave up at that point, pat yourself on the bat.
Not many highlights to discuss for the Mets. Francisco Lindor drove in the team’s only run with a hard-hit ball off the monster. Brandon Nimmo had two hits. Mark Canha had three outfield assists, missing just an assist at first base from a fielding cycle. The “B” relievers hurled 5.2 IP and allowed just 1 R.
You’ve got to feel bad for Mets fans who made the trek up to Boston to watch this dreck. Maybe the Subway Series will bring out some passion in the players.
Let’s muse a bit, and thank Boston for showing us the reality of things to even those of us that thought there was still a chance:
With a week before the trading deadline, there are only eight teams with a worse record than the Mets. The bullpen is not playoff caliber but neither is the offense. The starting pitching of Verlander, Scherzer, Senga, and if you squint Quintana should be good enough, but do you expect just one facet to carry you into October?
At this point, Alonzo and McNeil may wake up, but we don’t know when. Marte? Nimmo, Lindor and Alvarez pretty much are the consistent offensive contributors. Hence, you need to sell. Question is, how much? Do you trade everything not tied down and really stock up for 2025, or half ass it and try again next year? I think the players to have two years from now are Lindor, Alvarez, McNeil (I don’t think he is this bad, just needs to see Daniel Murphy‘s videos), Nimmo as a corner outfielder, Senga, Diaz and who knows. I trade Verlander, Scherzer, Alonso, Quintana, Robertson, Cahna, Pham, and Narvaez. Get what you get and reboot.
If you are hoping to give Ohtani $50MM a year, you can’t have these two dead weights on the team. Lindor, Nimmo, and Diaz and McNeil should be enough. Alonso is approaching the end of his prime, and I don’t see better years ahead but rather diminishing results and no defense.
And while we’re at it, the manager is considered to be Miller Huggins like, but Huggins is dead and Showalter manages like he is. I’d like someone who has a pulse.
Gut Reaction: listless
Alonso and Vientos struck out instead of driving in the runs.
Canha had an excellent defensive game. He is a pro.
I think this game was the final straw. Time for Eppler to show us what he has. If they don’t do anything I will scream. Totally obvious that we are not going to improve and get into the playoffs. Look at the faces of all of the players. They all look like they want to pack it in and go home. They are lifeless.
Yes, it would be great to dump Carrasco and get something good back. But that is unlikely.
Jim Bowden in The Athletic: “As far as Carrasco, he’s 36 years old with a 5.82 ERA in 14 starts and he’s carrying his lowest strikeout rate (6.6 strikeouts per nine innings) in a decade. His walk rate, at 4.0 per nine, is his worst since 2009. However, Carrasco is generally capable of providing at least four innings per start, which he has done in all but two outings this year. So, perhaps a team that needs a fifth or sixth starter might take a chance on him, if the Mets pay most of his $14 million salary and accept a fringe player and a non-prospect type back.”
So is it worth eating millions in salary to get back so little? Maybe it would be better to stick Carrasco in the bullpen and start Peterson in his place.
Steve, I have given much thought to what the Mets would get back and rather than accept a non-prospect AAAA player, I’d rather have a lottery ticket from the low minors and whatever happens.
I don’t know why you would bother to waste brain energy on this.
If you want a lottery ticket there are thousands of those type guys in Latin america available that the Mets can sign at any moment for nothing.
If Carlos isn’t good enough for a non-contender like the Mets, why would a contender want him? At this point, the Mets would be lucky if Carrasco was released and some team signed him for the prorated minimum. That’s all about the Mets have to gain at this point.
The game sure showed that we need to be sellers, even if we don’t have much that is worth parting with. Pham if a team will take a shot as he recovers from an injury. Robertson because it will cost a lot more to keep him next year and a Diaz is coming back. Marte if we chip in a bunch of money since he’s got a few years left. Canha would be a good pickup as well and there is oddly interest in Quintana.
Don’t really see them moving others unless another team really wants Vogelbach and the balance of his $1 million contract.
Getting hard to watch but of course I will.