The good news is there was a Jeff McNeil sighting. McNeil had two hits including just his fourth home run of the season and drove in all three runs for the Mets. Also, the Mets tallied seven hits after five and four the last two games, respectively. One of the hits was Brandon Nimmo’s one-out single in the eighth inning but he got thrown out trying to stretch it. In fact, Nimmo had two hits, Francisco Lindor had two hits, McNeil had two hits as the top three in the lineup. Pete Alonso had the last hit with a ninth inning leadoff double. Now the bad news….
The five through nine hitters in the lineup went 0-17 with seven strikeouts, led by Brett Baty’s three, all on changeups. Additionally, with his walk Baty didn’t put the ball in play tonight. Starling Marte also had two strikeouts and one as on a sweeping slider that had to be six feet off the plate. Tylor Megill was finally recalled to make the start and showed that his 8.67 ERA in Syracuse was no fluke by giving up 5 ER in 4.2 IP. Megill gave up nine hits of which two left the park. The Mets got 3.1 bullpen innings with only two earned runs, but the Orioles showed spirit and life where every player looked energized and hustled. The Orioles had 12 hits, but every player had at least one and with three walks, that means two base runners every inning on average, so the pitchers were constantly laboring. What didn’t help was an RBI single through the hole on the left side in which the replay showed Baty was moving back and was on his heels so he could only take but a step and it was by him.
We all know the Mets had a sell off of some good players this past week, but the results since then are rather sad. Why didn’t Marte go on a rehab assignment after missing so much time? Why are the Mets not letting Mark Vientos play LF every day to get his bat in the lineup and see what he looks like but rather playing Mendick and Stewart? The team has looked lethargic all year and show absolutely no spirit, led by a manger that forbids emotion and retaliation.
I was all ready to do a rant asking why the Mets promoted Megill rather than Joey Lucchesi, only to see that Lucchesi is on the 7-day IL.
At least Showalter didn’t have McNeil, Marte and Baty batting consecutively tonight. McNeil has shown glimpses of light here recently, so I’d keep playing him. But Marte and Baty should get some time on the bench. Vientos has been playing a lot but I’d rather see him get some reps at 3B.
It’s going to be a slog to the finish line. Preseason football is right around the corner…
Gut Reaction: it seemed that every single by the Orioles was hustled into a double. They are a spirited team.
Megill lost velocity as the game progressed. Maybe they should repurpose him as a bulk reliever instead of a starter.
This season’s bullpen woes have been manifested in the last few games. It wasn’t deep to begin with and now it is terrible. It was poor construction by Eppler.
Can someone tell the Mets players that the word “deadline” has two syllables. They’re playing like it’s only a one syllable word.
Perhaps the word they should use is flatline, as in no signs of life. Trying to figure out why Alonso will sign a long-term deal to stay versus getting his $30-40 million per on a contender. Still no issue with the deadline dump but still perplexed at Vientos not being out there every day versus names that I barely recognize and no Mauricio. If he comes up with the September call-ups do they save a year before free agency and if so who cares as that’s 5 years from now. Still tuning in to games but not with the patience to wait for a comeback we know is not coming. Would love to get to .500 for something to build on. Happy for this Mets support group.
They are 10 games below .500 with 52 games to play. They would have to go 31-21 (.596) to get to .500 for the year. If they’re capable of playing like that with this depleted team, they never should have sold at the deadline.
they never should have sold at the deadline.
To what end though?
A non-zero chance of making the playoffs this year
A significant chance of making the playoffs in 2024
versus
No chance of making the playoffs this year and next
Three good but not great prospects
I look at it as making the playoffs but not being good enough to win it all is like last year’s fool’s gold. This year’s bullpen is way worse than last year so the chances of winning it all is zero and lesser down the road. By adding the talent, while there is a loss on playoff hopes, the chances of winning the World Series down the road has gone up.
You need top-shelf talent to win the World Series most years. The prospects the Mets got are not top-shelf guys. It’s significantly harder to get 6-WAR players than it is to get 3-WAR players. My opinion is that the guys the Mets received, even if they hit their upside, are not 6-WAR players. While their chances of winning the World Series may have gone up, it’s the equivalent of your chances of winning Mega Millions by buying two tickets instead of one. Sure, your chances have gone up but not enough to really move the needle.