The Mets got demolished two times on Saturday, as they got swept by the Braves by a combined 27-3 score. It’s not a big surprise, given how good the Braves’ lineup is, combined with how rotten what the Mets are sending out. It’s still tough to watch.
Both the Mets and Braves sent out a scrub to pitch in the first game. Denyi Reyes pitched about as well as the Mets could have hoped. But the hard-hitting Braves cashed in on some soft contact to score five runs in 4.2 IP by Reyes. But once the starter left, the Braves just clobbered whoever the Mets sent to the mound.
Reed Garrett – 6 ER in 2.1 IP
Josh Walker – 2 ER in 0.2 IP
Danny Mendick – 8 ER in 1.1 IP
It was more of the same in the second game for the relievers.
Drew Smith – 0.1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER
Phil Bickford – 1.2 IP, 2 ER
Meanwhile, the Mets put out a lineup against the Braves’ scrub in the first game that had only one player with an OPS above .660 in Pete Alonso. Mark Canha has a .549 OPS since being dealt, while Tommy Pham has a .530 mark since joining the Diamondbacks, so it’s not like they traded away big bats. They just don’t have big bats.
Essentially, there were two guys who contributed offensively for the Mets in the twinbill. Daniel Vogelbach went 3-5 with a HR and a BB and Brandon Nimmo went 2-2 with a double and two walks. The rest of the team went 6-57 (.105). And one of the two starting pitchers they faced was a stiff.
Jose Quintana pitched really well, allowing just 1 ER in 6 IP. He’s now 0-4 despite a 3.03 ERA – another indication of how pitiful the Mets’ offense is.
Well, here is the good news. Quintana has been pitching really well. Let’s hope he can keep it up for the rest of the year. It will be Senga and Quintana and three new pitchers.
I am getting the feeling that the clubhouse is a mess. Acceptance of losing is a cancer. I read an article that Alonso is part of the problem. Whether that is true or not, we may never know. All that I know is that this roster really needs an overhaul. They have no fight and no pride. Sorry, but Showalter has to take the fall for this and Eppler too, it was his choices that led us to this derailment.
Clearly the choices for bull pen pieces were overrated from the start. Ran into a friend who opined that he thought the failure of the Mets started with Diaz going down in the WBC. That certainly shifted the entire bullpen but does not explain how Eppler assembled 2-3 key pieces that have turned out to be overrated to say the very least. But it’s much more than that. With 45 games to go we have already lost 4 more games than last year. Going from tied for first to what looks like a fall to the basement, is truly a sad season in Mets history.
Quintana did look good and despite his 0-4 record, he has done the job. There is no life on this team as even the regulars can’t take the steady stream of “who’s that in CF tonight? Never heard of him. As much as I like Buck, I’m ready for a change at GM and at manager. I’m not ready to go past Cohen’s 3-5 year plan, but it’s looks like that will have to be the case. The first five spots in the order should be producing more runs because the last 4 spots can’t hit. A sad season indeed.
The Mets were dominated by the Braves to lose first place at the end of their 101 win season. They were dominated by the Braves in June with the most expensive roster in MLB history. It should come as no surprise that they are being embarrassed as a franchise with the squad they are currently fielding. 90 losses are highly probably and 95 not out of the question. And that does matter, despite what may be stated in many circles. It matters because it will likely be a reflection of continued underperformance of veterans, and more importantly, kids. Guys are getting a chance now…what have we seen so far? Pretty much that none of these guys sans Alvarez belongs, no less can be counted on as contributors. And, also, while the sample sizes are small, check out the minor league OPSs on all these blue chip prospects the Mets acquired at the deadline.
My opinion is that Baty will still be a good MLB player – just not at the timeline we originally hoped. Best-case scenario now is that he gets back on track in Triple-A and is able to come back to the majors this year and experience some success in MLB, too.
Gut Reaction: Like TJ commented, Cohen realized that the Braves were better than the Mets way before this series. He was proactive with the Summer Purge.
In the doubleheader, Reyes was youngest relief pitcher at 26. The others was 28+ and haven’t made their marks the Major League baseball. There is a strong possibility that they will never maybe be accomplished.
will McNeil and Marte bounce back? Will they trade for a 5 hole hitter? Will Mauricio,Baty and Vientos be ML starters? What FA starters will they sign? Inquiring minds want to know.
What a pathetic display of inept baseball. But, here is the good news. Quintana is pitching well and hopefully he continues in this path now and into next year. That means we only need to find three good starters, which is a tall order but some decent ones will be available. Ohtani now has arm fatigue. Have to keep and eye on that one.
Stories are coming out that Verlander was “whining” about the Mets analytics and “acting” like a diva. It just feels like the Mets have a clubhouse problem. They play like zombies. Rather than fight for every game, it looks like they just want to quit and go home.
It is just sickening to see them get destroyed by Atlanta. It also shows that after getting rid of some players that they do not have good depth.
I think they have to take an honest look at themselves in the offseason and make some big changes on the roster. Can’t really field this team and expect to win next year.
The most fascinating story to play out will be what to do with Alonso. Do we offer him a big contract as he pushes 30? Yes, he may hit 50 home runs this year, but his overall game is mediocre. Maybe he gets traded. Too bad we couldn’t find a buyer for Lindor.