After three straight games hitting three home runs, the Mets only hit two on Saturday. Yet it seemed like it was going to be enough, as they took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning. But Edwin Diaz, pushed back into the closer’s role after pitching in the seventh inning on Friday, did what he did the last few times he was asked to close. As in, he blew it. Diaz gave up the tying run in the ninth and the Giants tacked on five more in the 10th to emerge with a 7-2 win. It was the fifth-straight loss for the Mets and pulled their record down to nine games below .500 at 21-30.
Starling Marte homered in the second inning to stake the Mets to a 1-0 lead and after the Giants tied the game in the sixth, Brett Baty put the home team back up on top with a solo homer in the seventh. But that was essentially it for the team’s offense. The Mets managed just four hits in 35 ABs. After what they had been producing lately, it was quite a disappointing output.
Yet, it could have been enough. Luis Severino allowed just one run in seven innings and Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth. Diaz allowed a single to the leadoff hitter and after an out and a stolen base, he gave up a game-tying hit.
The Mets put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning. But Francisco Lindor grounded into a fielder’s choice and Pete Alonso flied out to send the game into extra innings.
Neither Sean-Reid Foley nor Josh Walker distinguished themselves in the 10th inning and an error by Alonso certainly didn’t help, either. And the Mets went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
It all feels pretty hopeless right now. It may be time to turn to some ancient ritual to get rid of the bad juju surrounding the club. Perhaps this calls for some sage bonfire, one where the pitchers toss in their gloves and the hitters sacrifice their bats. After missing the last two games, my hope is to be there for Sunday. The team should accept any bit of good karma that potentially comes around.
Gut Reaction: Diaz didn’t look at the runner or check the runner before he stole the base. That was inexcusable and compounded the situation.
Baty had a good game. He hit the go ahead home run and also had a stellar play in the ninth inning.
Severino pitch a good game and completed seven innings. In the 7th, with one 2 outs, he walked a batter and Mendoza visit the mound. He had thrown 101 pitches. Mendoza left him in and was rewarded with the next pitch that was a pop-up to end the inning. Who’s afraid of the 100 pitch Boogeyman? BTW, Severino arm did not fall off after the game.
It probably isn’t a good idea to let a #3 or #4 starter go a third time through a lineup.
It seemed like a good game for the Mets to hit poorly with the way Severino was pitching. Then the Big O put up an 0 in the 8th. Then they threw Díaz back in to the spot they are paying him 20 million to play and he stunk up the joint. Thankfully, I was traveling and was listening to the game on XM radio and did not have to witness his lack of paying attention to the runner. I’m no pitching coach but it seems he needs to vary his pitch selection to throw the other team off guard. They seem to know what he is throwing so maybe he is tipping pitches and needs a tutorial from Severino who reportedly had that issue last year.
Mathematically they would have to go 19-10 just to get to .500 at the season’s midpoint. Does anyone on this site really think they have that in them? More and more I am seeing published sports writers talking about a tear down of this team sooner than later. I don’t value their opinions any more than all of ours and think we are all starting to come around to what likely needs to be done.
It has gotten to the point that every game I watch has me waiting for mistakes to occur near the end of the game to sink the Mets. I know that I’m not alone. Earlier in the season, it was often the opposite.
Yesterday, I couldn’t believe the looping, off-target throw that Alonso threw to 2B! In previous games, it was his throwing behind the pitcher covering 1B that was faulty. At least, he seems to have corrected the latter mistake.
And how about Lindor taking that 3rd strike intentionally!?
Raley going down for the season has hurt us.
Soon we’ll see Severino, Ottavino, Quintana, Bader, Houser, and/or Lopez dealt. Narvaez? Maybe, if we pay most of his salary.
Will Alonso be traded? A big question. I’m thinking that Stearns will be very hesitant to do that. And I’m not sure that Pete would bring the big haul in prospects about whom some speculate would be coming to us.
McNeil is heating up a bit and might be traded with Acuna brought up to play 2B. Too bad Gilbert got injured, since he could have replaced Bader in CF. Maybe a bit later in the season?
Starting rotation until Senga comes back: Manaea, Scott, Megill, Peterson, Lucchesi. Tidwell and Butto too.
Relievers? Diaz, Garrett, Diekman, Reid-Foley, Walker, Smith, Hartwig, and Young. Plus maybe a good one or two relievers obtained in trades.
Severino and Manaea are the big trade chips.Martinez will bring back a B prospect.Got to think Alonso will be on the table. Cubs, Mariners,Cleveland,Giants?And of course the BP guys.
I just read this in The Athletic from Will Sammon’s piece covering yesterday’s loss:
For the game, New York went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. It was another example of the Mets needing more from their best players. Alonso went 0-for-5, Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-5 with four strikeouts, and Lindor had a memorable moment for the wrong reasons. With one out and a runner on second base in the seventh inning, he took a third strike without appearing as if he ever intended to swing. He explained the strategy by saying he couldn’t pick up reliever Randy Rodriguez’s slider. So after swinging and missing twice at two sliders out of the zone, he figured the best bet would be just to let another sail away for a ball. Rodriguez threw a strike.“
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And so, Lindor just gave up the at bat in extra innings????? For real? His give a shit meter is so low?