Reese Kaplan -- The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

A victory is a good thing, considering how seldom they happen for this ballclub, yet at times when you’re winning there are some troubling things happening for the long term good of the team.  Just as when you’re losing there are sometimes encouraging signs as well.  Sunday we saw a little of each.

First the Good

Can’t we just phone the scientists who worked on Dolly the Sheep and clone Jacob deGrom?  Wow, not since the days of Tom Seaver and early Doc Gooden have you seen such consistently dominating pitching?  That gutty performance on Sunday called to mind The Franchise in his prime. 

How about Kevin Plawecki?  All of the sudden the Mets are enjoying the efforts of not one but two competent catchers.  What a way to return with a flourish – three hits, a walk and an RBI.

Wasn’t it just recently I bemoaned the notion that you wouldn't know whether or not Luis Guillorme could succeed at this level unless he actually played?  Well, he got the starting nod in the first game and went 2-4.  Then in Sunday’s nightcap and went 2-5 with 2 RBIs.  He’s up to .267 with 4 RBIs in just 30 ABs.  By contrast the other substitute SS/infielder, Jose Reyes, is at a robust .156 with 3 RBIs in more than double the number of these ABs.  One of these things is not like the other…

Michael Conforto is showing signs of life, too.  He had three hits in the nightcap and his batting average, though still just .241 it was around the Mendoza line just a week or so ago. 

Amed Rosario is both hitting and starting to steal bases.  .253 is nothing to write home about, but if he can play solid defense while contributing baserunning he’s a far better option than the likes of Ruben Tejada who was given a starting role for WAY too long. 

Jeurys Familia delivered a two inning, 3K, no walk, no hit performance to get the save on Sunday late night.  After his recent meltdown it was good to see him return to All Star form. 

Jacob Rhame has quietly strung together some good performances.  He’s arguably the last man in the bullpen yet over his last six appearances stretching 6.1 IP he’s given up just 2 runs and those came in one game in Milwaukee.  Maybe he’s the first of the 2017 selloff who amounts to something.

Now the Bad

Hansel Robles returned to the Mets from his DL and rehab assignment and provided 3 IP with no runs allowed and two hits.  That’s enough false hope to net him another month on the big club.  Unfortunately for those of us following the Mets longer than has Mickey Callaway we are not going to be taken in by a flash of competence which will give way to neck strain watching balls rocket over the fence. 

P.J. Conlon wasn’t fooling anyone with 8 hits and 4 runs in just 2 IP.  Right now he’s neck and neck in the dubious ERA battle being waged with the $16 million man, Jason Vargas.  Conlon is at 11.86 and Vargas is leading with 10.62.  Woo hoo!  It’s going to be a photo finish!

Jay Bruce is still lost at the plate.  He’s got a line of .228/3/15 and is looking both lost at the plate and frankly a bit pudgy.  I know it’s hard to exercise properly when you have a foot problem but he is a professional and needs to ensure he’s doing all he can to prepare for the game.  Theoretically you would think that there’s less pressure on his feet at 1B than there would be in LF but surprisingly Adrian Gonzalez is UP to .256 so until Yoenis Cespedes returns there will likely be no long term change in that regard.  Then it’s a matter of deciding if the club is better off with Brandon Nimmo in the lineup every day, Jay Bruce or Adrian Gonzalez.

Seth Lugo was ready to be anointed the man to replace Jason Vargas in the rotation or the man to replace Jeurys Familia in the pen.  Well, he did look like Familia the way he did in his last outing, blowing a lead for a walkoff victory.  Once again it was clear when he served not one, not two but three hits and a walk en route to losing that Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland either aren’t paying attention or have absolutely zero confidence in anyone else to get the job done when they let a pitcher who’s obviously having a bad night get creamed.

And the Ugly

Oh, did I mention that Jose Reyes got yet another starting assignment, this time due to Wilmer Flores’ trip to the DL and the club's idiotic decision to farm out Phil Evans and not replace him on the major league roster with another infielder?  He did get a hit which is a rarity – and his 1-5 performance (.200 for the day) raised his season’s batting average.  He also struck out twice.  What do Gavin Cecchini and Jeff McNeil have to do to get noticed?  If they were any more invisible their names would be Tim Peterson.

Well, at least Tim Tebow is making things interesting in Binghamton.  That’s more than can be said in Queens.