Tom Brennan - METS' SPLITTING HAIRS - AND SERIES
The Mets disappointed us by splitting the 4 game series with the Braves after winning games 1 and 2.
Game 3 was no surprise - Jason Vargas against a hitting-heavy Braves line up? No contest.
Game 4, Jake is in a slump, but the pen is a real dump.
Jake labored thru 5 innings of 3 run ball, fanning 9.
Since the Mets scored 3 eventually, for him to get a no decision, the pen needed to lock down the Braves.
That, unfortunately, is a fantasy. The Mets' pen is NOT mightier than the sword. It's not mighty at all.
So it is splitting hairs to pick on Jake - he can't win them all - and he will win less with a crappy bullpen. In case you were wondering, the bullpen ERA is 6.50. Which is Bull Spit.
The Mets' hitters still did what they do - hit.
Eleven hits in all.
Early on, when Jake trailed 3-1, Michael Conforto almost evened things up with a drive to the fence that was caught. Baseball can be like that - a game of inches (or a few feet).
Jeff McNeil is hitting .382 after a torrid spring. Skeptics have to come to terms with the fact that he may actually be a GREAT hitter.
The Mets are putting up the following offensive team splits:
AVG: .268 (8th).
OBP: .355 (4th).
SLUG: .442 (13th).
RUNS: 91 (4th).
RPG: 6.1 (4th, and a virtual tie for first in the DH-less NL).
All to say: Please use enormous common sense in returning Todd Frazier to the line up - do it very sparingly. It has worked incredibly well without him. It could very well get gummed up with him.
On we go, with the Philadelphia Butt Heads up starting tonight.
9 comments:
Passable outing for Jake but too many pitches.
Pen failed again.
This is starting to get old.
Try J.D. Davis out of the pen. He can't be any worse.
Reese, I thought that, too. But if JD hurts his arm doing it, he becomes TJ Rivera.
Pen ERA in 2018 without Diaz: 4.96. So far in 2019, even with Diaz: 6.50. Insane. Awful. In need of repair.
Watching McNeil hit is such a pleasure. I don't know how people could watch him hit and not see the talent. There were articles about luck playing such a big factor with a BABIP that was unsustainable. I think this is a fantastic example of where scouting and analytics diverge. Analytics might be right most of the time, but just by watching him play you can tell he is something special.
It's good seeing Nimmo finally start to come around. He looked so lost that first week and change.
I just don't see how Vargas cuts it against the Nats/Phils/Braves lineups. He isn't fooling anyone. The worst part is that this was the completely obvious and glaring weakness of the team that everyone was talking about. Imagine if one of the big 4 guys got hurt on top of this?
Mets should face a tired Philly team - but their pen yesterday threw 8 scoreless innings vs. Miami and fanned 12.
Remember when a Mets pen could do that? Not any more.
Do we have to keep going through this SP5 shit every year?
Not if we sign Keuchel, Mack.
Are you advocating signing Keuchel, Tom?
Lose a pick. And pay him . . . how much?
This team is owned by the Wilpons.
If in our wildest dreams the Mets shell out for Keuchel, they won't have any money left over for mid-season fixes. It is now April 15th.
I don't see it. Mets need a league average #5. I'd do what they are doing, see what they can muster internally, and work the phones. I'm not eager to give up, say, J.D. Davis for a borderline guy.
Mets in a tough position here. I just don't see Fred giving the okay on Keuchel contract. I'm not even sure he'd be wrong.
I'd shoot for another bullpen arm -- if it can be had -- and shift Lugo to #5 spot. And no, I don't think Kimbrel is the answer. He's going to want to close.
Jimmy P
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