By metstradamus | September 7, 2020 6:09 pm
I thought going in that the Mets needed to win three out of four against Philadelphia. But with Zack Wheeler going against David Peterson, I knew it would be a tall task.So when the Phillies got off to a 5-0 lead because Luis Rojas took Peterson out one inning too late after giving up three in the first while Wheeler set the Mets down in nine pitches in the first, I was resigned to fate.
Monday’s game was always that pivot game. Win it, take three of four from the Phillies, then hope to do some damage against the Orioles and the Blue Jays who are without Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez. Lose it, and that week turns into your Waterloo because every loss will seem like one you should have had. These pivotal games, when they’re lost, seem to always be lost in the most infuriating of ways. So when Peterson gave up five and then JT Realmuto put them up 6-0 with a dinger, I was fine with going away quietly. There wouldn’t be a blown six-run lead or anything like that.
6 comments:
I agree with you - you have to walk Segura there. Bad call by Rojas. Walk him, and you very possibly win the highly critical game.
This team has blown too many winnable games - and all of that makes me angry. My brother and cousin, both big Mets fans, are angry too.
This team doesn't make the expanded playoffs with THIS hitting? That will make us all angry.
I'd add Rojas to the hate list. Reminds me of Willie. Neither one seems to have a clue.
Reese:
Good article today.
To me, this team isn't as far off as their record indicates right now.
It's really just a matter of refinement with the pitching staff. There have been four rather large setbacks in 2020.
1. Noah down for possibly another season with TJ. 2. Matz just losing it. 3. Wacha disappointment. 4. Porcello not being his old self. The first two, you really cannot do much about. The second two even caught me by surprise.
The true problems here are these, and they can all easily enough be fixed by 2021.
1. The Mets trademark was always pitching, as you stated.
Pitching that came primarily from "good scouting, development, and MLB level tutoring" once they were up here. To me, this sort of changed after the deGrom, Noah, Harvey grouping came up and made such a huge impact out of the shoot. It's almost like the next wave was not seriously enough considered or assembled after this wave. Sure, all three were excellent, especially at first. But you have got to always be looking a few seasons ahead if you want your team to stay consistently really good and in the playoff hunt every season.
2. Season end trades for veteran starters.
How many of these veteran starters did the Mets obtain only to be disappointed by their performances? A: A lot (See Problem 1 above.)
3. Fast ball reliant starters.
Each of the three excellent starters that I mentioned above in 1. have suffered pretty serious arm injuries to date at some point in their respective careers. It shouldn't be inevitable, but it is here.
What's wrong?
I think that all three ramped-up their fastball mph once here and had "great success" doing this. The problem wasn't necessarily their fastball, as much as not having developed two other really outstanding pitches to go with and set-up that fastball. In other words, they relied too heavily on that 97-99 mph fastball, not using their other two pitches "enough as a third strike pitch."
I really am impressed with SP Seth Lugo so far this season. He can be an outstanding three-starter once Noah comes back in 2021 season end, and a two on many MLB teams right now. He too has an excellent 97 mph heater that we have all seen used most successfully.
The trick here really is in the development of two more pitches (other than the fastball) so that each of these flamethrowers can stay on the field and be 100% longer term. Fastballs are great, but without two more really good MLB pitches that can be relied upon for strikeouts even, they are going to be out hurt way too much.
This has got to become more of a concern by Mets management going forward. All three of the Mets best starters: deGrom, Syndergaard, and Lugo have this ability. It's adding in two more starters to mesh for 2021. This can be done from within. Namely Corey Oswalt, David Peterson and Thomas Szapucki as the possible next Mets pitching wave.
Mack:
It was great seeing that photo last week of you and your wife in your article. Keep up the good work and enjoy wherever you two go. Bravo!
Now the hitting part
I don't care how old your socks are, to mine eyes this is the very best group of talented hitters that this NY Mets franchise has ever assembled. Ever Keith and Ron!
Almost too many really good hitters, to be exact. Where do you play them all? Holy macaroni, what a great problem to have!
Anyway, there are very talented second string players here who can really hit, that on any other MLB team would love to have starting for their own team. Players who came up thru the Mets system, and deserve to be relocated to a team where they too can be starting game in and game out. There just isn't enough room at this inn.
So what do the Mets look for back.
These players who could start elsewhere and on almost any other team, could fetch you some really outstanding younger starting pitching. No, not the usual 30+ year old veteran starters this team has relied upon and traded for in their recent franchise history. Forget that approach. But younger AAA starters from other teams that look certain for a big career in the major league. Guys with impressive AAA stats and an arsenal of pitches.
Get them. You have the trade pieces those teams may need now.
So why not bring them here Bubba, and get them ready for ST 2021? More the merrier. Happy fishing.
Luis Guillorme looks dang ready to me. Looking like a keeper. Something about him now. Only twenty-five and apparently tired of those awful bench slivers.
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