Tom Brennan - HBP Blues

Metsville Can Be a Painful Place

Much to my surprise, the Mets are only 2nd this year in HBPs, with 84, likely due to Canha leaving and Marte missing so much time. Both are avid plunkees.

Of course Detroit (33) has been hit 51 fewer times, as a counterpoint.

2022? Mets 112, #2 team 95 HBP.  Texas 47.

2021? Mets 4th with 94 (11 behind leader). Detroit 44.

2020? Mets #2, with 45. Colorado? 10.

2019? Mets #1, with 95. Colorado? 43.

2018? Mets SEVENTH at 73. San Diego 31.

Pete’s been beaned what, 3 times?

Morale of that story?

You will get hit a lot more if you are a contending team. All the lowest hit by pitch teams were lousy those years. There is clearly a level of intentionality., as there is little need to hit batters on really bad teams, and risk waking them up.

Also, when your hurlers are passive in hitting other teams’ players, you invite your hitters getting plunked.

Mets pitchers over those 6 years hit their opponents 120 fewer times than their hitters got nailed. A lot less deterrent.

Hit the other guys. 

At least make the opposing hitters eat dust.

Grow a pair. Even the score, whether the other guys were unintentional, or not.  Make them think twice.

In the Post, Showalter waxed philosophical as follows:

“You get to the point where intention doesn’t really play into it as much. My job is to try to keep a sense of reality and safety of everybody. Everybody’s chasing velocity now and I’m worried again. Their bullpen and other bullpens. And with that comes a lack of command. With that comes people getting hit. It’s not good for the game.Everybody keeps chasing this and it’s a by-product of it. 

You throw like that and you throw inside, you’re not necessarily trying to hit somebody but you’re taking that chance of hitting people like that. Somewhere along the line, there’s gotta be something to pay for that. Whether it be from the league office or something. You’re seeing it every night. These guys are ducking 100-mile-an-hour fastballs all over baseball, and especially Pete. And I’m not happy about it.”

We hate it, Buck. 

Even the count, Buck. One for our guy, one for their guy.

Anther Post article noted:

Alonso believes the advent of the universal DH in both leagues last season means “there’s no repercussions” because pitchers “no longer have to stand in the box.”

Those pitchers’ buddies do. Hit them. Make them dance. Every time.

 It will slow up. 

A beaning could maim somebody. Pete’s had at least three.

Conigliaro? Agee 1968?

Enough. Stop it now. 

LAST NITE: 

Back to Mets brand of baseball…which is the well-pitched LOSS, with utterly anemic offense. 

Quintana again pitched commendably, but has just one win…it can only happen to a Mets hurler. Just ask Jake.

Marky Mark Vientos accrued a single and HR…back to .195…maybe that will get him going.  

Alvarez deep slump continues. Thoughts?

CORTES CONQUERS:

Like a conquistador of old, Carlos Cortes is in conquer mode…he homered twice, 6 RBIs. He has been slugging much more and seems to be thrusting himself back into the Mets’ 2024 utility IF/OF conversation. 

8 HRs in August, with a robust .284/.437/.617 slash in 23 August contests.

Ronny Mo HR (23) and seems his “on fire” mode continues. I’d call him up Sept 1, which is FRIDAY! His HR PER AT BAT rate for 2023 is about the same as that of Cortes.

Ronny had a HR, 2 singles, and is back up to .295. Hot! 

Others on the Mets are not hot. Hitting like snot.