Tom Brennan: "Boy, That Starter STINKS!" And Wednesday Nite Normalcy

Tylor Megill ruffles the feathers of many an impatient fan.

Brothers, it should not be so, saith the writer.

Ever watch a starter having an off game, and your instant gut reaction is:

“Boy, that starter STINKS!”

Everybody has an occasional bad day…yes, my friends, even I do.

Yes, it’s true. Honesty is a blessing to the soul.

Well, anyway, the next time you watch a starter and he has a bad day, and you’re looking out the window for a bus to go by so you can throw him under said bus, remember this:

The great Tom Seaver, in games that he lost? 

His record was a horrid 0–205, his ERA was a flatulent 4.92, and his WHIP in those 205 games was 1.44, right in the vicinity of the "superb" Tim Leary’s career WHIP.

We al know they don’t come much greater than Tom Seaver.

Yet, in losses, he pitched like Adrian Houser, circa 2024. 

(Houser, of course, has a 1.69 ERA with the Rangers in 10.2 IP this spring.)  

(Also, former Mets prospects/retreads on St Patty's Day against the Mets?  Mike Vasil, Cole Sulser, and Eric Orze? 6.1 scoreless innings, 9 Ks.  But the Mets are 30th out of 30 in hitting, so any conclusion on that trio is automatically suspect.  They need to face real hitters to see how they fare.  And Orze, the guy I backed for the past few years? 6.1 IP this spring, 1 run, 0.69 WHIP, 10 Ks). 

Back to my train of thought...if you knew in advance when the great Tom Seaver was going to lose each of those 205 games, you could have started Jim McAndrew or Don Cardwell for him instead, and gotten far better results.

So all ye that doth read this, remember thou ye to show some longer term perspective and, yea verily, some patience..  Refrain from calling for the head of thine supposed adversary. Thou shalt be considered blessed, if thou dost thus.

Take, for instance, our humble servant, Tylor Megill.

His last 7 outings of 2024, he tossed 33 innings, gave up 9 earned runs, and fanned 38.

His first 2 outings this spring?

6.2 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 7 Ks.

Sunday? 5 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, no walks, 6 Ks. Two of the 4 runs on a wind-blown fly ball.

Focus ye not with exceeding wroth upon the last outing, saith this writer.

Over his last 45 innings, spanning 2024 and spring ball, Tylor accrued 14 earned runs, 2.80 ERA, and 51 Ks. 

Tom Seaver’s career ERA? 2.92.

NOT to in any way equate the two pitchers. 

Just that Tom Seaver is revered by all. 

But, at the same time, no need to frown upon our dear friend Tylor Megill.

Frown ye instead upon the feeble Mets hitters who, through Tuesday, in 805 at bats were dead last in batting average at .210 (# 29 coming in 17 points higher at .227).

I told the latter to my brother Steve, knowing in advance what his response would be:

"FIGURES. WHAT ELSE IS NEW?"

BUT….A RETURN TO WEDNESDAY NITE NORMALCY

The unquestioned ACE of the staff, David Peterson, throws 5 scoreless, dropping his ERA to 0.59, Alonso 3 run HR, 8-0 lead in the 8th last night. (Minter gave up a 2 run poke in the 8th, while registering both his outs via the K.)

Reed Garrett punched out all 3 batters in the 9th. BAM.

Banging Brett Baty banged out a triple and double and walked in 4 plate appearances. Batting .333.

Biggest Baty “plus point” so far? Just 5 Ks in 46 plate appearances. 

That tells me one thing, VERY LOUDLY.

Brett Baty has ARRIVED.