I was going to write about something else today, but I can't pass up an opportunity to critique the Mets after their 3-3 road trip to start the season. Yesterday's win was a gift from the Marlins on a night that the Mets were looking very shabby.
This was a bad start. No doubt about it. I don't like what I have seen from this team one bit in the first six games. Other than their power-fest on April Fools' eve (which I blame on Miami pitching), the Mets have really stumbled out of the gate. Why do I say this? Let me count the ways:
1) Poor defensive fundamentals. The box score had the Mets down for one error yesterday, but I saw many poor plays - it could easily have been a half dozen. I will give Taylor and Soto a pass on their miscues, a bad read and a fumbled ground ball, because those are just physical mistakes, and even the best professional ballplayers make physical errors sometimes. I am not accepting poor fundamentals from a team fresh out of spring training though. Mark Vientos runs around a bouncer down the third base line and sticks his glove into fair territory to gift a hit and a run to the Marlins. Brett Baty has his feet pointing toward first base as he misfires a throw to the wrong side of home plate - only the athleticism of Luis Torrens saves a run on that play. This is just one game - several other plays in the first five games showed me that no one was paying attention during defensive drills in Florida last month. Carlos Mendosa needs to come down hard and fast on this, as does Captain Lindor. This level of play is far below the level required to make and win in the playoffs.
2) Poor approach at the plate. This isn't just a case of balls not falling in the right spots - the Mets (except Soto) are swinging at the wrong pitches. They have a .146 average with runners in scoring position (28th in MLB). You saw it last night - pop-ups and strikeouts with bases loaded and then the long fly ball with two outs. Hitting is hard, but so is pitching in a jam, so the Mets' hitters need to come to the plate with a selective zone early in the count and not give free strikes to a pitcher that is struggling with control.
3) Too many walks. 22 walks in 53 innings does not sound that bad, but despite a staff full of pitchers with great stuff (thanks to the pitching lab) this team is still putting runners on base for free. Trust your stuff and throw strikes until it doesn't work.
4) Lack of aggression on the base paths. I have seen too many plays in just a half dozen games where runners are being held at third with a chance to score. This is both due to the third base coaching and the runners failing to get good jumps on the ball when it is hit. Until everyone in the lineup is mashing the ball we need to push the envelope on the base paths to get some sorely needed runs. And yes, Mark...we run them all out!
OK, that is enough frustration venting. We are 3-3, the bullpen looks solid, and Juan Soto is playing like the player we spent a king's ransom for. There are enough positives to remain hopeful, but the issues outlined above should be the easy part. When you are not playing the Marlins or the A's this stuff matters. Enough said.
22 comments:
I don't understand Vientos' mindset right now. He's hitting less than my dog weighs and, after watching the replay of that 'walkin to New Orleans' routine, he easily would have had a close call for the ump to call. Imagine if Gil Hodges was the manager. Go ask the late Tommy Agee wheat he would have done (he is dead, right?).
Agee? It was Cleon who was taken out mid-game by Gil, wasn't it?
And yes, Agee is now one of those Angels in the Outfield.
Mark was in La La Land. It is an Alonso miracle that the Mets won last night.
When Blackburn returns, forget the lefty arm stuff. I am keeping both Kranick and Brazaban in my pen - no Syracuse stint for either.
When McNeil returns, will it be the end of Baty? Baty did so much right in spring training, Baty is choking and forgetting what he did right in March. This is his 4th partially season. When does he play like he’s not a just-called-up rookie? O eat bat he took a very hittable FB for strike one, then waved at two tough breaking balls. Be aggressive!
Mets pitchers so far
Starters.. 2.90
Relievers.. 1.64
Right
Clean
Clean... Agee...
Same guy
I'm starting to think that Baty has become the second coming of Anderson Hernandez
Or was it Agee?
Where's my salts?
Paul, you are actually being kind. I can't remember the last time I saw such crap. These last 2 games have been unwatchable.
If Gil was alive Vientos would be on the bench for a week. See what happens when you read those press clipping.
Baty will be gone within the week.
Paul you are giving Soto a free pass. He is by far the worst outfielder in baseball...full-time DH next year. We have 15 years of this shite. He doesn't run; he is totally disinterested.
Danny Young don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Mendy, you better do something quick, or the honeymoon will be over. If you play like you don't care, you shouldn't be playing.
(my use of the word 'shite' is catching on... no shit)
Talk about being gifted a game dam! Carlos has to earn his money start now bro. The boys in the booth love talking about Soto's hitting but nothing about his fielding of course. So 765 million for a DH but will he be voted into the HOF as a DH hmmmmm. Mack yes shite is the appropriate word and by the way the Jays are better than the Fish but we will have a first hand view of our next 1st baseman.....right Steve?
Signed Jon Singleton
J T Schwartz rehabbing on Friday for St. Lucie
Meneses is hitting like a superstar
So
Who's on first in Cuse?
I was not one of the proponents of signing Iglesias over the winter, but now I am thinking I might have been wrong.
Meneses is the best hitter of the bunch. Too bad he is defensively limited.
Sorry to change the subject but has anyone noticed that Jake Magnum is starting in CF and is like 8-10 to start season.
69, as much as I liked Iglesias, I don't think he's the answer. At some point you have to see what the prospects can do.
We are trying that with Baty and Avuña with different results
Yes, we miss Jake Mangum as fans. As writers, he had a name that was way too easy to misspell. So we traded him for Elieser, who was also hard to spell. Hernandez is gone, and Mangum is starting in center for the Rays.
Back then, there were consequences for your actions. Now, not so much. Was glad to see that he got yelled at in the clubhouse by the coaches and the captain.
Mets like trading CF prospects
IMO - Meneses should immediately become the Mets RHDH
I am not convinced that Marte is done. A healthy Marte > Meneses just because of the speed and experience element he brings to the table.
Marte needs to head a package to the fish for TPKAA
Did anyone catch the snippet of Keith Hernandez last night. He was caught on a "hot mic" saying Piss Poor Hitting...lol
More like poop-poor hitting. Lindor, Vientos, Baty, Taylor and Siri are 8 for 81. I’d trade Baty, Siri, and Taylor for Mangum.
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