It was a great three days but then the Mets reverted to their June/August decimation. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga was not looking like the formerly dominant pitcher he had been when healthy in 2023. The hitting went into hiatus when needed most. The fact the Mets had a bases loaded situation with no one out and failed to bring anyone home summed up the dark side as well as anything could. That Cedric Mullins acquisition and Luis Torrens starting role are simply two black holes in the lineup.
The wimpy offense is not on the agenda today, however. Instead it’s time to take a look at the mostly unpredictable and unreliable pitchers currently on the roster. Between now and the end of August the Mets have some decisions to make regarding who would help them most in the fading quest for October baseball.
There has been on again/off again discussion among fans and media about the Mets moving to a six-man rotation. There are quite a few legitimate reasons for considering it. Kodai Senga is career-wise accustomed to five days of rest. Converted reliever Clay Holmes pitches to a low 3.30 ERA range when on five days rest but almost a full run worse on four days of rest. The extra day could bring in the better pitcher.
What makes it even more difficult is the frankly uselessness of Frankie Montas on the roster. Everyone’s well aware he has been banished to the bullpen as he was destroying opportunities to win whenever he started. He hasn’t been used a lot since this change was made but he’s a big question mark moving forward.
Then there is the rehabbing Tylor Megill who is 1-2 starts away from being ready to return to the active roster from his minor league stretch recovering from injury. He’s never been a stellar pitcher but given the choice between Montas and Megill even the most jaded folks with disdain for Megill would tap him first. Someone will need to be dropped from the 40-man roster when his 60-day roster spot reverts and it means the Mets must drop someone to make room.
Finally, there’s the question mark of Brandon Sproat. The former top notch pitching prospect of the Mets had hit the wall but midway through this season started looking more like the hurler they envisioned when the drafted him.
Some have advocated moving Holmes into the problematic pen. There could be some merit to that. Ryne Stanek is gone in a month anyway and he’s pitched poorly since early in the season. Reed Garrett has an option and could be moved to Syracuse to make room. Or they could swallow hard and admit the Montas mistake which costs them not only his 2025 salary but his 2026 pay as well.
For now it is good that option do exist to improve things even if the 6-man rotation is not fully on the table.
3 comments:
Go with a six man rotation, and the sixth should be Megill. He had 55 pitches in his last rehab start. Next one should be in Syracuse and go 70. He could start for the Mets after that and give them 85 pitches. If he is sharp, it’s a step.
If he’s sharp, screw the rehab. On this team they all go five innings anyway.
I am still hopeful the pitching will work itself out with adding 1 more youngster to the rotation, Sproat or Tong. Stanek is the next to get released, then we need Manaea and Senga to start giving us 6 innings.
I have lost all faith in Mendoza, not that I had much to begin with. He was lucky last year that the team really self-coached with Martinez as the defacto hitting coach and we were able to ride a magical season. He has continued to pull pitchers too early and just completely wear out the bullpen all year. Yesterday’s lineup was inexcusable, we can’t have 3 guys (Taylor, Mullins, Senger) that can’t hit .200 all playing at the same time and expect to win. If the Mets don’t make the playoffs, Mendoza is the first move for the off season.
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