SAVAGE VIEWS – HERE I GO AGAIN

HERE I GO AGAIN!

The first thing I do every morning is read the New York Times and New York Post during breakfast before checking out the postings on Mack’s Mets. Recently, the Post’s Jon Heyman has absolved Carlos Mendoza of the team’s lack of success during the early going. Certainly, Mendoza can only play with the cards he was dealt with and it’s not his fault if the players are not living up to hype. 

Got to tell you that if I was playing poker with Jules C. and we were dealt the same hand, the professor would beat me every time. Now why is that? My guess is that he is a far better strategist than I.

It’s great that we have put the 12-game losing streak behind us. But I have to say that Thursday’s game has to be one of the worst managed games in a while. Leading by four runs going into the eighth inning, Mendoza decided to remove Peterson, despite an effective 3 plus innings. Actually, going back a little further, why was Meyers not allowed to pitch another inning. The combination of Meyers and Peterson should have been all the pitching needed to close the game. 

Instead, Mendoza decided to do what he had done too often in the past. Bringing in Kimball made no sense and Brazoban did what he has done several times this year – allowed inherited runners to score. And let’s not forget the comedy routine in the ninth where confusion reigned.  Seems you can have only one pitcher on the mound at a time. Williams simply had to bide his time. On top of that he came close to blowing another save.

Regardless, it was good to see the “baby Mets” make some solid contributions. Perhaps with warmer weather, these young players will start performing to expectations. It really has been a brutal April and I’m sure that the poor weather has had a detrimental impact on their statistics.

This team has enough talent and depth to turn things around. For starters, the trio of Peralta, McLean and Holmes should keep us competitive in most games. Losing Lindor hurts, but perhaps Maurcio can step up. He just missed a homer in his first at bat. 

At some point the experiment of playing Vientos at first must stop. His fielding ability at first mirrors his fielding ability at third. He should be the regular DH until Polanco returns. Baty, if given the chance would be above average there. I fully expect Senga to turn things around and Scott should be recalled to make his next start.

In order to make the playoffs, the Mets will need to win close to 80 of their remaining games. Sweeping Colorado this weekend would be a good start. Of course, the Rockies beat the Dodgers two out of three last weekend.

I find it hard to understand why AJ Ewing is still in AA. He needs to be fast tracked so that he can play a vital role the second half of the season.

Ray

April 25, 2026