It finally happened. The Mets were able to hold on and secure a win last night, ending a twelve game losing streak. Frankly, we are all exhausted right now. We used up an entire season worth of emotional energy trying to will away this bad streak. So here are a few thoughts going through my head as I process this victory.
- Another very good starting pitching job. Clay Holmes went 7 innings, gave up only two runs, and propelled the team into the late innings with a chance. This is what we need our starters to do. McLean did it last night, Holmes tonight. Great job.
- Residuals from the losing streak were in full display tonight. Really bad judgement by Mark Vientos to try to score on a play that was not close. This is the losing mentality - trying to do more than you can to get over the top; but not understanding that the consequences were worse than the benefit of that run. Vientos also came off the bag on the throw from short in the ninth - once again trying to gain a split second when the consequence was to lose any chance at a close call.
- Bad luck stuck with this team for quite a while during the streak and it is still with them. Losing Lindor to a calf injury is not a good thing, especially when he showed signs of coming out of his annual April funk. His last 23 at-bats had him hitting at a .360 clip.
- On second thought, if Lindor sits down for a week or two and Ronny Mauricio comes up to play short this may not be bad luck. Mauricio is on a tear in Syracuse right now, having hit three homers in a game on Tuesday. The Mets have a significant power void right now, and if Mauricio can add some pop to the lineup the results could be good.
- Did Soto make the difference? Well, not on the scoreboard, but he had some very good at-bats and had some hard hit balls caught that won't show up. Maybe just his presence in the lineup let the other guys breathe instead of trying to do it all themselves. It can't be a coincidence that Baty walked twice when he swung at just about everything in April.
- Confidence builder #1: Brooks Raley came in and did his job - no lingering effects from his blown game last series.
- Confidence builder #2 - Luke Weaver closed the game out with a 4 out save and looked very confident in the ninth striking out three of four batters.
- Confidence builder #3 - Carlos Mendoza left Weaver in to finish the game. It doesn't seem like much, but just seeing Weaver run back out there in the ninth made me feel like judgement can overcome analytics every once in a while.
- What is wrong with Luis Robert's arm? He used to have a cannon, and has produced two weak, off-line throws in two games on plays that he typically makes. Maybe he was disoriented by waking up from the nightmare that he was back playing with the White Sox in the last dozen games.
Enough said. Christian Scott on the mound tomorrow. Let's win two!
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