Another brutal loss for the Mets smeared with bad offense and a poor decision late
The Mets lost 2-1 to the Jays, and have now scored two runs or less 22 times in the season's first 59 games
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets lost again to the Blue Jays, this time by a score of 2-1 on a go-ahead double in the ninth by Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (box)
Tylor Megill started for the Mets and gave them exactly what they needed, allowing just a run over 5.1 IP
The bullpen was spotless until the ninth when David Robertson allowed Guerrero’s go-ahead hit to plate George Springer
The Mets scattered five singles around a Daniel Vogelbach double, went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on-base
The Mets are now 11-9 in one-run games in 2023, have scored one run or less 13 times, and two runs or less 22 times over the season’s first 59 games
News and Notes 📰
The Mets inducted Jay Horwitz, Al Leiter, Howard Johnson, Gary Cohen, and Howie Rose into their Hall of Fame on Saturday (video)
Roster Moves 🗞️
Optioned RHP Vinny Nittoli to Triple-A Syracuse
Outrighted RHP Jimmy Yacabonis to Triple-A Syracuse
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (30-29) vs. Blue Jays (32-27)
Where: Citi Field – Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (5-3, 3.44 ERA) vs LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-2, 4.47 ERA)
When: 1:40 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Another brutal loss added to the ledger… ✍🏼
The Mets have played five games on this homestand. They’ve combined to hit .169/.239/.250. They’ve scored 11 runs in those five games, one in their last two games.
You can stop right there and know where my essay is going today. But for the benefit of our platform here, I ask that you read on and commiserate with me for a few minutes.
Top to bottom, that could’ve been one of the ugliest games for the Mets this season.
Unfortunately, that has been said far too many times in 2023, and it’s only June 4.
The funny part about it is, it was merely a 2-1 loss. Usually, when a game is described as, “ugly,” the game is marred with poor pitching and lethargic play.
But on Saturday, the ugly part of the game wasn’t on the mound. Far from it. In fact, Saturday was a continuation of a strong mound presence with Tylor Megill giving the Mets 5.1 solid innings, and unquestionably a chance to even their series against the Blue Jays on a day you would think the Mets could feel a little more inspired to win. After all, they put five beloved Mets into their hall of fame (Al Leiter, Howard Johnson, Howie Rose, Gary Cohen, and Jay Horwitz) with a beautiful ceremony to kick off the day, and the capper of course would’ve been to win one for those guys.
Well, it wasn’t so on Saturday. Aside from their four pitchers, nobody else decided to show up for the party.
Once again, we are saying that far too often in 2023.
The game went so poorly that even Mets manager Buck Showalter made a tactical mistake when he had David Robertson pitch to Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. in a tie game with the go-ahead run in scoring position and two outs with first base open.
That would be like pitching to his dad in the same spot, for those who remember what he used to do to the Mets.
That mistake instead served as a punch to the face to cap what was truly a disappointing end to that beautiful day at Citi Field for the club and its history.
Of course, the game should have even come down to that (non) move by Showalter.
The Mets went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, left nine runners on-base, and boy, did the fans let Francisco Lindor hear it after striking out with a runner on in the first and in the fifth, and rather uncompetitively flew out to end the seventh inning.
He said after the game he feels he has been putting together quality at-bats as of late. But I have news for him - his now 0-for-15 stretch with one walk sandwiched in there would beg to differ.
Then there was Tomás Nido, who had himself an equally brutal day and the fans didn’t let that go unnoticed, either.
He allowed George Springer to setup Showalter’s mistake with a bad throw to second which allowed Springer to get into scoring position. He also put together two rather uninspiring at-bats to leave his OPS at .278 for the season. One would have to believe that when Omar Narváez returns, the decision on who loses their roster spot among the three catchers is pretty easy at this point.
But these are the Mets, and there is often too much paralysis by analysis in their decision making process, that which has helped leave the Mets with a 30-29 record and on the outside looking in 10-ish weeks into the season.
Look, their offense stinks. Plain and simple. We’ve talked this one to death, everyone else has too. And I don’t need to come up with any sort of statistical evidence to support how poor their offense is, either. Just watch the games and see for yourself.
In addition, I don’t think anyone is really interested in hearing Lindor say he’s putting together quality at-bats in an 0-for-15 ice brick in a season where his overall line is .212/.284/.407, either. Seriously. That’s like the most annoying noise in the world to people like me.
Having said that, it would be unfair to not discuss the Mets Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, during which five very important people were rightfully inducted into their Hall of Fame on Saturday. It was a long time coming for all and completely deserved for all as well.
And, it should be noted Jay Horwitz is one of the most underrated people in the game. He is a caring, loving and sweet individual who thinks about everyone who has ever walked through that room.
Here’s a personal story I’d like to share.
When I announced my cancer diagnosis two years ago, it was Jay who was among the first to call me - out of anyone I know - to talk to me and ask how I was doing. That was a very special phone call for me and not a conversation I expected to have at that moment. We talked a little baseball as well and that was that, but it lit up my week. I’ll never forget that and will forever be grateful for those few minutes he shared with me.
Anyway, onward and upward, right? The Mets have to salvage this series today, figure out a way to rise up from two more pitiful days, and really figure out how to get their season on the rails.
Still waiting for that to happen…
Around the League 🚩
Aaron Judge homered again and crashed into the right field fence to help lead the Yankees to a 6-3 win over the Dodgers in LA
Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Nathaniel Lowe each drove in three runs as the Rangers crushed the Mariners 16-6 to move to 37-20 on the year
The Phillies snapped their losing streak in a bullpen game, scattering 10 hits in a 4-2 win over the Nationals
Ronald Acuña, Jr., Eddie Rosario, and Sean Murphy each had multi-hit games as the Braves evened their series with the Diamondbacks with a 5-2 victory in Phoenix
Lindor is the one bad contract on this team. The other guys they over paid on are shorter deals. Only 8 more years of green hair and poor performance!
“paralysis by analysis” truer words were never spoken.