Disaster: Mets get swept in Atlanta in absolute devastating fashion
New York hits rock bottom, a possible trade target for their bullpen, and is Francisco Álvarez the favorite for NL ROY?
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets suffered yet enough demoralizing loss in Atlanta, falling 13-10 in 10th innings in gut wrenching fashion (box)
After getting the first two outs in the bottom of the 10th RHP Tommy Hunter served up a long three run walk-off home run to Ozzie Albies
C Francisco Álvarez crushed a pair of homers and drove in three runs
Trailing 3-0 early the Mets exploded for five runs in the 2nd, highlighted by a Brandon Nimmo grand slam
RHP Justin Verlander struggled from the get-go, allowing five runs (4 earned) in three laborious innings
The first seven Mets in the starting line-up all reached base at least twice
RHP David Robertson was brought in to try to get a five out save and secured the first three before serving up a devastating game tying home run to Orlando Arcia
With Pete Alonso out, Mark Vientos got a rare start at first base and struggled, going 0-5 with three strikeouts
News and Notes 🗞️
The Mets have their eye on Reds reliever Alexis Díaz, but acquiring him is a long shot (New York Post)
Injury Updates 🏥
1B Pete Alonso underwent a CT scan in Atlanta and flew back to New York for an MRI and additional tests on his hand after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (30-33) at Pirates (32-29)
Where: PNC Park — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Starters: RHP Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.40 ERA) vs LHP Rich Hill (5-5, 4.41 ERA)
When: 7:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Francisco Álvarez is officially the front runner for NL ROY ✍🏼
by Justin Mears
It what is becoming an increasingly disappointing season for the Mets, they can take at least some solace in the one enormous bright spot that has emerged for them behind the plate.
We all saw Francisco Álvarez’s otherworldly numbers in the minors and knew he would eventually become a productive starting catcher in the Major Leagues. But did anyone expect that at just 21-years-old he would be this good, this fast?
What the Amazins’ young backstop has done on both sides of the ball in his first 41 games is opening eyes around the league.
Offensively, after a slow start while playing only sporadically, Álvarez’ slash line is up to .244/.299/.551 but what obviously jumps off the page is the absolute line to line power he’s consistently displayed. In 127 at-bats he’s crushed 11 home runs, many of which coming in enormous spots, while driving in 23 runs and adding six doubles.
But what’s perhaps even more impressive than what’s he accomplished in the batter’s box is the impact he’s been able to make behind the plate.
In spring training, the prevailing narrative was that he needed to begin the season in the minors to hone his defensive game and prepare himself to manage a veteran pitching staff. Just a few short months later, he’s garnered consistent praise from nearly all of the Mets’ pitchers, has displayed agility and poise behind the plate, and possesses a strong arm he’s not shy about using.
Álvarez’ rapid ascension allowed New York to be comfortable DFA’ing veteran Tomás Nido last week, and it’s clear he’s going to be the Mets long-term answer behind the plate.
And as far as I’m concerned, he should be taking home some hardware later this fall.
For most of this season’s first half, it’s been a fair assumption that Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll would eventually win the National League Rookie of the Year award. The exciting youngster has been an integral part of the Diamondbacks surprise start, and his blend of power and speed is a difference making combination.
That said, in nearly 100 fewer at-bats Álvarez is now tied with him for the rookie home run lead, and if recent history is any indication, he’s just getting started. Against the Braves last night Álvarez delivered his first multi-homer game, and he’s on a pace to crush just south of 40 bombs in less than a full season. If he’s able to continue on that trajectory, I don’t see he doesn’t win the ROY award over Carroll, Spencer Steer, James Outman, and any other potential competitors.
The Mets have had several of their top prospects claim roles on their Major League club early in 2023, but Álvarez has quite clearly made the largest impact, and at this point his ceiling appears limitless.
Maybe the Mets turn around what’s been one of their most disappointing season in recent memory, and maybe they don’t.
But at least in regard to Álvarez’ development this season will be a success, and it would be nice to see him become the Mets second Rookie of the Year winner in the last five years.
Side Note: Fallout from Atlanta 📝
by Michael Baron
This isn’t really a side note since it’s the front-and-center issue with the Mets, but it’s good that Justin opened with something positive here.
I’m not going to get into any fancy openings, funny phrases, or anything like that to open this rant up. I’m just going to give it to you straight.
The Mets flat out stink at the moment. There’s no other way to put it.
There is no stability on a day-to-day basis, their pitching has been generally terrible, and the offense - while it showed up for this series in Atlanta - either can’t score or can’t score enough because the pitching has been flat out horrendous.
They’re not even fun to watch. Last night was just eye rolling and mind numbing. It seemed as though they gave up 1000 hits and had no idea how to keep Atlanta from scoring. It was like being in one of those amusement park rides where it seems like 15 different songs from a circus are playing at once.
Earlier this week, I wrote the Mets didn’t go to Atlanta to make up ground. Rather, they were there to see if they even belonged in the same conversation as the Braves.
In that time, the Mets have blown multiple-run leads in each game and lost. They actually hit in this series (although it’s worth mentioning nobody scored over the final four innings of the game for the Mets last night), but their pitching - top-to-bottom - let them down from Carlos Carrasco, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander right on down to David Robertson.
The starting pitching gave the Mets 13.2 IP in this series against the Braves, and allowed 13 earned runs in those 13.2 IP. Scherzer and Verlander combined to give the Mets eight total innings in a series against their biggest rival.
All told, the Mets have lost five of six to the Braves and flat out embarrassed themselves this week, capped by one of the ugliest losses a team can sustain over the course of a season.
So, right now, it’s fair to say the Mets do not belong in the same conversation as the Braves, or the Dodgers or anyone who they might align with in a playoff bracket.
And by the way, yesterday was yet another example why Robertson’s ERA as a closer doesn’t matter to me in the grand scheme of things (last night’s blown save aside), and why not having Edwin Díaz in the bullpen is absolutely killing this team.
It’s not about ERA or individual performance. Yes, aside from last night Robertson has been great as the club’s replacement closer. That’s not what I am talking about. Rather, it’s about having the presence, having the ability to bring in not only David Robertson in a game that’s going to come down to one last bad pitch, but a reliever who can miss bats and get the offense back up quickly.
That is not the Mets fault, of course. But that doesn’t mean anyone should pull the wool over their eyes and simply believe the Mets can be ok with the bullpen as-is, either.
Including themselves.
Around the League 🚩
Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the 8th in a game the Phillies ultimately defeated Detroit by a 3-2 margin
Gunnar Henderson homered in the middle of a three run 8th inning that helped Baltimore beat Milwaukee 6-3
The Yankees and White Sox split a double header after Wednesday’s game in the Bronx was postponed by smoke
Toronto scored three in the 5th and that was enough to hold off the Astros, 3-2
No words on such a terrible loss. However, why do players who can't make it in NY always seem to come back and bite the Mets in the ass? We all know that Travis d'Arnaud would be a bust in NY but feasts on Mets pitching (same with Justin Turner) . Same goes with former Mets pitchers (Stroman and Bassitt). Does anyone have any answers?