Mark Vientos and the abyss at third base
Also - the Mets' punted Sunday with a bullpen game and lost despite a valiant comeback effort
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What’s up with the Mets? 🚊
The Mets failed to complete a sweep of the Yankees on Sunday, falling to the Bombers by the score of 6-4 (Box)
The Mets were forced to go with a bullpen game on Sunday, and while Chris Devenski turned in two scoreless innings, Zach Pop and Brandon Waddell combined to allow five runs over the next four innings, with Pop taking the loss in the contest.
INF Ronny Mauricio did not start on Sunday, but entered as a pinch-hitter in the 6th and collected two hits in the game
LF Starling Marte contributed three singles out of the leadoff spot but experienced knee soreness
Manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the 9th inning for arguing balls and strikes after Luis Torrens was punched out after taking two questionable at best strikes in a row.
1B Pete Alonso and RHP Edwin Díaz were both named to the NL All-Star team on Sunday night, and will join Francisco Lindor to represent the team in Atlanta - Alonso will not participate in the Home Run derby this season
RF Juan Soto was notably snubbed from the All-Star team despite having the best offensive WAR and the 9th highest OPS in baseball
Injury Updates 🏥
DH Jesse Winker (Triple-A-Rehab Assignment, oblique strain): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI. He is expected to be activated on Tuesday in Baltimore
OF Starling Marte (right knee soreness) is undergoing testing and awaiting the results. He is currently listed as day-to-day
RHP Kodai Senga (hamstring strain) is expected to re-enter the Mets rotation either Friday or Saturday in KC
RHP Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) resumed throwing this weekend, could return in late July
LHP Sean Manaea (oblique strain, elbow) will have one more rehab start and aim to return against the Royals on July 13 at Citi Field
Play of the Game 🌟
The Mets fell behind 5-0 on Sunday, but after scoring two in the fifth had pulled back within striking distance. With the momentum on their side, Brandon Nimmo opened the home sixth by getting hit with a pitch, and then Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, and Jeff McNeil all singled. At this point the score was 5-3, and they still had the bases loaded with nobody out and were poised to even the game or take the lead.
Until they weren’t.
Backup catcher Hayden Senger promptly bounced into a 6-4-3 double play, and while a run scored on the twin killing, it took the Mets out of a potentially giant inning.
Down on the Farm 🌾
3B/OF Jacob Reimer (No. 17 Prospect, Double-A): 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
RHP Jack Wenninger (No. 27 Prospect, Double-A): 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 11 K
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
The Mets are off today and will open their final road trip before the All-Star break in Baltimore tomorrow night.
Getting Mark Vientos going should be priority number one right now… ✍️
One of the most promising developments for the Mets in 2024, both in the present and the future, was the rapid ascension of third baseman Mark Vientos, who finally made good on his prospect promise and emerged as a dynamic offensive weapon. Vientos ended up playing in 111 games for the Mets last season, slashing .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs, and looked emphatically like New York’s long-term answer at the hot corner.
Vientos was arguably the Mets’ most productive and consistent hitter coming down the stretch, and then was phenomenal in October and played an integral role in New York reaching the NLCS.
Fast forward to the present, and he just does not look like the same player.
The 25-year-old missed time with a hamstring strain, but in the 60 games he has participated in, he’s slashed just .212/.275/.344 with only 15 extra-base hits. He has helped create an abyss at third in what has been a disappointing follow up to his magical 2024 season.
I thought it was particularly jarring to see manager Carlos Mendoza pinch-hit for him in the middle of a Mets rally in the sixth inning on Sunday. That simply would never have happened a year ago.
One of Vientos’ biggest issues at the plate this year has come against sliders. He’s hitting just .061 with nearly a 40 percent swing-and-miss rate against that pitch. It’s not as if he hit that well against that pitch last season either, but he’s simply been non-competitive against that attack this season, which is a primary reason his season is in the tank. Sure, there’s some bad luck built into his season, but not enough for the Mets to be patient with.
We’re all well aware of the pitching issues the Mets have been facing for the better part of the last several weeks—though with the impending returns of Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea—those should be alleviated shortly.
The Mets have desperately needed their best offensive players to step up and carry the team, and during their recently completed 4-2 homestand against a pair of good teams, that’s exactly what happened. Brandon Nimmo is red-hot, Pete Alonso has rediscovered his power stroke, Juan Soto has not slowed down from a torrid June, and after scuffling for a couple of weeks, Francisco Lindor once again looks like himself.
Those four guys are usually the top four hitters in the Mets lineup on a nightly basis, and the club is confident they can continue to be productive and dynamic for the duration of the 2nd half. Once this team gets its top two starting pitchers back—and potentially adds more impact arms at the trade deadline—pitching *should* once again be a strength. Regular DH Jesse Winker is also close to returning from a rehab assignment, and he’ll help lengthen the line-up.
Which means coming down the stretch in 2025, the Mets believe they’ll be able to combine a lethal offensive attack with a consistently effective pitching staff to go on another deep run.
But the one guy that can take this offense—and team as a whole—to new heights and raise the club’s 2025 ceiling is without question, Vientos.
If the slugger can soon rediscover his 2024 form, the Mets will transform from a good team to a scary one, and let’s all collectively hope we get to witness that in short order here in the coming weeks. But his leash could be running short if he doesn’t turn around and an option emerges for them with the trade deadline approaching. They’re bound to upgrade at one position at least with both third and centerfield presenting a glaring need right now, but we all know the Mets would prefer to see one of their younger options take control of third base.
That hasn’t happened yet.
Around the League 🚩
Jackson Holliday went 4-4 with a homer and a double in the Orioles 2-1 road win in Atlanta
Zack Wheeler went the distance and struck out 12 Reds while allowing just one hit—a solo home run to Austin Hays—in the Phillies 3-1 win over the Reds
The Tigers scored six times in the 10th inning to blow open a game with Cleveland that ended in a 7-2 win
Brandon Woodruff made his first start for the Brewers since 2023 and his return was a triumphant one as he went six terrific innings and earned the win as Milwaukee topped Miami 3-1
Michael Toglia and Mickey Moniak both homered in the Rockies 6-4 victory over the White Sox
I hope Vientos can clear his head and get back to what he showed he can do, hit. Let's face it, he doesn't get penciled in the lineup for exceptional defense. If this continues through July, time for the bench!
Every time I see Zach Wheeler's name in Around the League, a little tear slides down my cheek.
Anyway, Justin is spot on with Vientos: his issue is the slider. He gets beat on it consistently, which is bad considering how many major league pitchers throw a good one. Until he shows he can hit it or lay off it if it's out of the zone, he's going to get eaten alive.