Mets throw series against the Yankees away...literally
There are issues the Mets must address now, and why the team needs to flush Sunday's contest quickly
What’s up with the Mets? 🚊
The Mets fell to the Yankees on Sunday night by the score of 8-2 (Box)
LHP David Peterson started for the Mets and pitched well again, going six strong innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks
Ryne Stanek took the loss for the Mets as he was tagged for four runs in the 8th inning—though only one was earned—while getting only one out, thanks largely to Pete Alonso’s errant throw to the plate with the game tied and runners at second and third and one out
Juan Soto’s rough weekend back in the Bronx continued, as he went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts
With the Mets already down two in the 8th, Genesis Cabrera served up a two out grand slam to Cody Bellinger that dismissed any notion’s of a Mets comeback
Play of the Game 🌟
This was an easy one.
With runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 8th in a 2-2 game, Yankees infielder Jobit Vivas pulled a ground ball to first base. Pete Alonso was playing in to cut off the go-ahead run at the plate, and fielded the ball cleanly but airmailed the throw to the plate.
That error helped contribute to what ended up being a six-run inning for the Yankees that put the game away.
Down on the Farm 🌾
Ronny Mauricio (No. 9 Prospect, Triple-A):2-for-4, 2 R
Jett Williams (No. 1 Prospect, Double-A: 3-for-5, RBI, 2 R
Ryan Clifford (No. 4 Prospect, Double-A): 2-for-3, RBI, 2B, R
Carson Benge (No. 3 Prospect, High-A): 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (29-18) @ Red Sox (23-25)
Where: Fenway Park — Boston, MA
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (4-2, 1.02 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 3.90 ERA)
When: 6:45 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The issues before the Mets… ✍️
by Michael Baron
If anyone was wondering what David Stearns was referring to late last week during his State of the Mets address to the media when referring to a need to improve their defense, well, I think you all saw what he was talking about this past weekend at its worst.
Saturday was a great game - on both sides - but that was sandwiched by two games filled with sloppy play specifically by the Mets infield that more or less defined a very aggravating series loss to the Yankees.
There was one misplay after another and at this level, those kinds of mistakes simply can’t happen, especially against the top third teams where extra outs translate into runs.
The nadir of the weekend, of course, came on what looked like an exit strategy to Ryne Stanek’s wildness in the eighth inning when he induced a ground ball to first with runners at second and third and one out from Jobit Vivas, and Pete Alonso simply threw the ball away on what should’ve been a lay up for the second out at the plate.
It was a nonsensical mistake, but it epitomized the Mets growing problem with their infield defense.
As he put it, as many put it after the game last night, they simply need to be better. There were two generally non-competitive plays on the infield that cost them at least one run in the first inning and all six runs in the eighth inning. That was a winnable 2-1 game against the best pitcher in the sport so far this season if two routine plays are made.
And I mean, routine. They were not complicated, not hard hit, and two gimmies they simply couldn’t convert.
Their defense has been mediocre to disappointing over the first quarter of the season. They’ve committed the 14th most errors with 24, they have -6 outs above average (OAA) which is the seventh worst mark in the majors, and have 10 defensive runs saved (DRS) which is 15th in the majors. Their third basemen have -4 DRS which is the fifth worst, their shortstops have (shockingly) -5 DRS which is second worst, and their first basemen have -1 which is 9th worst.
So something needs to change.
Now, they’re not going to flip the table on their infield. That isn’t necessary. But there are two obvious places to plug the leak. I don’t want this to sound like too much of an indictment on Mark Vientos and even Jeff McNeil, but the Mets have viable alternatives to play at those positions without taking their bats out of the lineup and would improve their defense in the process.
To be fair, we all know what Vientos is at third, and that’s fine and again, they could probably deal with it - like they did last year - if they were otherwise fortified. But right now, the Mets just have to be better at run prevention and Brett Baty is a better defensive player than Vientos, period. They can simply shift Vientos to the DH spot for the time being, even if that puts Starling Marte out of a job.
Luisangel Acuña has begun to struggle a bit at the plate but he is faster and more athletic up the middle and just seems to be a better defensive option than McNeil is at second at this point, so they could consider giving him more reps at second while shifting McNeil into a utility outfield role. He can play all three positions out there and I just think he is a better outfielder at this point in his career than he is a second baseman.
Now, onto what everyone seems to be talking about aside from their defense…
Juan Soto had a rough night on Sunday, and that’s not just because of his 0-for-4, two-strikeout performance at the plate.
He made a poor throw in that eighth inning, which didn’t really cost the Mets in the end but added to the misery of that inning. But he also didn’t really hustle out of the batter’s box earlier in the game on a non-routine ground ball to second and was thrown out at first.
Now, I don’t know if he would’ve been safe or out in the end there. But that doesn’t really matter. Sometimes, it’s about how a player is presenting, and we are just about at Memorial Day, and I am worried about that part most of all with Soto. It’s not the lack of home runs, it’s not the 5-for-38 with runners in scoring position (1-for-his-last-21, I believe), or any specific stat which suggests he’s out of sync or struggling. And of course, it’s never about effort. It’s about the little things that have defined Juan Soto over the course of his career which haven’t really been present over the season’s first 47 games. We know he is better than that - this is a Hall of Fame caliber player, one of the best hitters of his generation, and has always done this with a smile, style and flair.
Where is all of that?
I mean, dude, just have fun. It’s a kid’s game. You’ve got the contract you were waiting for. Everyone knows how great you are. Let’s do this, and be engaged on every play.
After emotionally charged weekend, Mets must avoid letdown in difficult week ahead ✍️
by Justin Mears
We all know—and for the most part love—the excitement and hoopla that comes with the Subway Series.
There are few things that excite the city of New York more than when the Mets and Yankees are both good at the same time, and the first installment of this season’s cross borough battle did not disappoint.
While the series did not go the Mets way, all of the games were exciting and intense, and emotionally charged.
There is a lot that could be said about the series and last night’s game in particular—especially the game deciding 8th inning—but my attention is focused forward.
After a weekend that required so much mental energy, so much more media attention than usual, and far fewer moments of quiet than is typical, I think it’s important for the Mets to get themselves mentally prepared for a big week ahead.
After playing the Sunday Night Game of the Week which didn’t end until well past 10 o’clock, the Mets had a long night flying to Boston where they undoubtedly didn’t arrive until early this morning.
The Red Sox don’t have an eye opening record to date, but they’re a good team with star power, and the Dodgers come to Citi Field right after that in what will be a critical series pinning two National League World Series hopefuls head to head.
The Mets have the right man on the mound tonight in Kodai Senga, and it would go a long way towards getting the week ahead off to a good start if he can deliver yet another good outing.
I’m sure the players are disappointed with how the rubber game in the Bronx ended last night, but for two years running this team has been phenomenal at flushing bad days and focusing on the next one, and they need to do exactly that again starting today.
Around the League 🚩
Isaac Paredes crushed a three-run bomb in the 8th inning to propel the Astros to a 4-3 win over the Rangers
In his MLB debut, Phillies’ RHP Mick Abel fired six scoreless innings and struck out nine to impressively beat Paul Skenes and the Pirates 1-0
Marcell Ozuna homered and drove in three in the Braves 10-4 win in Boston
The Angels got a late home run from Travis d’Arnaud that helped lift them to a 6-4 win over the Dodgers
Lindor and Pete just have to be better on D. Baty needs to play everyday until he stops hitting - hopefully he doesn’t. I’m concerned with Acuna starting because he doesn’t hit at all anymore although I love his defense and speed. Soto has to pick it up and can we stop playing Marte. 14 hits in 3 days isn’t going to win many series.
Good suggestions by Mr. Baron. Hate to say it but without recourse to stats, I seem to recall Alonso being prone to bad throws throughout his career.