Mets Drop Out of Second Place

And Also: The Hallmark Hall of Fame (the sort of thing CBS played on Sunday nights, not the run of the mill romances ... thus, you know, they have sex) film Loving Leah was on recently. Not on my Hallmark, but a relative DVR'ed it. I cited it multiple times on this blog and enjoyed it again. Still love Harris Yulin in a long beard!

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To update one summary: "In the span of 11 days, the Mets have turned a four-game division lead into a 2.5-game deficit. They've lost nine of 11." Braves went 7-3 (Nats won one game in the 9th) and the Phils went 8-2 (swept Nats/Mets, but 8-0 is still impressive). Hey, Red Sox went 2-8 too!

So, a Mets dive and two teams doing well (they all played comparable teams, so can't handwave the competition too much) adds up to yes third place (by a .5 game).  That's impressive, if not in a totally good way.  One thing you can't do -- and other than certain Junes -- and what the Mets in recent years have tended to avoid are long losing streaks.  Toss in two teams with good streaks, one (Phils) they haven't had in years, well, not good. And, again, yes, you get complacent since you don't expect both.

They didn't win at least one more after my last main entry. They had an opening on Saturday. Blew it. Then, possible Cy Young candidate (with deGrom out so much) Zack "the Phils still seemed to overpay him, given his overall history with the Mets" Wheeler just dominated. Complete game two hitter. Not good, but more forgivable than Saturday.

Walker also did okay -- yes, needed a shut down. He isn't a shutdown guy. You should have a good chance versus the Phils when you only give up three. After a game off, it's the Nats. But, the Nats gave the Phils a run for their money and beat the Braves once. So, you know. Still, we are talking must win series material. Then, pretend it's better than it is, and make some sort of decent show versus the Dodgers and Giants.

“Mets fans, believe in us. And don’t just believe. Know. Because there’s tough times not just in baseball, but in life in general. Know that this is just a speed bump and a challenge. And also smile. You get to watch baseball. I mean, it’s a game. I know we have the most passionate fan base in baseball. I know that. And I understand it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating for us. But we’re all in this together and we got this. Just smile and know that we got this.”

Ah Alonso. Mr. 0 for 20 with a bunch of walks.

Maybe, if you did more at the deadline and are showing life. Even your pitching is a bit overrated with starters repeatedly giving you short outings and Megill showing cracks. The hitting isn't just in a "rut" -- it had problems for quite some time, if not this bad. The manager also asked fans to support the team.  Not quite reading the room guys.  

Why, after all, should we think "you have this?"  You never quite "have" it all season. If the division was tougher -- and the Phils and Braves since the break showed some toughness along with gumption at the deadline while the Nats/Marlins (at least versus the Mets) showed something -- you would have had less than you have now.  Frustrating? Years of frustration.  Even the end of 2015 was frustrating.  2016 was gutsy. And, then nothing. 

Oh you had an (nothing new) second half streak one of those years and people were excited.  I wasn't -- though near the end of the effort it seemed like they actually would do it -- since it seemed too much of a climb.  Anyway, bottom line, justify it with injuries or whatever, the team has flaws. So, there is no proof they "have this."  Fight for it, sure.  But, that's an old story.  

So, no, I won't "believe" in you.  I'm tired.  Ditto the manager's talk of having the fans supporting the team.  The team is being paid millions and not providing good content right now.  What I want the team to say now is that they are struggling and have to get better. That the fans have a reason to expect more and that they will play better.  Don't talk about "having it," when that is far from clear.  Show more life at the very least.

Also, from the NY Daily News article after the game ...

“He was extremely positive, and he said he was extremely proud of how we played and the heart we show every day,” said Alonso on Cohen’s message to the players. “And not just how we handle ourselves individually, but how we handle ourselves as a team.” 

That's charming. See, that isn't how people, including those whose job it is to report on the team, see it.  They are looking hopeless at the plate, yes, but not seeing a lot of "heart" really.  We saw it when the "bench mob" (with help) repeatedly won games for them.  This is some Stepford Wives, shit, seriously.  "Nothing is wrong, really."  Sure.

Then, there is the manager ...

“I will say that fans should be supporting the guys at this point,” Rojas said. “These guys, they come in everyday ready to play, ready to give 100 percent and I think all of them need [the fans’] support. Nothing more than positive support will help the players play at their best, knowing they have the fan base behind them.”

Well, that's nice, but these are Mets fans.  There are a variety of fans, some who will continue to have support regardless. Some will bitch will doing it.  Others, are tired.  They need something in return for the support. Again, maybe -- like even a team like the Blue Jays who is a long shot -- something more at the deadline. More moves.  Baez is day by day at this point, by the way, tweaking something during the latest loss. 

Other than somehow fixing their approach at the plate, it's unclear what exactly to do with the team.  Gut through it?  I read various reporters and there was really no suggestions of what to do.  I guess if nothing is going to be done, you have to have faith or whatever.  Anyway, win versus the Nats.

BTW, I want them to do something.  Will they continue to play listlessly, show some but not enough life versus the Dodgers/Giants, and then fight back some in September but not quite enough ... wait until next year! Rinse/repeat.  

ETA: I'm tired of seeing various comments that "it's not the manager's fault," especially after he was praised for helping them get through adversity earlier.  The manager is not a potted plant.

As the NY Daily News Mets reporter notes, for instance, the team seems "listless."  This is not just some offense issue.  It's partially, partially, a leadership issue. The manager, including the above cited comments, has something to do with that sort of thing.  

The last part of the column suggests, true enough, the Mets are not dead yet, some Mets fans sentiments aside.  But, other than nothing the flawed nature of the competition, the Phils/Braves are not really covered there. 

Space restraints and all that aside, that is a tad bit hand waving. For instance, I saw reference to the Phils dealing with some injuries during their winning streak (if not deGrom level).  They too have possible pieces that might give them a shot in the arm during the stretch.  And, unlike the Mets, the Braves actually won recently.  They have a bit of reason to say "we got this!"

But, if "waking the hell up" is a problem, well a no drama, safe for the management manager (a hold over from the pre-Steve Cohen era) might not totally be what the team needs.  Maybe, a manager with experience on a team that won big recently could have helped? Over some youngster?