Mets Need Inspiration From The Royals

The Mets did not have a "fire sale" (see Marlins after World Series) or a "rebuild." They had a partial do-over.

The game last night versus the Orioles, a team their current manager managed for nearly a decade until it started a try rebuild, was clear evidence of this.  It was not pretty and it showed the limitations that Mets are playing under.  This is clearly the case against an elite team like the Orioles, who are beatable from time to time.  Still, the game shows you how they will beat you if not quite 10-3 like they did.  

The line-up was mostly respectable with just one OF fill-in since Canha and Pham leaving made the outfield a bit thin.  Baty (still having growing pains after a brief quick start) and others might not be hitting well, but it sure did not look like a "tank" line-up.  The team doesn't have far to go to put out a good team in 2024 with Vientos even a potential DH.  

(Ah, Vogelbach.  Along with Carrasco someone the team should DFA. Cookie tempted you versus the Royals for six innings, but he repeatedly just doesn't have anything.  Why not use the next few months to take a look at some of the minor league talent?  At the very least, against the Royals with a chance to bring someone up for just one game.)  

A major problem is that the team as a whole just is not hitting. Marte has had problems all season, the latest migraines.  Nimmo was out a few days so might have been a bit rusty but even he as I recall was not doing too well recently.  Alonso is said to "be back," which might be the case, I guess, though it didn't seem like it too much in the last few days on a consistent basis.  The rookies are still not in a groove other than Alvarez.  

I was annoyed at all the talk about how "anything can happen" and how much the team changed.  So, Gary Cohen last night in the middle innings flagged David Robertson not being there.  Not the reason the team gave up two four-run innings tossed by some also-rans they picked up from the trash heap. The problem there, like it was all season except for a short time, was the shortage of starting pitching.  Even better pens can be stretched too far if you constantly have to have them pitch four or more innings.

The lack of Robertson is likely to affect them but they were not swept by the lowly Royals for that reason.  Carrasco actually had a decent game, battling some through six innings and giving up three runs.  The manager knew the weekend will be tough with Peterson not stretched out to start and a call-up (Megill, who very well might not last too long), so he pushed him a bit further.  Before you know it, it was 6-0, on the path to a route that allowed a position player (you have to be down eight) to pitch.

Gary Cohen noted last night that Lindor, cited as a team spokesman, noted that the team had a certain lack of energy in the Royals series.  Gary noted that was understandable.  Gary didn't even show up for that series, avoiding needing to go to Kansas City or deal with the immediate aftermath of the trades.  Anyway, understandable or not, you have to suck it up and not be swept by the second-worst team in the AL.  

I was annoyed that Gary (or Darling) just let that comment go without pushback.  They aren't supposed to be "homers" and well-paid major league players have to snap out of it and be more professional.  Use playing a bad team as inspiration to show some life and have some respect.  Meanwhile, Kansas City is having a winning streak.  As horrible teams do.  Maybe, one of these days -- after briefly showing they had it in them at the start of July (padding the record) -- the Mets can have one too. 

(The Nats are another team showing some life.  The Mets managed to win 3/4 after the Nats' pen blew the first game.  But, the Nats beat the Giants and then beat the Brewers 2/3 and last night the Reds.  Clear spoiler energy.  Do the Mets have it in them?)  

The Orioles beat up the Mets by taking advantage of questionable pitching (Peterson had a scoreless three innings; I hope he does well along with Megill the rest of the way).  But, of course, James McCain -- ex-Met and their light-hitting backup catcher -- had a big game.  He even stole third!  Baty didn't apply the tag well.  The call was originally "out" but it was overturned.  A close play at the plate also was not overturned.  OTOH, they did tack on a run late.  No position player at the end this time.

("No!  Come on guy!  We were down by eight.  I was going to save the pen.  Why did you have to go and score a run?")

The key moves at the deadline was to trade pitching. Leone was a minor trade that also might have some effect since he was one of their more reliable relievers.  I think Scherzer and Verlander can be replaced after the season by the free-agent market.  A flawed Scherzer surely could.  But, that is then.  Now, the team has to deal with two good starters and some more lackluster options, though you might get some good innings in.

(A couple free agent signings and finding an in-house option + two starters in place already handles the rotation.  Ottavino, Raley, and Diaz can be the core of the pen.  Drew Smith and company can provide a few more arms. Again, there isn't too far to go to have a competitive winning team here.)  

This very well might be the road to a record closer to 70 than 80 wins.  But, you need to have more respectable efforts.  The last Kansas City game fell apart late but even early you started to think that a 3-0 game was a lost cause.  The MLB website provides odds of winning and they had Kansas City with good odds with that score.  This is a tad sad with their overall talent level though they should repeatedly that they do have some.

The Mets for a few innings last night battled.  It was 2-2 midway.  Then, the McCann buzzsaw began.  But, the Mets surely didn't help.  A bad play here.  A failure to get a double play or prevent a steal there.  Lack of hitting. Again.  They need to show more life.  And, this is not new. Something seems to be missing all season.  I don't know if the manager is involved but if they were doing well, I'm sure he would get some credit.

There is talk Buck might not be around next season.  I don't know if that is the appropriate path.  IF that is the path taken -- I don't know if the rest of the season is some sort of test -- maybe they should have let him go already.  If they are just keeping him in to play the string out, it is a message to the players to do so as well.

Sigh.  I admit it.  I want the Orioles to sweep the Mets.  I'm rooting for the Orioles and it is going to be neck-and-neck for them the rest of the way most likely in their race with the Rays.  They have a small lead now but it is quite likely at some point they have a bit of a hiccup.  Every win versus scrubs is helpful.  

I think the Mets probably can win one.  Two straight series sweeps would not be nice.  But, so be it.  

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I guess I should toss in that football season is upon us, the Jets playing a game against the Browns.  Zack, Mr. Back-Up QB, was said to have some life.  I didn't see much of the game and am not really overly impressed by his actions in such a contest.  Do we really think he's the QB of the future?  Who knows?  Who would have predicted the return of Geno Smith?

The Yanks are far from out of it -- in the NL their record would be quite respectable in the wild card race -- but they will have to play better to have a shot.  So, maybe Mets and Yanks fans are both appreciative that they have something else to focus on at least part of the time now.  

FWIW, the Jets lost the game.