“Welcome back to Mets Talk. Caller, you’re on.”
“Yeah, hi. The Mets have to do better than they did Tuesday night in Toronto.”
“You’re absolutely right. Thanks for calling. Our next caller…”
“Um, yeah, long-time listener, first-time caller.”
“Great. What would you like to talk about?”
“I’m really sorry the Mets lost, 6-2, to the Blue Jays.”
“Me, too. Thanks for calling. Next caller, whatcha got?”
“Yeah, David Peterson has to do better than he did last night.”
“He sure does. Been doing great of late, not so much most recently. Hopefully he gets back on the horse. Thanks for calling. Our next caller…”
“Hi, listen, Tylor Megill, who hasn’t been that good when he’s gotten his chances, was terrific Monday, but Peterson, who’s been so good, wasn’t the next night.”
“Funny how that goes. Thanks for calling. We’re talking calls. Here’s our next one.”
“Carlos Mendoza shook up the batting order a little bit, but it didn’t really work. Can you remember the last time the Mets got a big hit?”
“Certainly before they had two guys named Alvarez in the lineup. Thanks for the question. Next caller, you’re on.”
“Hi, I’m a big Mets fan and I have to say I’m disappointed at how they didn’t hit Chris Bassitt.”
“Bassitt sure quieted the already quiet Met bats and disappointed more than a few Mets fans. Bassitt’s definitely done both before. Thanks for calling. We have another call.”
“How are the Mets supposed to win if they’re practically all gonna be in a slump at the same time?”
“That’s a great question with no easy answers. No doubt the front office and the dugout brain trust are working on concepts of a plan to get off the offensive schneid. Appreciate the call. You’re next.”
“Hey, the Braves won while the Mets lost, which means we’re tied for the last Wild Card spot again.”
“Thanks for the update. Next caller.”
“Hello. I was wondering if there was anything more to say about a lousy game and not so great outcome.”
“Nope. Thanks for calling. We’ll be right back.”
For Mets talk that’s likely to be a little more scintillating, join me at the Levittown Public Library Thursday afternoon at 3:30 for a discussion focused on the joys of baseball — rooting, writing and reading. More information is here.
I don’t usually talk to inanimate objects. But last night had me carrying on a one-sided conversation with my TV. Peterson having a bad game – bound to happen sometime, just hope it isn’t contagious. But batter after batter getting called out staring at a fastball over the middle of the plate? Last I knew you needed to swing the bat to get a hit.
Fortunately I’ll miss most of today’s game, may catch the end on the radio driving home.
Side note: Bassitt (who I wanted us to sign after 2022) and Ottavino should have a scowl-off. I think Bassitt wins but it would be competitive.
You mean, there was no call demanding that Carlos Mendoza get fired immediately, despite the recent nine game winning streak? Guess only Davey Johnson and Bobby V got calls like that. Mendy doesn’t know what he’s missing.
On a serious note, the Mets have definitely hit a pothole. Their last three games were ugly, including the win. Someone other than Lindor needs to step up (see: Bear, Polar).
As Mets fans, we know that a September “slump” can turn into a collapse real quick, so I hope they right the ship soon. Like today.
After the Senga game marked the end of the June-July hot streak, the Mets didn’t get right again until the Orioles series. They scuffled from July 26 to August 19, 22 games. Obviously, there’s less season left than that. In terms of character, I’m confident the Mets are still the same team that’s fallen down hard and stood back up more than once this year. I agree that they need to get back up quick this time just because there isn’t enough season left to scuffle like last time.
Looking back at 2022, it’s surprising to see the Mets’ September-October record was a respectable 18-13. Yet we rightfully remember the last month of the 2022 season as a collapse because it wasn’t about the W-L record. It was about the game to game division race with the Braves that they lost. The Mets, who started that September with a 3 game lead, could have made the game 157-159 Braves series meaningless. They could have won the Braves series. And they could have won just 1 game in Atlanta for the tie-breaker and a tie in the standings to position themselves to win the division versus the Nationals. Which is to say, again, a team can have a respectable W-L record like the 2022 Mets did and still collapse in a division or, in this case, wildcard race.
“ I hope they right the ship soon. Like today.”
Looks like someone got the memo.
Hi Greg,
I caught that ‘concepts of a plan’ reference. No debate about it.
Give that fan an Entenmann’s!
It’s not just Alonso of course, but he is the poster boy of the team-wide slump. His 11-pitch at-bat against Pop, who threw all fastballs, at least half of which Alonso should have hit hard, was the signature at-bat of the night. It showed off a hitter who’s out of sync.
Looking at Vientos’s game log, it’s like his walk-off home run flipped a switch. Strong hitting leading up to the HR, ice cold in the 4 games since the HR.
I was surprised Alvarez got the start at 2B. Reyes didn’t get a start. I guess a lefty hitter to platoon with Iglesias at 2B is that important to the Mets.
“Hey, the Braves won while the Mets lost…”
The Padres, Diamondbacks, and Cubs won, too. And the Phillies (so 8 back, not 7, with 17 to play). It was a bad loss that became a worse night scoreboard-watching.
The pattern of this season has been falling behind in the wildcard race, getting hot enough to catch up to the leaders, and then cooling down enough not to pull ahead. It’s a formula for hope and frustration. A 145 game tease.
The Mets offense has gone to sleep before, like the Mariners series, and climbed back. Hopefully, the Mets scratch out a win today and win the series, and the scoreboard gives good news. Timely off day tomorrow to reset their feet after coming down from the win streak. Then the 3-game series with the Phillies, which I’m optimistic about because, while the 2024 Mets play down, they also play up.
Through 145 games, the Mets offense has averaged 4.73 runs per game.
The Mets defense has averaged 4.35 runs per game.
Average margin of victory: 0.38 runs per game.
The Mets starting line-up today stands out for fielding a righty-heavy line-up versus a righty starter. Mendoza has favored righty-lefty match-ups. I wonder if the Mets are going with their best players everyday the rest of the way and ditching platoons as SOP. Or if it’s just a one-off because Francis has negligible platoon splits.
This latest Batters Brown-out seems to coincide with the McNeil injury. I hope he wasn’t more important to the lineup than he appeared to be from this fan’s point of view. I’d hate to think he’s the main reason the hitters have suddenly tanked.
First time caller, long time listener. “Concepts of a plan.” Well-played. Very well played.
Greg,
Thanks for the library talk this afternoon. Interesting 90 minutes.
Art