Centerfield

I like Lindor. As bad as he’s played he’s the least of the Mets problems. I believe he and Soto and Bichette will be good when all is said and done. I don’t think you can say that about anyone else in the lineup. The biggest side effect of losing is questioning what exactly is wrong with this organization. On the surface you can look at an entire lineup of underperforming guys and blame them. But when it’s a different year, with many different players, a completely different coaching staff, you have to wonder what is going on in this front office and why there is so much failure year after year.

Assad has been bad. Peterson and the Mets have been worse. i can’t believe I actually thought they would win today. I fully expect a loss to finish out this sweep.

and multiple long losing streaks in the past 100 games or so are indicative of some serious organizational failure.

Dammit. The Mets have had very few leads during this losing streak. But whenever they do, they give it back the immediate half inning after.

Would have liked to see Bichette not pop up the first pitch, but the ABs look better today.

I’m still not sure how Polanco managed to hurt himself while not playing but whatever. At least he can heal now. Injury risk was high with this signing.

There’s no point. Even if the Mets found some way to score enough runs we know that would be the game the bullpen blows. this team seems nowhere near good enough.

I think we finally win tomorrow.

There are some positives to take from this game. It was during work hours so I didn’t burn 3 hours of free time. didn’t have to stay up late. All good signs.

Ok. Back to work for me. That was miserable.

wtf with this stance from Bichette.

Yes

He did not sack up.

Huge inning for Senga. Time to sack up.

That works!

Gotta get a second run home here.

We’re never going to win another game.

I still think he turns it around. .775 OPS. 21 HR.

Gwreck asked me last night in the IGT. I didn't have much of an answer then, and I don't have much of one now. But I've given it some thought. My ideas. *Force Brett Baty to take 2 strikes in his next two ABs. Especially with Cabrera on the mound. It's a dumb way to hit, but he's chasing way too much. And maybe forcing his hand gets him going a bit. Alternatively, tell him to hit opposite field only. Again, a dumb way to hit, but it's not like it can trigger a slump. He's gotta see the ball better. Of all the guys struggling, at least with Baty you can identify a specific issue. *Bat Alvarez 2nd. Maybe he sees more strikes batting higher in the order. There's only a handful of guys hitting. Might as well bunch them. Lindor-Alvarez-Bichette to start the game. I don't like batting Robert high in the order. And he's falling back in the pack anyway. *WTF is Bichette doing with his crazy closed stance. It's like seeing Travis d'Arnaud again. Unless he's hurt, there's no reason to change things up. Go back to what worked for him. *IL Polanco immediately. It's crazy it hasn't happened already. Don't bring him back until he's healthy. He's shown he can't hit when he's hurt anyway. *Play Vientos every day. He hasn't produced. But he at least has upside. Might as well see what he can do with every day playing time while ppl are hurt. Also, importantly, tell him he's going to play every day. "Hey Mark, you're in the lineup every day until Soto comes back. Run with this chance." *Play Benge every day. Even against lefties. Again, upside. *Forget scoring runs, or winning games. That's what leads to innings like the 9th inning on Tuesday. Focus on reaching base. Everyone try to reach base 1 time today. Set attainable goals. See if that can relax a few guys. *Call up Morabito and see if he can spark them until Soto is ready. I mean, the biggest thing I'd do is look at my organization's hitting philosophy and consider if we're stressing the wrong things. Maybe hand over the analytics department to JD Martinez or Carlos Beltran. You have to think there has to be something to it if you change out the hitters and still get the same (actually worse) results. But of the tangible things, this list is what I'd try. My lineup. 1. Lindor SS 2. Alvarez C 3. Bichette 3B 4. Baty 2B 5. Vientos 1B 6. MJ Melendez DH 7. Robert CF 8. Benge RF 9. Nick Morabito LF Focus on reaching base. Creating traffic.

I read someplace that if they call up Mauricio again, then that's it. He's out of options. Could certainly affect that decision. Vidal Brujan has a .623 OPS in Syracuse. He had a .616 OPS across 3 teams last year. It's not great, but it's at least 100 points better than we're getting from Semien.

The Cubs pitchers for this series aren't all that scary. A good team should be able to score enough runs to win. Hopefully the Mets will start acting like a good team and turn it around. Sweep the Cubs here and it's a successful road trip. Take 2 of 3 and it's at least not a disaster.

There are four reliables on this team. Lindor, Soto, and Bichette you figure will be good. Semien you can assume will be bad. Everyone else is a question mark. Polanco, Baty, Alvarez, Vientos, Benge, Robert. All of them could have a .650 OPS or an .850 OPS or anywhere in between.

One of the intangibles of managing is figuring out how to get the most of the guys that are suiting up. In almost every MLB game, the team you field has a chance to win. Multiple long losing streaks suggest a manager that does not know how to stop the bleeding and rally his guys to get one win, take a breath, and play to their ability. For far too long, four months and counting, the Mets have played below their ability. I said in one of the game threads that it was a bad sign that the team just rolled over when they got down early. But then they fought back (I think this is the Saturday A’s game). But then the next day, when it was a close game, the bats went silent again. nothing is definitive, but this appears to me like a team that is pressing, and can only score when the pressure is lifted. Kinda like the 9th inning yesterday. A good manager, in my book, finds a way to left that pressure, even when the stakes are high.

I’m on record saying I think Mendy is not the right guy. problem is I’m so discouraged by what I’m seeing that I don’t think it will make a difference.

Btw. I love that Ronnie is doing the broadcast. He’s just a great analyst.