I was at the game yesterday and before we start ripping apart the team, at least the team has fight. The offense was playing miserable the entire night, and after the Mets let up the first run in relief in 8th, the game, I’ll admit, felt out of reach.
Especially when you take the Nationals bullpen into consideration. They had just enough opportunity to feel demoralized. Their amazing closer, and I do mean amazing, blew a two run save, with a go ahead run. The bullpen then allowed in the ahead run again in the following inning. That only happens because this team has fight and was able to storm back into the game.
But it has to be rough to be in the Mets bullpen at this point. They are in a tailspin. Every inning of relief last night they failed. Flat out did not do their job. Bullpens don’t need to be perfect, but they can’t give up the lead, especially twice in one game. At some point, you have to consider if this is mental because everyone has started to underperform.
If you look at the Mets batting roster, the lineup has over achieved at points this season. Meaning, they have scored a lot more runs than their BA’s and sometimes skills suggest (due to players like Rottino getting key hits, or Turner coming through in big spots). The bullpen has underachieved. Are Beato, Parnell, Brydak, Edgin, Batista really that bad? Well maybe a few of them but there is more talent in that pen that is being shown.
Trading for a reliever may be a necessary step, however it might be time to try again to switch things up. Mejia has a 4.22 ERA in 32.0 innings and has control problems, but how strong of a case can we make that he isn’t better than someone else in the pen? Or bring back Hefner, who seems to have figured it out again in Buffalo.
Basically an additional problem the Mets are faced with right now is that talent wise in the bullpen the players are not living up to their talents, but the Mets don’t have the pieces to get the next level talent they would need in the bullpen. Is it really worth the risk blowing up the 2013-2016 seasons for a sort of shot at the postseason now when the Mets still have the potential to do it now without a trade? I don’t know. I think it’s a tougher call than a lot Mets fans will give the GM credit for.
Finally there is Bay and Valdespin. Bay had an underwhelming night at the plate. I know it is first game back but at some point the experiment will have to end. The Mets will be faced with another move soon when Baxter gets activated, and thinking ahead to next year, wouldn’t it be worth it to get Valdespin a shot every day in the OF? Kirk is struggling, Hairston struggles against righties and Duda may be hurt. But more importantly, letting Valdespin start is NOT throwing in the towel for this year, rather letting him start gives the Mets a kick of attitude and energy they need at this moment in time.
Things are not good in Mets land, but things are not on fire yet either. It’s way too early to jump off this team when they still have a shot of pulling this off internally keeping them competitive for 2013 and beyond.
