Q & Ache

Hey lookie here it is Free Monday. Usually in this space I bring up the fact that you can get a paid subscription to this newsletter and get it seven days a week, but I’m not going to do that this time. Of course, if you want to…

The Colorado Rockies limited the Mets to one run. In a doubleheader. The Rockies did. 

The Mets wasted a Nolan McLean start yet again in Game 1. It looked like McLean would finally get some run support right away. Bo Bichette led off the bottom of the first by drawing a walk. After Juan Soto struck out looking(!), Luis Robert Jr. walked as well. Mark Vientos hit a pop fly that landed in front of the center fielder to load the bases with one out. But old chum Jose “Q” Quintana struck out Marcus Semien, and then he caught Brett Baty looking at a sinker after the Rockies made a successful ABS challenge on it. 

McLean got into trouble in the fourth, which is a little early for him. After back-to-back singles, McLean walked TJ Rumfield to load the bases with nobody out. After a mound visit by the pitching coach Justin Willard, Troy Johnston singled home Edouard Julien, but then McLean fanned Kyle Karros, and then coaxed Brett Sullivan into grounding into a beautiful 1-2-3 double play to get out of the frame with limited damage.

After that tumultuous first, Q, who came into the day with a 6.23 ERA, sliced and diced the Mets, retiring 11 batters in a row before Tyrone Taylor hit a home run to lead off the fifth. It was the seventh time this season that the Mets were retired at least 10 times in a row in a game. And then they did it for an eighth time after the Taylor homer, not getting a baserunner until one out in the bottom of the eighth. We’ll get to that in a second.

McLean’s bugaboo is the third time through the order, and yesterday was no different. Julien hit a double to the left center gap to begin the sixth. Mickey Moniak walked in a nine-pitch at-bat. Then Rumfield hit a hot shot right at the first baseman Mark Vientos, who tried to start a 3-6-1 double play but instead pegged Moniak in the back, loading the bases with nobody out again. Huascar Brazobán entered and immediately got a 6-6-3 double play out of Johnston, which put the Rockies back on top 2-1 before Kyle Karros grounded out to short. Usually, you’d feel really good if you just give up one measly run after your opponent has the bases loaded with nobody out. But lately with the Mets, it’s backbreaking to even give up that skinny little run.

The Rockies tacked on another run in the seventh anyway, thanks to a Sullivan double and Jake McCarthy single off of Brazobán. 

The Mets rallied in the eighth against Jaden Hill. With one out, Francisco Alvarez singled to left center, making him now 1 for 29 lifetime as a pinch hitter in the big leagues. Bichette had a hard-hit single after Alvy. Hill pitched around Soto, walking him to load the bases. Robert popped it up to the first baseman in foul territory, and then Vientos struck out swinging at a slider. And the ninth was once again a 1-2-3 affair. 

In Game 2, Kodai Senga bounced back! In the first inning. In the second, he plunked Tyler Freeman before walking Rumfield. Karros beat the rap at first on a potential double play ball, setting up a Johnston RBI single. The third inning was much worse. Julien singled in front of a Hunter Goodman two-run homer to right center, giving the Rockies the 3-0 lead they would not relinquish. 

To the credit of Carl Edwards Jr., Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, and Devin Williams, the Rockies did not score again. 

Of course, that didn’t matter, because the Mets didn’t score at all against Chase Dollander and two relievers. They had a runner in scoring position in the first thanks to a Soto single and a passed ball, but couldn’t bring him home. Back-to-back singles by Carson Benge and Ronny Mauricio in the fifth brought some faint hope to the small audience at Citi Field before Taylor lined into a double play and Bichette grounded out to short. They didn’t get into a RISP scenario again until the bottom of the ninth. Against Zach Agnos, MJ Melendez doubled off the wall in left with one out. But Marcus Semien popped it up to the first baseman, and Benge flew out to left to end the ballgame. 

The Mets are 9-19. Something has to change, and fast.

I don’t believe that David Stearns will break character and fire Carlos Mendoza (although Steve Cohen certainly could.) That hasn’t stopped a lot of the media from wildly speculating on social media that this doubleheader loss and Rockies sweep might and should be the final straw for Mendy. Chelsea Janes was a notable exception. In a Twitter thread, Janes pointed out, correctly I believe, that Mendoza isn’t to blame for the Mets’ troubles, so instead the Mets should make a trade for a bat as soon as possible, even though it will cost them some precious prospects. I just don’t see Stearns doing that. He’s just not that proactive.

Do I think the Mets should fire Mendoza? I think firing the manager when it’s not the manager’s fault the team isn’t hitting much at all shows a lack of imagination. But guess what - I apparently have a lack of imagination, so I can’t think of any other drastic measure the Mets can do at this point. Janes’ idea would bite the Mets in the bud in the future to try to save what’s possibly a lost season, so I’m against it. You can’t fire the hitting coaches because they just got here. There’s nobody in Triple-A that you can plug and play for a spark. (A.J. Ewing might be capable, but he’s currently in Double-A.) So I guess my answer is yes, I think they should give him the pink slip. I’ll feel bad about it - Mendy seems like a mensch. But it’s the Mets at stake.

Anthony DiComo asked Mendoza if he has gotten assurances from the front office or ownership about his job. Mendy said “no”. Dun dun dun. 

FWIW, Juan Soto said the Mets’ terrible start isn’t Stearns or Mendoza’s fault.

After the doubleheader, Tommy Pham was designated for assignment. Pham went 0 for 13 as a Met this time around. I can’t wait to hear his thoughts on the current clubhouse.

Will Sammon tweeted that the Mets are in agreement on a deal with outfielder Austin Slater. Slater is certainly a guy, I guess. He hit .174 in 28 plate appearances for the Marlins this season before he was put on waivers a few days ago. He cleared waivers and opted to become a free agent. Not exactly the most inspiring signing in the world. 

When asked what’s next for Kodai Senga, Mendoza said he has to talk to Stearns and company. I wouldn’t be surprised if we just saw Senga’s last start as a Met. 

Jorge Polanco did some “baseball activities” yesterday. When asked if the Achilles bursitis or the wrist is bothering him right now, Mendoza said “A little bit of both.” Heavens to Betsy. 

This time, when Huascar Brazobán came back out to pitch, nobody also emerged from the bullpen.

Juan Soto has reached base safely in all 13 games he's played in this season. It's the longest on-base streak of his career to start a season. He’s definitely going to get walked at least once a game all season.

Soto is somehow 0 for 2 in ABS challenges so far this season.

Bo Bichette stayed in the dugout for a long time after Game 2 was over. I wrote, “At least he cares.” Twitter pointed out he makes a ton of money and he shouldn’t get sympathy. BlueSky suggested maybe someone glued his butt to the bench as part of a new guy hazing. I think that sums up those two social media websites pretty well.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets lost to the Worcester Red Sox 6-2. RHP Jonah Tong was charged with the loss. In four and two thirds innings he gave up three earned runs on five hits. He walked three and pinched out six. A three-run homer by Nate Eaton did him in. RHP Jonathan Pintaro followed Tong and also allowed three earned runs, in his case in just two innings of work. 3B Yonny Hernández went 2 for 4 with a run scored. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies split a doubleheader with the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers affiliate). They lost Game 1 5-1. LHP Jonathan Santucci got the loss after he permitted four earned runs in five and a third innings. The Ponies won Game 2 by a score of 5-2. DH A.J. Ewing went 2 for 3 with a triple, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. 2B Marco Vargas went 3 for 3 with a triple, a double, two runs scored, three RBI, and a walk, AND a stolen base. RHP Douglas Orellana ended up with the dub for tossing a scoreless inning while striking out two. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones also split their doubleheader, beating the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) in Game 1 6-2 while losing 7-2 in the nightcap. SS Mitch Voit went 1 for 3 with a home run, a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base in Game 1. DH Ronald Hernandez and 2B Colin Houck both went 2 for 4 with a double and a stolen bag. RHP Channing Austin got the start and threw four and one third scoreless frames, allowing just two hits while walking and striking out three. His ERA sits at 1.62. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets lambasted the Palm Beach Cardinals 12-2. 3B Randy Guzman went 3 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI. SS Branny De Oleo went 3 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases. RHP Emilio Obispo allowed just one earned run on two hits in four innings for the win. He walked one and struck out four.

Today is a day off before a three-game set with the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.