Rain When I Die

Happy Thursday, I guess. You know what? Yes. Happy. We shouldn’t let the Mets control our emotions, especially in May and when it puts us in a bad mood. In any case, a paid subscription gets you The Mets Newsletter every single day including weekends. Treat yourself!

On a dreary, rainy afternoon in front of a small crowd, the Mets lost to a team that was 17-38 going into the day. White Sox 9, Mets 4. 

I don’t know what ‘it’ is, but Griffin Canning did not have it. Maybe it was because the game was moved from the evening to one in the afternoon at the last minute, I don’t know. The Mets have been a playoff team so far this season because of their tremendous pitching, so it was a bit of a shock to see Canning labor through just three innings. 

In the top of the first with one out, Canning walked Mike Tauchman, then permitted a Miguel Vargas double to left (Vargas had a great series.) Andrew Benintendi singled both runners home to make it 2-0 Chicago (AL).  The second inning started with back-to-back errors by Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil. It looked like Canning would work his way out of the jam his infield put him in when he struck out Michael A. Taylor and coaxed Chase Meidroth to fly out to center. But Tauchman doubled to right, scoring two more runs. The third inning netted the White Sox another run. Lenyn Sosa doubled and later scored on a Josh Rojas ground out. 

The Mets got on the board in the bottom half to make it seem like this could be a competitive game for a little bit. Brandon Nimmo, who is doing great hitting second, and Juan Soto both walked against Shane Smith (Soto even Soto Shuffled twice during the plate appearance). After Pete Alonso struck out looking at a fastball, Baty beat out a potential double play ball to keep the inning going. With two strikes, Mark Vientos hit a three-run oppo taco to make it 5-3 White Sox. 

Brandon Waddell came in to essentially eat as many innings as possible to save the Mets bullpen and have everybody (but Waddell) completely fresh for Friday. Carlos Mendoza basically punted the game. Had the Mets come back to tie it I’m sure he would have used the ‘pen to try and win the game, but since they didn’t, and the White Sox lead grew and grew, he saw an opportunity to put the Mets in a better position to win during their next 10 games without a day off. Waddell did okay at first - he even threw a 1-2-3 fifth. The trouble began when he faced the White Sox hitters for a second time. After throwing 94 pitches in five innings, Mendoza put him out of his misery and tabbed Ryne Stanek to pitch the ninth. 

The Mets were stymied by Mike Vasil, a former Met farmhand who was plucked away in the Rule 5 draft by the Rays, then picked up off waivers by the White Sox, and so far has been kicking ass. Vasil’s velocity was up by four miles per hour in his first inning of work, just to give you an idea as to whether this appearance was a big deal to him or not. He ended up pitching three innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. He fanned five. 

The Mets added a garbage time run in the bottom of the ninth - Pete Alonso doubled off of Bryse Wilson. Vientos struck out to end it.

Like the game exactly two weeks ago yesterday, the Mets lost to a much weaker opponent, in the rain, to lose the third game of a series. It happens to every team. It doesn’t make it any less frustrating to watch. 

Soto was booed multiple times, and it was clearly audible on TV because of the lack of people in the stands. He had an 0 for 4 day with a walk and a strikeout and didn’t get the ball in the air once. I saw someone refer to the booing as “counterproductive.” I would agree with that sentiment. It’s not like he’ll try harder now that he got some negative feedback. I know he’s hitting .224, but I’m not angry. Just disappointed. 

David Ortiz, on Soto:  "He's a great player who, at the end of the season, will have the numbers he consistently has. The problem is ... they're expecting him to be Barry Bonds. He's never been that."

Baty made a nice play to save a run. The batted ball had an expected batting average of .640.

Mike Vasil seemingly spoke well of the Mets before he kicked their ass. He told the New York Post, “I think for me, for them being such a big organization, obviously, and being in New York, how personal they can make things for you and how you get to know everyone, I think is a really, really cool thing.” 

Brandon Nimmo blamed the crowd for his baserunning blunder the other night. Apparently they mostly groaned when Michael A. Taylor didn’t catch Soto’s hit that ended up not being a hit. 

Scott Havens stepped down as president of business operations for the Mets. He had been in that position since November 2023. Steve Cohen said in part, “While we ultimately had differing perspectives on long-term strategy, I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.” Hmm…

Vientos has been practicing extra hard at third base. He DH’d yesterday. According to Anthony DiComo, he’s “not in imminent danger of losing playing time.”

Swaggy V was asked about the team’s RISP struggles. "If this is us struggling, and we're winning games, imagine when we're not, “he said.” I don't think the whole season is going to be like this." Probably not, but the elite pitching still be there by the time things change offensively?

Sean Manaea (oblique strain) is scheduled to throw 20-25 pitches of live batting practice today against Jose Siri (fractured tibia) and some Brooklyn Cyclone players. Frankie Montas (lat) will start for the Cyclones today for 30-35 pitches.

Some Mets went through packs of Topps baseball cards. It must be weird to be a major leaguer and find a card of yourself in a random pack. Or it’s totally normal for them. No inbetween. 

Tim Britton investigated how Mets pitching has limited extra base hits so successfully. It comes down to them doing their homework, making their intended pitches, good outfield defense, and some home cooking.

Jared Young continues to be a cool story. I just hope he isn’t the next Nick Plummer.

The man Young replaced on the 26-man roster, José Azocar, elected free agency instead of reporting to Triple-A Syracuse.

Jose Buttó wants to join Team Venezuela for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He’s eligible to play for Team Italy too.

It seems like once a week Steve Cohen gets good news regarding his attempt to build a casino next to Citi Field. This time the New York state senate voted to allow development in the Citi Field parking lot (it’s controlled by the state.)

Whoops: Citi Field displayed the New York primary date as June 23rd during four games, when in fact it’s on the 24th. I forgive them. I don’t blame them wanting to speed up the process. I’m so sick of the political ads already (with the exception of the one where Scott Stringer says “schmuck.”)

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets swept a doubleheader against the Iowa Cubs. In Game 1 the SMets won 3-2. Hayden Senger went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Ronny Mauricio was 2 for 3 with two runs scored with a stolen base to his credit. In his final rehab start, Paul Blackburn (knee) was really good: he threw six and one third innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. He walked two and fanned four ICubs. 54 of his 84 pitches were strikes. He’s more than ready. Game 2 was a 4-2 victory. Donovan Walton clubbed a two-run go-ahead dinger in the sixth. Nolan McLean ended up throwing five and one third innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs (just like Blackburn). He walked two and struck out five. 50 of his 76 pitches were strikes.

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Chesapeake Baysox (Orioles affiliate) were rained out. They’ll try to play two today. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones beat the Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles) 6-4. Chris Suero went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Cristofer Gomez pitched well for Brooklyn: 3 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 6 K. Mr. 104.5 mph himself, Raimon Gomez (no relation to Cristofer I believe) threw two hitless innings for the save. He walked one and struck out two.

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets defeated the Palm Beach Cardinals 7-2. Colin Houck had a day. He went 2 for 4 with two home runs, two runs scored, three RBI and a strikeout. Estarlin Escalante was credited with the win. He allowed one earned run and two hits in two innings while striking out four. 

Day off for the Mets. The Brooklyn Cyclones game tonight is on SNY, but I’m guessing most of you are more interested in the basketball game.