3 UP
1. Some Players Have Pride
Believe it or not, there were some Mets players who had some professional pride, and they did what they were supposed to do.
Chief among them was Noah Syndergaard who allowed two earned over seven innings. The bullpen also performed quite well giving the Mets offense every chance it could to allow the team to beat a horrid Marlins team.
Past that, there were individual highlights here and there, but those were all on Friday, and much of what good was done then was undone by Sunday.
2. McNeil Played
Given his injury history in the minors and the nature of abdominal injuries, it was a great sign Jeff McNeil was able to play in all three games of this series including starting the last two. As bad as things are now, there’s no telling just how bad things would be without him.
3. Gary and Howie
One thing that separates the Mets broadcasts from other teams is the Mets main play-by-play announcers are fans just like us. This weekend, we heard anger from Gary Cohen and Howie Rose.
While the play on the field was terrible, the Mets announcers were on point. As fans, we are very lucky to have them, especially in times like these.
3 DOWN
1. Misdirected Anger
The guillotine seems to be lowering on Mickey Callaway. With each passing day a fan base and media out for blood call out and await his firing.
If you want Callaway fired, fine. There are plenty of reasons why you could justify it. Just know John McGraw wasn’t winning with this team.
The Mets opened the season with just four Major League caliber starters and just two everyday outfielders. When every team is getting younger, they purposefully built around older players. They threw away prospects instead of spending money.
This team is the result of in an over his head General Manager and owners pinching pennies so hard Abraham Lincoln has suffered a concussion. They hired a hitting coach run out of town in successive years because his approach does not work. Want to blame someone, blame that incompetent group first.
Of course, as Mike Puma of the NY Post said, they’re gunning for Callaway first.
2. Robbie Cano, Why Don’t You Go?
Robinson Cano must be taking a dangerous amount of Imodium because there is no way he is going to run. Doesn’t matter the game situation or how much the team needs a win, he’s not running.
Of course, this is who Cano always has been. The difference between now and then is Cano was performing like a Hall of Famer on both sides of the call. This version evokes memories of Roberto Alomar and Carlos Baerga.
To make matters worse, he’s blatantly lying about why he’s doing what he’s doing, and he’s ducked the media.
On a completely unrelated note, Jarred Kelenic and Jarred Kelenic were two of the biggest risers on MLB Pipeline‘s updated Top 100 prospects rankings.
3. Running Out Of Scapegoats
After designating Keon Broxton for assignment, Brodie Van Wagenen talked about how the team has not lowered their expectations and how they’re going to hold themselves accountable to win games.
So far, the team has held a backup catcher and fifth outfielder accountable for the team failing to live up to expectations. They’re leaving the manager twisting in the wind.
That’s not even moving the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s more akin to cleaning up a spilled drink on the Hindenburg.
No one is being held accountable. Certainly not Cano, whose name is being put in the lineup by the front office. Certainly not Jason Vargas who is averaging under four innings per start. None of Van Wagenen’s former clients are being held accountable.
It’s not just his former clients, no one of any significance os being held accountable for what was been unacceptable play from an under-performing team. If that doesn’t change, and we keep getting offered scapegoats, 1992 will be a blip on the radar compared to this season.
