3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Offense Slow Out Of Break

3 UP

Starting Pitching Dominance

We knew the New York Mets starting pitching was going to be great, but no one could expect it to be this great.

In this series, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and Carlos Carrasco combined to only allow four runs over 18 innings (2.00 ERA) while racking up 20 strikeouts.

What speaks volumes about this staff is this can actually be considered a down series. In fact, since Scherzer returned from the IL, Mets starters lead the majors with a 1.70 ERA and 114 strikeouts. Keep in mind, this is even before Jacob deGrom returns.

Polar Bear Rampage

Maybe it was his not winning the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career, but Pete Alonso came out of the break a man on a mission. He single-handedly carried the Mets offense.

Overall, Alonso was 6-for-10 with two doubles, a homer, and four RBI. That homer was a huge and much needed hit as it gave the Mets their first lead in the entire series. That homer also sparked a huge and much needed Mets rally.

Vogelbach Arrives

Maybe it is just coincidence the Mets offense took off in Daniel Vogelbach‘s first game with the team. In the game, he was 1-for-3 drawing a walk. He’d lumber around the bases and score on the Luis Guillorme RBI single.

Vogelbach is a shot in the arm for a Mets offense who has been stagnant and flailing for well over a month now. Hopefully, he provides a spark. More than that, hopefully, he is the first of a series of moves designed to improve this Mets roster.

3 DOWN

What the Buck

Somehow, someway, Buck Showalter thought Tomas Nido with a twice injured hand was a better option at the plate than Jeff McNeil with the game on the line. There are many ways this is completely absurd including how McNeil has a 109 wRC+ against left-handed pitching which is a massive upgrade over Nido’s 55.

This was Terry Collins not knowing Brandon Nimmo was faster than Jay Bruce. Worse yet, this might’ve just been Buck.

Showalter’s teams haven’t won in the postseason, and in those series, Showalter has made impossibly bad decisions which helped cost his teams lose those series. Jack McDowell to pitch the 11th. Bobby Chouinard over Matt Mantei to pitch to Rickey Henderson and Edgardo Alfonzo. Using everyone in the bullpen except Zack Britton.

Maybe this is making too much of the situation, but this has been an issue with Showalter throughout his career, and in a criticial moment, he completely and utterly failed to make the obvious and much needed move. Hopefully, this is not a conversation we are having in October.

No Bridge

Speaking purely in terms of value, Colin Holderman might’ve been a light price to pay for Vogelbach. Ultimately, the problem with the deal wasn’t the return but what did to the Mets bullpen.

Holderman has been a very pleasant surprise, and he was working his way toward high leverage work. Now, the Mets are back to the drawing board, and they have fewer arms to try to bridge the gap to Edwin Diaz.

Above, it was noted Mets starters have a 3.12 ERA. That’s actually not bad and ranks eighth in the majors. However, that includes seven scoreless innings from Diaz and 5 1/3 innings with no earned runs from Holderman.

When you take that out of the equation, the Mets set-up reliever ERA over this stretch was 4.08, which would rank 20th in the majors. Simply put, that’s not a good middle relief situation.

Think about it. Right now, you probably only trust Adam Ottavino. Maybe you can trust Trevor Williams, but he’s never put in a high leverage role. All told, the Mets made a move which arguably weakened their team giving Billy Eppler a lot to do over the next week.

Offense Disappearing

Since June 1, the Mets offense has a 99 wRC+, and they have scored only 181 runs. Remember, this is from a Mets team who had the best offense in the majors. A key reason for the drop is the lack of power outside Alonso. In fact, the Mets only have 93 homers.

It is really what is holding the team back right now. Since Scherzer’s return, the Mets are getting absolutely dominant starting pitching, and yet the team is only 9-7 over that stretch.

That’s right, no one can score against Mets starters, and someone this team is only two games over .500 during this stretch. It is completely unacceptable, and it’s reminiscent of the 2015 Mets who had John Mayberry Jr. and Eric Campbell in the middle of the lineup. The problem here is the Mets have their starters in the lineup.

Again, Eppler has a lot to do at the trading deadline.