Sandy Alderson had a lot to say on Thursday before the Mets were defeated by the Dodgers 3-0 at Citi Field. It was the MLB-leading 11th shutout loss of the season for the Mets. Terry Collins on the other hand, was a man of few words.
You kind of had a sense it was going to be a rough night for the Mets as soon as they posted their lineup which had John Mayberry (.165 Avg.) batting cleanup and Eric Campbell (.176 Avg.) batting fifth. In fact you could say all Hell broke loose.
Andy Martino of the Daily News said one Mets player, after looking at the lineup card blurted, “he’s hitting one fucking seventy.” A reference to Mayberry.
The team was ripped on MLB Network, torn asunder by Keith Law and Buster Olney on ESPN, shredded on WFAN, and that was nothing compared to the rage from Mets fans on Twitter.
Then the Elias Sports Bureau tweeted that the Mets had just become the 2nd team since 1920 to start a No. 4 and No.5 hitter that had batting averages under .180.
Boom!
Reporters lined up like wolves on a kill waiting for Terry Collins to enter the media room, and before they could blurt out any questions, the meek and mousey manager says, “I am not embarrassed by tonight’s lineup.”
It was beginning to feel like the plot of an old Alfred Hitchcock thriller. All that was missing was the gorgeous dead blonde covered in red corn syrup.
Sandy Alderson wasn’t embarrassed either. In fact he told Kevin Kernan of The Post to look past Campbell’s batting average and consider his “peripheral data.” And as for Mayberry, “you have to play your bench players.”
After that, reporters say Alderson got real agitated, snapping back at each question. But Kernan, the veteran in the group, kept pressing.
Asked if ownership had given him permission to make a trade and bring on a major contract, Alderson answered, “I’ve said before that we have the ability to take on money.”
Pressed for a rough estimate, Alderson bristled and said, “C’mon.”
Can you take on a major contract?
“I think the answer to that is yes. OK, now none of you will believe me. So I’m not sure why you asked the question and insisted on the answer.”
The questions kept coming, why aren’t you doing anything?
“We’re cognizant of our strengths and our weaknesses. We are looking hard to improve those weaknesses. But we’re realistic too.”
“It doesn’t mean we are not going to do anything, it doesn’t mean we are not trying to make a deal. We are certainly aware of the team we have and the imbalance we have now with pitching and offense.”
What exactly are you looking for? What with all the leaks and rumors, do you have an actual plan?
“We’re not just looking at rentals. It could be a role player it could be somebody more significant.”
When Sandy was asked if would it be an unsuccessful deadline if the Mets did not make a trade, he responded:
“Not as long as we’ve worked as hard as I think we need to and have worked the process as hard as we possibly can.”
In other words, if nothing transpires, give the Maverick an “A” for effort.
Meanwhile, after the team managed just three singles and no walks against Clayton Kershaw, the game finally came to a merciful end.
Seconds later, a ghostly shadow of an eerie figure could be seen, creeping ever so slowly out of the dugout and through the darkened tunnel. Step by step the shadowy presence made its way to the podium at the front of the room…
Good God, it was a battered and beaten Terry Collins. He just stood there at first, gazing at all the reporters in front of him with a faraway look in his eyes. But then in a state of profound resignation, the Met manager who had been so full of life only hours earlier, broke the silence and quietly uttered three words… “We were overmatched.”
Come on, Terry… It wasn’t all that bad… Look at the bright side, buddy… You just need to focus on all the “peripheral data.”
