For the second time in a week, Terry Collins made a costly decision that may have lead to another loss. The Mets are at a time of year where they cannot afford to throw away any games.
In Monday’s 8-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, Collins opted to let Rafael Montero hit for himself in the second with two runners on base and two outs. The former prized pitching prospect was coming off a tough first inning where he allowed two runs while throwing 37-pitches and walking three batters.
Montero clearly did not have it Monday night. With the opportunity of men on base and a bullpen that consists of what seems a million pitchers, it was a good opportunity to pinch-hit for a player who should not have been starting this game in the first place. The manager of course though left him in and he would strikeout, stranding two baserunners.
In the third, Montero would allow homers to the opposing pitcher, Mat Latos as well as Anthony Rendon. The Mets were trailing by a score of 6-1 when Montero was finally pulled with two outs in the second for Gabriel Ynoa. Collins left Montero in, hoping for the best.
“I wanted to see if the other kid could settle down and pitch,” Collins said. “That was another part of it. That’s the decision we made.”
The decision that would completely take the team out of the game. Luckily for the Mets though both the Cardinals and Giants would lose their respective games. The Mets would stay ahead of St. Louis for the second Wild Card spot by a half game while only trailing San Francisco by a game and a half for the top spot.
As for Montero, Collins admits that his time in the rotation is done, maybe one start too soon. It is not yet known though who will replace him at this point.
“I don’t know who yet, but we’ll make a switch,” Collins said.
The Mets manager has had a rough week as just days prior he admitted to a mistake that cost the team a game in Atlanta. This past Saturday he declined to pinch-run for the not so speedy, Wilmer Flores. T.J. Rivera would single, giving the Mets an opportunity to tie the game but Flores would be gunned down at the plate, injuring his neck in the process. Flores has yet to play since the incident.
The Mets are at a time when mistakes cannot be made, not by the players or the manager.
