Now that the diamond dust of Michael Conforto’s demotion, Jose Reyes’ resigning, Logan Verrett, Sean Gilmartin and Brandon Nimmo being recalled from Las Vegas has settled, it’s still much ado about nothing with the Mets starting line-up.
NY prospect Brandon Nimmo’s 0-4 major league debut was not one that dreams are made of, as he got a taste of the meal Conforto dined on during his roller-coaster stay in the “show.”
“I’m sure the first-game jitters were huge for him,” manager Terry Collins said. “We’ve got to get him calmed down because he’s going to a bigger series here in 24 hours.”
A day after Jacob deGrom had the dubious honor of pitching a gem of a no-decision without any input from his offense, Bartolo Colon got the same cold shoulders, as the Mets lost to the basement dwelling Braves 5-2.
Colon’s one run to Freddie Freeman was his only flaw, and it’s a shame that the 43 year old couldn’t cash in a win on an impressive seven-inning outing that was his for the taking. This was his first start since taking a line drive off his thumb and giving everyone a scare.
“At no point throughout the game did the thumb bother me, thank god,” Colon said through an interpreter. “I’m able to squeeze the ball without any issues.”
Colon has really ramped up his performance of late and owns a 1.80 ERA over his last seven starts.
Braves right-hander Bud Norris has made the best of his move from the bullpen back to the staring rotation where he is 2-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his last five starts. He raised Colon’s seven strong innings by not surrendering a single run, allowing 4 hits, striking out 8.
The Mets, rotating their batting order more than a team of volleyball players, are lucky that the team they are chasing are 1-7 in their last eight games. But believing they’re going to bank on the misfortune of Dusty Baker’s boys is a risky venture.
This same old same old silence in the batter’s box does not bode well with a three game series in our Nation’s capital, followed by four against the Cubs, three with the Marlins, and another plateful of the Nationals prior to the All Star break.
Noah Syndergaard takes the mound on Monday bringing triple digit heat along with a 2-0 record and 1.33 ERA in his last four career starts against the Nats.
