It’s an oversimplification to think Chris Young made one mistake last night when he grooved a fastball Raul Ibanez drilled for a game-tying, three-run homer.
His biggest mistake that inning was the leadoff walk to Mark Teixeira. Young was already nearing 100 pitches when the inning began. I was surprised he went out, but understood it followed with Terry Collins’ loyalty to his starters.
I never would have let him pitch to Nick Swisher, was given a gift double when Lucas Duda butchered the sinking fly ball.
Then after Ibanez there was the sense the Mets let it get away.
Yes, Collins went too long with Young. Maybe his decision was based on loyalty, or perhaps it was made because he didn’t have confidence in his bullpen. That could have been a spot for Tim Byrdak, but then again Collins might have been thinking he would save Byrdak for later.
It’s only one game, but it stung because it was right there for the taking. We can dissect the seventh inning a dozen was, but the Mets had opportunities earlier to blow the game open against Ivan Nova.
They had their chances later, too.
What they didn’t have was a shutdown lefty reliever like Boone Logan who toyed with Duda and Daniel Murphy.
The Mets will be buyers at the trade deadline, and bullpen help should be at the top of their list.
Thoughts from Joe D.
Yes, bullpen help at the trade deadline, or maybe just give Justin Hampson a shot before we start trading away pieces. But also just as important is the addition of a proven and solid right handed bat so we don’t have to send Duda and Murphy up against a tough lefty late in the game and down by a run. Having a right-handed power bat that we can pair with Duda and Nieuwenhuis would be a significant upgrade. Hairston should start against all southpaws from here on in. We need more than just David Wright from the right-side in the lineup, even if Jason Bay does return from the DL.
