The Mets dropped two of three to the Marlins this week in Miami, losing the rubber game 7-3 on Wednesday night. They’ve lost two rubber games in a row – both on this road trip – and went 2-4 on their six-game road trip.
The Mets are now 1-2 in rubber games this year after going 11-8 in such games last year.
Here’s a look at the series statistically:
- The Mets only scored nine runs on 22 hits in the three games against the Marlins while drawing ten walks.
- They stranded 21 men on-base while going only 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position.
- On Monday and Wednesday, the Mets had only nine chances combined with runners in scoring position.
- The Mets recorded only six extra-base hits in the three games, two of which were home runs.
- Two of their nine runs in the series were driven in with two outs.
- Six of their nine runs scored came in the seventh inning or later.
- Daniel Murphy had a strong series – he went 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBI – the home run drove in the tying and winning runs on Monday night.
- Curtis Granderson saw 51 pitches in the three-game series – he went 3-for-11 with two runs scored, two walks and only one strikeout.
- Lucas Duda reached base six times in the three games – he went 2-for-9 with four walks and two runs scored.
- Mets starting pitching was victimized by poor defense in the final two games of the series, but ultimately pitched to a 3.60 ERA and averaged 6 2/3 innings per start. They only walked one batter in 20 innings.
- The bullpen was uneven in this series – they had a 7.20 ERA (four earned runs in five innings) against Miami.
- Mets pitching combined for only 14 strikeouts in 25 innings in the three games.
- Giancarlo Stanton went 4-for-12 with a home run and four RBI in the three games against the Mets.
The offense stayed behind in New York.
The Mets really didn’t hit in this series. They got one big hit from Murphy on Monday night, one big hit by Lagares on Tuesday night, and an early two-run home run from Michael Cuddyer on Wednesday, and that was basically it for the scoring this week. They didn’t get very many runners in scoring position to begin with, but when they did, they didn’t capitalize on those opportunities.
Cuddyer’s bat was non-existent for the better part of a week until last night, and they didn’t get much production out of Duda during this series (they went 4-for-17 with a home run and two RBI combined in the three games). Without David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud, it’s going to be difficult for this club to score runs if those two bats aren’t producing, and it showed in this series.
Too many mistakes.
Unfortunately, the physical mistakes – specifically the ones taking place up the middle – are expected with this team. But, it seems every single time there’s either a physical mistake or a mental mistake up the middle, the Mets get burned. Their inability to turn a double play in the first inning on Wednesday cost them two runs (and changed the complexion of the game early). An error by Granderson on Tuesday and a failed bunt attempt by Tejada cost the Mets big time in that game as well.
When the Mets were rolling on their homestand, these things just didn’t happen, and they were winning as a result.
The problems on the middle infield were specifically troubling on the road trip in particular. Yes, both Murphy and Wilmer Flores are offense-oriented players, but with the number of mistakes taking place and how much its costing the club in the early part of the year, it’s difficult for either to outhit what has transpired to date.
Some bad luck.
Despite the Mets beating themselves in two of these games, they were also quite unlucky, specifically in the rubber game of this series. The numbers don’t show it, but they did hit the ball hard on several occasions on Wednesday, and were robbed on some quality outfield defense by Marcel Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton in particular. It happens, but the Mets were unable to overcome the bad luck thanks to their sloppy play.
Why pitch to Giancarlo Stanton?
On Wednesday, Terry Collins said they can’t not pitch to Stanton in every single plate appearance. He was concerned about creating big innings if they put him on frequently.
I get it, especially early in games, but they didn’t walk Stanton once, nor did they walk him intentionally in the three games.
There was one instance on Wednesday putting him on might have been beneficial. With the Mets leading 3-2 with two outs in the fifth, the Mets decided to go after Stanton. The Mets were shifted around to the left against Stanton, and he rolled one to the right side where Murphy would normally be positioned. Instead, it was a hit, and the Marlins tied the game.
It can be argued the shift plagued the Mets in that situation, but they were only shifted because they pitched to Stanton. With all due respect to Marcel Ozuna, it’s a safer bet to go after him with the tying run at third and two outs in the inning.
Just Mets 