An Austin Jackson double got the Mets on the board against Jake Arrieta in the first, but after that the scorching hot Wheeler and talented Arrieta settled down…until the fifth.

The visiting Mets put up a three-spot thanks to an Amed Rosario sacrifice fly and 2-RBI single that scored Wheeler and one of the best hitters in all of baseball in the last month, Jeff McNeil.

Unfortunately for Wheeler, he totally lost command in the fifth inning and hit two batters before allowing a three-run triple to the weak-hitting J.P. Crawford, which was followed by a sacrifice fly to even up the game at four apiece.

But thankfully for New York, Conforto, an integral part of the Mets’ future, delivered again socking a double to take the lead in the seventh inning.

Wheeler, who had settled down immediately, then proceeded to pitch as he did the first four innings and put himself in position for his 12th victory of the season, which he eventually earned.

After Robert Gsellman hurled a scoreless eighth, the man of the night, Conforto, demolished Austin Davis with a three-run homer to cap the game off in exciting fashion. Of course, no inning would be complete without mentioning the fact that McNeil had prolonged the inning with his third hit of the game and eventually scored on Conforto’s blast.

Though Wheeler wavered in the fifth, his ability to settle down is what has impressed many throughout this second half. The comeback player of the second half allowed just three hits and three walks in seven innings of four-run ball. Regardless of the difficult frame, it was a productive outing for Wheeler.

Over the recent weeks, there have been some promising wins for the Mets and this was certainly one of them.

FINAL
NYM – 9
PHI – 4

Photo credit: Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports

One start removed from being the only offensive contributor in a game where he pitched eight innings of one-run, 10-strikeout ball, the should-be Cy Young and his orange and blue counterparts were back to their old ways.

deGrom promptly surrendered a solo home run to former Met Justin Turner in the bottom of the first. Of course, though, New York’s ace settled down in typical fashion and proceeded to totally blank hitters the rest of the game with his seemingly unhittable fastball and filthy slider.

This was business as usual for deGrom. The ability to mix in his changeup with his primary pitches along with a uniquely cerebral approach and forward motion to the plate predictably dominated a lost Dodger lineup.

But like I said, this was close to being another unfair joke. deGrom found himself with no run support for the infinity-th game this season and yet again took matters into his own hands with the bat. Alex Wood was on top of Mickey Callaway’s squad, allowing one run over five innings. That one run, however, was thanks to a deGrom single. Deja vu… kind of.

Things were looking unsettling for the Mets as they could not execute on their seventh inning bases-loaded chance. But like so many other times this season, Brandon Nimmo saved the day.

In the ninth, after Jay Bruce doubled to right and Jeff McNeil was hit by pitch from a shaky Kenta Maeda, Nimmo uncorked a pinch-hit three-run homer which would eventually be the obvious difference-maker in another almost Metsy loss.

And MLB record alert: Last night was the 25th consecutive start Jacob deGrom has allowed three runs or fewer.

What is truly incredible about all of this is that deGrom still holds an unfathomable 8-8 record with an MLB-leading 1.68 ERA and eye-popping 0.98 WHIP. His season is the best argument people have against the importance of pitcher wins. What more can a starting pitcher do to help his team secure a victory night in and night out?

—

P.S. I, along with everybody else, would like to see Brandon Nimmo starting every single day.

P.P.S. Why was Jeff McNeil batting eighth? Entering last night’s whirlwind of a game, McNeil was hitting .346 against lefties.

Photo credit: David Mackson – USA Today Sports

—

RHP Briam Campusano

Alex Rosen: Campusano is listed at 6’2,” 174 pounds, but looked to be at least an inch or two shorter out on the mound. He’s a two-pitch pitcher at this point in his career, relying heavily on a fastball/slider combo that has just enough velocity to overwhelm short-season hitters. The fastball sat 90-93 for the entirety of the outing, though it did touch 94 once. It’s got some arm-side run, but ultimately plays half a grade down due to the arm action. His slider sat consistently in the 84-86 mph range and was his go-to two-strike offering.

While the delivery isn’t necessarily bad, the arm action, uh, is. It’s a violent, unnatural motion that, in combination with his stuff, is going to force a move to the bullpen in the future. Speaking of stuff, the Mets are trying to work with Campusano on developing two additional offerings, a curveball and a change. If Wednesday night was any indication though, he still has a ways to go in that department.

Tyler Oringer: Fastball sat at 90-93 mph – topping out at 94 – with noticeable, yet unimpressive arm-side run and was used as his first pitch in most at-bats. Campusano could not locate his fastball, his primary pitch, at all inside the strike zone to righties or lefties and eventually hit a batter in his last inning of work in the fourth.

The right-hander was primarily using a fastball-slider combination, attempting to mix in a curveball and changeup in deeper counts. There was minor break and movement on any breaking pitches to begin with, but by the fourth inning Campusano was hanging pitches in the zone if they weren’t for balls. He is very quick and sudden to the plate out of the stretch and projects as a reliever rather than his starting role in Brooklyn.

LHP Kevin Smith

TO: Smith’s fastball sat at 87-90 mph Wednesday night and had a bit of sink to it. He predominantly worked away to both left- and right-handed bats, but was far more comfortable pitching to lefties and already has nasty movement on his slider, which was clocked in at 80-83 mph.

The Mets’ 2018 seventh-round selection, who boasts a 0.76 ERA and WHIP after Wednesday’s one-inning outing where he struck out two and walked one, could be more than just a LOOGY. Smith throws out of a windup with a pseudo-side arm release and has primarily been used as a long reliever with Brooklyn.

His approach reminded me that of Oliver Perez’s with the Indians this year, but he will need to improve his fastball if he wants to carve out a larger role.

AR: A low-slot lefty out of the SEC (Georgia), Smith was always a likely overdraft candidate despite his obvious deficiencies. He has experience starting in school and has made three starts with Brooklyn this summer, but his long-term home is in the bullpen as a LOOGY. Besides his slider, there’s a real lack of stuff here that’s going to limit Smith’s ceiling.

The stats (0.76 ERA, 28 K, 6 BB, in 23.2 IP) are exactly what you’d expect out of a crafty SEC southpaw in short-season ball. Smith’s slider will flash average to above and the delivery is relatively clean, but his fastball was topping out at 90 mph in just a single inning of work. Sounds an awful lot like the Daniel Zamora starter kit, doesn’t it?

I only saw one change at 79, an offering Smith will need to develop heavily to elevate his future projection. For now, he’s got the ceiling of a future LOOGY for me.

LHP Andrew Mitchell

AR: Selected six rounds after Smith this past June, Mitchell showed more velocity in his two innings Wednesday, as he worked with a fastball in the 91-93 mph range. It had some late life and was tough on lefties, as expected. His breaking ball is a little behind Smith’s at present, but it’s a funky curve that shows promise. I’ll take the velo over the present breaker for now and have Mitchell ahead of Smith on my personal pref list. I don’t think either is more than a LOOGY at the major league level, but Mitchell has the better chance to outpace that projection.

C Nick Meyer

TO: The Mets’ 2018 sixth-round selection certainly leaves a lot to be desired offensively.

Against the opposing right-handed starter Miller Hogan, the backstop was first-pitch swinging in front of a 88 mph tailing fastball away from the zone and grounded the ball to the opposing shortstop, who booted and then bobbled the ball. Meyer, who was clocked 4.68 down the line, was barely safe, but should have arrived a minute before he did.  There is a clear lack of comfort at the dish, which was never more evident than in his second at-bat as he looked at 85 for a strike, took an 81 mph-slider for a ball and then reached at a fastball outside the zone before popping it up to first for an out on the fourth pitch of the at-bat. In his third and final turn of the game, Meyer was again swinging at the first pitch and waited on a breaking ball which he lined to center for a single. Despite his one hit, Meyer’s shortcomings were easily recognizable as he lacks no real plate discipline, which is supported by his .282 OBP.

He is a defense first guy and did frame some questionable pitches for strikes. Today, some backup catchers in the majors hit sub-.200, so he has a shot.

AR: Ever heard of Jake Rogers, the glove first and second backstop in the Tigers organization? Well that’s Nick Meyer, except the overall defensive package isn’t nearly as strong, and the bat lags well behind even that of Rogers.

Meyer stole the low strike all night on the home plate umpire and was even surprisingly agile blocking to both sides, but I got two average (2.00+) pop times and his accuracy just wasn’t there. As for the bat, let’s just say it’s not a great sign when your college hitter is OPS’ing .559 in the New York Penn League. He doesn’t strike out (13%), but there’s well below average power and too much weak contact at present.

The offensive bar at catcher is so low that Meyer still projects as a big league backup, but the package here isn’t incredibly enticing.

OF Ross Adolph

AR: When a Day 3 guy flashes potential major league tools in addition to the performance, you’re probably going to hear about him. Adolph earned the rare Jeffrey Paternostro Mets draft pick stamp of approval after his look earlier this month, so naturally I had some expectation of what I was going to see from him on Wednesday. Well, Adolph went hitless in three at-bats, dropped a fly ball in foul territory and was thrown out at third trying to take an extra base. In other words, Adolph played his worst game of the summer. Yet I still thought he was the best player on the Brooklyn roster, and frankly, it isn’t particularly close.

You’re not writing a six anywhere on the card, but there’s enough here to believe Adolph is a future major league contributor in the outfield. He’s got deceptive speed underway and an arm that wouldn’t look entirely out of place in right. At the dish, Adolph has some sneaky pop due to via some strong wrists and subsequent bat speed.

The ceiling’s limited, but Adolph was a terrific find in the 12th round and is arguably a Top 15 prospect in the system right now.

TO: Adolph went 0 for 3, was thrown out at third and took two noticeably bad routes to balls in right field.

All that being said, the hype surrounding him is visible. At 6’1,” 205 pounds, the 21-year old possesses a very athletic build and quick feet. The results were not there on Wednesday, but his swing and approach at the plate are promising. His athleticism appears to be his best trait allowing him to be good (but not great) in each aspect of the game. A  solid find for the Mets nonetheless.

2B/OF Carlos Cortes

TO: Along with Adolph, Cortes clearly has one of the more advanced approaches to hitting on the Cyclone roster. Though he finished without a hit, the Mets’ ambidextrous throwing second baseman/outfielder has a clean, compact swing and waits for his pitch. The University of South Carolina alum is a clear pull side hitter and may have to balance out a bit as he rises the ranks. He didn’t barrel up any balls in Wednesday’s showing, but does show a potential for solid power.

Cortes’ second at-bat showed his poorest tool – his run. On a slow ground ball on which he was doubled up, Cortes ran an abysmal 4.7 out of the left-handed batter’s box. At just 5’8”, 200 pounds, his strides are short and clunky. He could potentially stick at second base with decent range and did flash some potential there. Nonetheless, I would not trust the fleet-of-foot Cortes in the outfield as he has a natural inability to cover ground.

AR: Cortes is a stocky 5’8” with some seriously slow feet that impact his range out at second. I had Meyer, a catcher, 4.68 out of the right-handed box and then got Cortes 4.7 flat out of the left-handed box. He didn’t look too smooth out at second, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now, as he’s played a ton of outfield as an amateur.

Nevertheless, the bat is what you’re buying here, and there’s already an advanced approach with some bat speed. Hudson Valley had the shift on him even with a runner on first – not out of the ordinary for an affiliate of the Rays – but his pull heavy approach could get him into trouble if the power never develops as expected.

I didn’t love what I saw, but Cortes is an SEC performer and I’m simply unwilling to jump to an early conclusion. He’s a prime “check back next year” candidate for me.

1B Chase Chambers

AR: Large adult sons like Chase Chambers can absolutely rake in college (.395/.500/.652, 17 HRs) and still drop to the 18th round. It’s of this writer’s opinion that the Mets could’ve done far worse than grab Chambers and his power potential that late.

The swing’s long and I have my doubts about how the power will play in Double-A, but he’s actually a pretty decent defender at first and isn’t as slow as I’d been led to believe. I’m intrigued and of the belief that there’s a non-zero chance Chambers has a major league future ahead of him. I’m willing to admit it’s highly unlikely, but this was an underrated grab late in the draft.

Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports

As we have all seen, New York has a plethora of 95-98 mph fastball, slick slider guys with average to below average control (see Drew Smith, Bobby Wahl, Eric Hanhold, etc.), but no one really to note who may or may not get the call in September. Assuming John Ricco’s “compete in 2019″ mantra is not just for show, they will likely sign free agent relievers who are better than Anthony Swarzak.

But in a few days, Dominic Smith and Luis Guillorme will be called up for about the 25th time this year. Who is not being called up, is the most major league-ready of them all: Peter Alonso. So, I wanted to investigate what the Mets SHOULD do with these pieces rather than what they likely ARE going to do. Let’s begin.

Dominic Smith

Earlier in the season, and most days since then, Alex Rosen and I complained about the 2017 mismanagement of the former Mets top prospect. Well, nothing has really changed. At just 23 years old, Smith has seen four separate stints in the majors and will presumably enter his fifth on Sept. 1. Despite never having handled his development properly before, the Mets have a chance to change the tides.

Whether or not it makes sense, Smith has 23 games in the outfield this year in the minors and already nine games in left for the major league club.  Obviously, this is to provide at-bats to the aforementioned stud, Alonso, who probably could hit 30+ home runs in a full major league season next year.

So, if they are doing it the minors, why not do it in the majors during a rebuilding year for the last month of the season? Sure, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo need everyday at-bats, but give 31-year old Austin Jackson a few days off.  Jackson has been a bright spot for the Mets, but he’s putting up unsustainable numbers and hopefully is not a part of the future. As far as Jay Bruce goes, he is not healthy and has been awful all season, accumulating a -0.8 WAR in just 66 games. Yes, the Mets’ defense struggles mightily with him in the lineup, but auditioning him for 2019 in a regular role is the best course of action.

If it were me, I would have explored trading Smith for catching options in the 2017-18 offseason. Regardless, give Smith one more actual chance to prove his worth at the dish.

Luis Guillorme

The Gold Glove-caliber, opposite-field hitter is an intriguing player.

Guillorme was arguably just as misplayed as Smith, slotted in strictly at third base and playing behind Jose “Mendoza” Reyes. While he should have had starter opportunities given the Mets poor season, he should be relegated to a true utility infielder role — the one Reyes occupies for Mickey Callaway now. Frankly, the former Met great should be cut as soon as Guillorme gets a spot.

Any time a combination of Todd Frazier, stud Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario need a rest (Frazier mostly), Guillorme should be manning the position.

While the infielder did slash a paltry .208/.284/.239 in his 67 at-bats in limited action, he has shown an ability to reach base at an impressive rate in the minors. His numbers have duplicated pretty much to a tee from Binghamton to Vegas and he holds a career .286/.361/.335 line in minor league play. No power, but that’s not what Guillorme is on a roster to do.

Defense, defense, defense… and some OBP.

Peter Alonso

John Ricco stated that Alonso will not play in the majors this season, despite the fact that the first baseman is perhaps a top-five prospect in terms hitting readiness in all of baseball.

Alonso is a bad fielder, plain and simple. Alonso, however, can rake.

In 125 games and 448 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A, the former University of Florida Gator is raking a .277/.393/.560 with 33 home runs and 111 RBI. He has made the necessary mechanical adjustments at the plate to improve his ability for more gap power and home runs and has improved his discipline, raising his OBP more than 30 percentage points from last year’s .359.

Alonso needs to be on the roster come a few days from now, even though he won’t. Wilmer Flores has done a commendable job this season at the dish and I would have no problem with Alonso not starting every day. But the UF product must to be on the New York Mets and pinch-hitting whenever Callaway needs a pinch hitter and starting at first base at least two or three times a week.

There is a very minute amount of development Alonso needs at the plate at this point and to keep him down because of defense or playing time is ridiculous; simply put, you make time for your brightest prospects.

The real reason here is service time, but this next month should have been an immensely important indicator to the development of what should be the Mets’ starting first baseman in 2019.

Photo credits: Bill Streicher/Brad Penner/Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports

The Mets’ offense was present, knocking Jon Lester out of the game after six ‘eh’ innings pitched and keeping the pressure on the Cubs’ bullpen throughout the game. However, it was not enough to make up for the combination of Thor and Jerry Blevins’ poor performances.

New York started off the scoring with an Austin Jackson RBI single where Amed Rosario crossed the plate for the first run of this game. I will say it until I’m blue in the face – Rosario needs to be a 35-40 stolen base guy as he advances his game. He is a key cog in the machine. Obviously, the promising shortstop needs to improve his eye but the stolen bases appear to be coming. (A rare occasion) I commend Mickey Callaway for sending Rosario more on the basepaths.

Of course, professional hitter Daniel Murphy led off the game with a hit and eventually scored on an Anthony Rizzo double. In the third, Michael Conforto then answered with one of the loudest home runs ever hit, followed by a Rosario RBI single later in the inning.

Following the theme of up-and-down, the Cubs scored three in the bottom of the frame including a 2-RBI single from none other than one of the worst hitters in MLB history, Lester himself.

In the seventh inning, Kevin Plawecki homered to tie the game at four. While I don’t like him as a player, Plawecki should be playing everyday games at catcher considering Devin Mesoraco should not be a Met next year. Whoever the general manager is next year should grab a veteran catcher, but that likely will not happen.

The full momentum shift to Chicago came in the bottom of the seventh when Blevins, who had not allowed a run in August, gave up two without recording an out.

The Mets did threaten in the ninth with bases loaded, but Jesse Chavez was able to clean up the mess made by Pedro Strop and Justin Wilson, strikimg out Rosario and Jackson to close the book on an exciting contest.

In his postgame interview, Syndergaard was noticeably disappointed in how batters have been able to get to him; the Texan allowed nine hits and three walks in six innings pitched. There is clear frustration from the should-be ace who knows he is good enough to get anyone out, but is not executing as of late. Look for some mechanical adjustments to be made and the ball to be located higher in the strike zone his next time out.

The Mets should be looking forward to the Sept. 1 roster expansion as a look to the future, but who knows how they will handle it.

FINAL

NYM – 4
CHC – 7

Photo credit:  Patrick Gorsk – USA Today Sports

Wheeler carved through a very unspectacular San Francisco Giants’ lineup with ease. The only problem: Derek Holland and a plethora of Giant relievers were able to mow down the Mets without much resistance.

But hey, it’s not the 10-strikeout performance from one of the hottest pitchers in all of baseball everyone is talking about – it’s the embarrassing mishap in the 13th and final inning.

Dom Smith, an (I guess) serviceable first baseman, is playing left field for the Mets now. In what may be the funniest combination of left field from start to finish in Jack Reinheimer and Smith – Mickey Callaway really doesn’t have much to work with.

There were a lot of impressive pitching performances by the combo of Wheeler, Robert Gsellman, Jerry Blevins and others who have really been hot as of late for New York. But the lack of experience from Smith did the Mets in and gave the Giants an undeserved 2-1 lead in the top of the final inning, only to be closed out by a 7.43 ERA reliever in Derek Law who shut the Mets out in the last two frames of the game.

The everyday shortstop, Rosario, had circled under the ball, signaled and waited to get out of a jam Tyler Bashlor was in – and while some can argue it’s the outfielder’s ball coming in – you leave it to the guy who has you called off and with a lifetime more experience at his position.

It was as bad as a loss as you could suffer going through the season that Callaway’s squad has gone through.

Unfortunately for the Mets, an ice cold Steven Matz takes the mound today for Game 2 in the series against San Francisco. Matz has allowed an eye-popping 20 earned runs in his last four starts.

New York needs to rebound from this loss because games simply cannot be decided the way they were last night.

Yikes.

Photo credit: Andy Marlin – USA Today Sports

Amed Rosario opened the game with his first career lead-off home run, followed by your (hopefully) 2019 starting second baseman Jeff McNeil, who singled home Brandon Nimmo.

deGrom wavered a bit in the third after a McNeil error allowed Giancarlo Stanton to reach base and eventually score on an Aaron Hicks single.

Despite this, deGrom entered into his coveted “get everybody out mode” and proceeded to mow down the Yankee lineup with total ease. He eventually stuck out 12 in 6.2 innings pitched and allowed just seven batters to reach via a hit or walk.

Though he probably should have been dealt at the deadline, Jose Bautista’s home run in the fourth to “deep right” against Sevy allowed the should-be Cy Young to enter in cruise control. Bautista had entered the game two for his last 32.

For the Mets, a win against the Yankees is always welcome – but last night the players played the way we all thought they would back in March. Jerry Blevins did the job against a lefty in Brett Gardner, Todd Frazier crushed a hanging slider from AJ Cole for a crucial round-tripper in the sixth, the young core of Michael Conforto, Nimmo, Rosario and McNeil all showed out – and perhaps most importantly, the run support was there.

Eventually, the score after the final out was 8-5, and incredibly the Mets’ have now scored eight runs in each of deGrom’s last two starts after combining for a total of eights runs in his previous three before that.

It is these types of games that show us the potential of what Sandy Alderson and staff were trying to do. However (and obviously), there is no real consistency. I touched on it last week – and maybe it just happens to be a coincidence when I write these recaps – but these are the types of games that show what could be, but in reality what truly isn’t.

Regardless, a Subway Series victory is certainly a boost of confidence all the way from the front office to the players to the fans watching at home.

Photo credit: Amed Rosario – USA Today Sports

By no means am I optimistic about the future (I support the Mets), but yesterday showed the brilliance of Noah Syndergaard (until he lost control in the seventh inning) and none other than the knobless bat sensation, Mr. Jeff McNeil.

McNeil has been a revelation for the Mets since his promotion on July 24. The second baseman, who flashes a sweet swing that extends through the strike zone, was discussed quite extensively in our midseason prospect report.

The Mets got to the grossly overpaid and aging Homer Bailey with a flurry of hits in the first inning. Bailey just did not and does not have it. The three singles by Amed Rosario, McNeil and Wilmer Flores were a sign of what was to come.

Thanks to a Kevin Plawecki home run and another Flores single, the Mets were up 5-0 in the fourth and Bailey was run from the game.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, before Thor’s loss of command, McNeil – who ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, rocketed a ball off of Keury Mella into the upper deck of Citi Field for an incorrectly estimated 400 feet.

Newly acquired Bobby Wahl presented the home crowd with a scare as he proceeded to walk Joey Votto with the bases load with a 6-0 lead, strike out Scooter Gennett and then allow a two-run single to the insanely underrated Eugenio Suarez. Thankfully for Mickey Callaway and co., Wahl was able to strike out former Yankee Mason Williams to end the inning.

Robert Gsellman and Jerry Blevins were able to shut the door, finishing out a game that, perhaps foolishly, gave the Mets’ fans and, well, the Mets, hope.

Hopefully, Jeff McNeil gets to produce games like this for the rest of the year and on Opening Day 2019.

Photo credit: Andy Marlin – USA Today Sports

Jacob deGrom was on the mound last night which meant – you guessed it – little run support.

The Mets’ ace, and probably the best pitcher in baseball in 2018, was handed a 1-0 lead after the third inning. Amed Rosario and Wilmer Flores manufactured a run after the speedy shortstop (not the one who just happened to stand at shortstop for a few seasons) stole second base and was singled home by the Mets’ first baseman later in the at-bat.

Against a dismal San Diego Padres lineup, it seemed as if deGrom would fully lock in like he normally does and barrel through one of the worst offenses in the league.

Unfortunately for the MLB leader in ERA, Freddy Galvis and Manny Margot were able to single and triple home a run in back-to-back at-bats to give the Friars a 2-1 lead.

The top of the sixth saw poor defense hamper deGrom and co. Wil Myers hit a catchable ball to Jose Reyes (why is he still on the team? ) at the hot corner which was obviously not fielded. And then Eric Hosmer then hit a slow but choppy ground ball that was misfielded by Rosario leading to an unearned run.

Down 3-1 in the sixth, Mickey Callaway’s crew showed some life after Reyes dribbled an infield single to third base, but despite the Mets’ best effort, it was all they would get for the rest of the ballgame.

The Padres’ strong suit this year is their bullpen, and even without Brad Hand (a noun that has more than one meaning in this recap), it showed Monday.

deGrom is now 5-5 with an ERA of 1.71 and 0.97 WHIP. I am in the ‘Don’t Trade Jake’ camp, but if the ever-so-generous Wilpons have no intention of immediately signing him long-term, then I guess trade options should be explored. The only return that would warrant dealing such an incredible talent would be an already serviceable everyday position player, an absolute top prospect and a mid-to-high level prospect. And even then, it may not be enough. It remains to be seen what Fred and Jeff have in store, but hopefully, it is a lot of cash and a long-term commitment.

FINAL
Padres 3
Mets 2

Off the field

Noah Syndegaard was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease Sunday. Yes, you read that right… Hand. Foot. Mouth. It is a disease contracted by children and it is likely Thor caught this disease from one of his camps with the youth. The Metssssss.

Also, I am just going to say it and be done because it has been touched on countless times: WHY IS JEFF MCNEIL NOT THE EVERYDAY THIRD BASEMAN FOR THE NEW YORK METS?

Carry on.

Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports

Unfortunately for Seth Lugo, who had been superb previous to his last two starts, he could not will his team to victory despite allowing one earned run.

Sure-handed middle infielder – yes, that’s right, I said middle infielder – Luis Guillorme got the start at third base tonight, a position he has played for most of the 2018 MLB season. However, Guillorme, who grades as a 70 shortstop and 75 second baseman, has played just three career games in the minor leagues at the hot corner. So of course, his two errors in the game were what seemed like the difference in this loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In fact, the whole defensive alignment for the Mets is plain bad: Guillorme and Michael Conforto were the only above average defenders in the lineup tonight.

Now, as I said before, the two-run difference does not tell the story of this contest.

Tyler Bashlor made his Major League debut and surrendered two runs in two innings, one being a home run to Josh Bell. Bashlor didn’t look all that impressive throwing 15 balls out of his 36 pitches, but there is certainly potential with the hard-throwing righty.

By the sixth inning, the Pirates were ahead 5-0.

Jameson Taillon mostly stifled the Mets, and after getting pulled in a shaky seventh inning, 6’8″ flamethrower Tyler Glasnow promptly served up a 3-run home run to Wilmer Flores to bring the score to 5-4. Unfortunately for New York, the lefty-righty-lefty Pirate relief tandem of Steven Brault, Kyle Crick and Felipe Vazquez curtailed any effort to even the score late in the game.

Eventually, Robert “Ambiguous Role in Mets’ Bullpen” Gsellman’s struggles continued in the ninth, as he allowed a run to score on a sac fly bringing the score to 6-4.

The aforementioned and newly name-changed Vazquez was able to the close the Mets down with ease and strike out the side bringing Mickey Callaway’s squad to an abysmal 31-45 record.

Since their 11-1 start, the New York Mets are 20-44 and have lost seven in a row.

Yikes.

Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports