We have a special guest @TRieth, as he breaks down the Mets losing 2 of 3 to start the season in Houston.
Mets opening series recap:
With all eyes pointed on the Mets new 765 million dollar acquisition, Juan Soto did not disappoint. Soto reached base in all 3 games including a home run off the facing of the second deck in right field. Unfortunately for the Mets offense it started and stopped right there. Second on the Mets for average through 3 games is (checks notes) impromptu starting catcher Luis torrens, who also had himself a very nice series both offensively and more importantly defensively.
I promised myself that this blog would not take a frank the tank style turn after just three games against a very formidable Astros opponent, but as someone who has watched this team religiously for the last 33 years it’s hard not to.
Juan Soto may finish the season with a 600 obp a 1.4 obps and about as many runs scored as the homers he hit. Countless times throughout the series whether it be a hit or a walk he was left stranded on base as the Mets heart of the order failed to deliver that big hit. Again I have to emphasize that it’s three games and the advantage is to the pitcher in these early season matchups but I’ll deliver the first hot take of the season. Pete Alonso will not be Juan sotos protection in the lineup for long. We saw more of the same from Pete through three games including a lifeless pop up in the ninth to second base, after shocker Soto walked to the start the inning off.
Mr. Smile is Mr 0 for the season it what has become par for the course for Lindor in the early season. After last year tho Frankie will get a pass for a long time. Nimmo and Vientos were ok. Vientos hit some balls hard with bad luck but he seems to be destined to be sotos protection for the foreseeable future of the Mets. The Mets dh platoon of marte and Jessie my little winky winker did very little. The second base platoon of Acuna and baty did nothing. Baty did nothing to silence the people who believe he’s a career triple AAA player. Jose Siri showed some of the spark that has earned him the nickname lightning. He worked a walk, almost got picked off first, stole second, tagged up on a fly ball to third and scored the Mets lone run off the night on a comebacker to the pitcher.
Do I think the Mets offense will find its stride of course. Just the presence of Juan Soto alone changes the way pitchers attack this lineup and will force them into mistakes. After 3 games one met leaves me very worried and that’s Alonso.
A very bright spot for the Mets this weekend was the pitching. Clay Holmes was not good but he kept the Mets in the ballgame. Tylor megill was phenomenal and griffin canning was excellent as well. Canning was a cheap home run away from an exceptional start. Again 3 games in the biggest bright spot for the Mets was the bullpen. The bullpen combined for 9 innings of shutdown ball over the weekend. Some people were very concerned with closer Edwin Diaz velocity in spring training, but he came out of the pen firing on Friday night. His first 4 pitches all fastballs were clocked at 98,98,97 and 98 finishing off Yainer Diaz with his signature wipeout slider.
The mets had a very real and good opportunity to walk away with a sweep, but the lack of the big hit cost them this weekend. Wheels up to Miami we to go who figures to be the doormat of the East this year. With how competitive the East figures to be, it would be in the Mets best interest to sweep the fish get the bats going and go home to a raucous Citi field crowd next Friday afternoon.
Ps don’t forget Jake pitches for the rangers tomorrow and since the Mets have an extremely rare Sunday afternoon off (thanks Apple TV) might be worth tuning into.
As always LFGM
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