After putting their fans into a delirious frenzy due to that 13-3 start, the New York Mets are now coming up with yet another disappointment.
By Ernie DeFalco
The New York Mets have not finished above .500 since 2008.
That’s right, 2008.
During that time, Mets fans have seen about 75-wins per season. It’s such an average mark that Mets fans have sort of gotten used to the losing and accepted it as part of a rebuild after the Omar Minaya-era concluded.
The frustrating aspect to 2015 is that this year was supposed to be different. How could you think any differently after that torrid 13-3 start? Yet, in many ways, this season is becoming more disappointing than any of the past-six.
I am that fan.
The fan who DVRs every game and avoids game reports until I can put the wife and kids to bed, get in my bed clothes, and watch. I do this no matter the record or time of year. I am the fan that buys tickets in April and September when nobody is going, yet for the first time in my life I am struggling to watch, and struggling to get excited, and worst of all, feeling indifferent.
Why? Because the team could be good.
Actually, they could be better than good. But instead, we are witnessing a .500 team which frustratingly seems to have a chance to win every game, but only manages to do so half the time. Management has finally done the impossible. They’ve officially turned me off.
Oftentimes I now wonder if I’m not alone?
The pitching staff is currently ranked sixth in all of baseball. They are pitching to a 3.40 ERA which includes the ballooned ERA’s of the now departed Dillon Gee (5.90), and fifth and sixth starters Bartolo Colon (4.55) and Jonathan Niese (3.90). Four of the six starters have winning records, yet the Mets still hover at .500 and are well under .500 since that wicked hot-start.
Conversely, the Mets sit 29th in offense.
They sit in the bottom five of just about every important offensive area. Rather than doing something about it, Sandy Alderson and the powers that be sit idly by, expecting Mets fans to sit it out.
The time for waiting around is now over.
This team could be challenging for a playoff spot, instead they are challenging for worse than laughing stock status – teetering towards insignificance.
Imagine that.
A team that boasts a staff comprised of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard is becoming irrelevant. Culpability lies in the finely dressed laps of the front office.
On any given night, the Mets continue to roll out the same cast of position players. A cast of characters who have proven to be incapable of performing at the MLB level with any shred of consistency.
How many times can Terry Collins run Eric Campbell (.167), Ruben Tejada (.224) and Wilmer Flores (.233) out there? Well I can answer that: apparently it is every night as Collins has very little choice in the matter.
It is insane. It is like trying to use a hammer to screw in a nail.
Then there are Met-for lifers: Michael Cuddyer (.243) and Curtis Granderson (.254).
How long do we need to wait for Cuddyer? In fairness, Granderson may possibly be the Mets best hitter this year (not saying much), but why is he still leading off? Without checking, he is probably the only leadoff man in the league who leads his team in home runs (13).
I am not asking for the Mets to run and make a poor deal, but at least try something different. Why haven’t we seen the name of Michael Conforto, who is currently hitting .327 in Double A Binghamton after sky rocketing through A ball, suiting up in Blue and Orange? Why have I yet to see Matt Reynolds, who is hitting .269 in AAA in the transaction section?
Both this young collection of talent on the mound and the fans deserve more. Much more.
Nobody is suggesting these guys are the answers. But isn’t it better taking a chance with one or both rather than running out guys who have proven they cannot get it done? What do they have to lose at this point? Slipping to 30th in the league in hitting?
Instead, we get Johnny Monell (.167) and Darrell Cecilani (.222) And I am certain perennial frequent call-up Kirk Nieuwenhuis (.079) and this year’s version, Danny Muno (.083) are ready to be promoted at any moment.
It is so bad that in a recent game against the Chicago Cubs I watched Collins take a bunt sign away from Jacob deGrom in an obvious bunting situation. Why? Because it was probably his best chance at getting a big hit. Of course it didn’t work out, as DeGrom lined out hard into a double play.
I wanted to be angry and yell “why did Collins take the bunt off,” but I sort of agreed with him. That is how bad it has gotten. Mets fans are hoping the pitchers come through at the dish.
Nelson Figueroa in the post-game summed it up best when he said “deGrom’s job is to pitch, not to hit right there. That is the job of his hitters.”
Bottom line is, I am not watching anymore. I am not watching until Alderson and the Mets management show some effort. I am not going to waste any effort on them until they show me some.
Give someone else a chance. It’s not asking much. Both this young collection of talent on the mound and the fans deserve more. Much more.
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