RECAP: @tykelly11 and @mconforto8 homer as #Mets take series finale vs. Pirates in extras: https://t.co/qXIw9vhdUe pic.twitter.com/BkhFHNMzwJ
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 9, 2016
A look at how each player on the New York Mets has performed since the team’s bats started drying up.
Ever since the bats started drying up, the New York Mets have gingerly descended out of first place.New York, which advanced all the way to the Fall Classic last season, has struggled over the past couple of weeks after the hitters stopped hitting and the relievers started struggling.
Despite a couple of bright spots (we’re talking to you, Addison Reed and the team’s young fireballers), the team has been granting considerable playing time to guys like Ty Kelly, Eric Campbell and Rene Rivera.
Yikes is correct.
But all isn’t bad in Flushing. The Metropolitan’s clawed their way back from 2-0, 3-1 and 5-3 deficits to squeak out a much-needed victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Here’s how the past couple of weeks have gone, summarized by a brief synopsis of every player that has adorned blue and white.
1. Addison Reed, RP
Reed has been flawless over his past 10.2 innings pitched, striking out thirteen and surrendering a grand total of zilch runs. He’s been a dependable setup man thanks to his utter nastiness.
2. Noah Syndergaard, SP
Even when he hasn’t had his best stuff, Thor has managed to repeatedly drop the hammer. It’s been seven starts since Syndergaard last gave up more than two runs in a game, and with the exception of the Chase Utley plunking contest, he’s lasted six-plus innings for even longer.
3. Steven Matz, SP
In his last four starts, Matz is 2-1 with an ERA of roughly two bucks and change. He’s been a force to be reckoned with all season, especially on the road, where he’s pitched to the toon of a 1.67 earned-run average.
4. Neil Walker, 2B
With the lone caveat being a few fielding blunders at PNC Park (which we have reason to believe can be attributed to some nerves), Walker has been the most dependable bat in the team’s lineup. While the rest of the team has faltered in June, Walker has a triple slashline of .273/.407/.680.
5. Jerry Blevins, RP
Blevins has emerged as one of the game’s most dependable lefty specialists. He hasn’t given up a run over the past four weeks, and is ninth in the league with sixteen inherited runners stranded.
6. Matt Harvey, SP
After a gruesome start to the season, Harvey Day is back in Flushing. The Dark Knight has a 0.64 ERA over his last 14.0 innings of work.
7. Bartolo Colon, SP
The guy who crushed James Shields’ season has been über-effective for New York this season. In his last four starts, Big Sexy has a 2.78 ERA over 22.2 innings-pitched.
8. Jacob deGrom, SP
deGrom is a battler. Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he grinds through it. Because his fastball hasn’t been as explosive as in seasons past, he’s resorted more to painting the corners.
9. Juan Lagares, OF
It sure seems like a waste to have a talent like Lagares on the bench. He’s seemingly returned to his Gold Glove form of the past, and is having solid at-bats.
10. Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Despite being ‘a little bit lost at the plate right now,’ Cespedes is still an above-average fielder and a threat in the middle-of-the-lineup. He’s batting .294 over his last five games.
11. James Loney, 1B
Since coming to Queens, Loney has hit for a high average and fielded his position very well. Like the rest of the team, though, he’s struggled to hit with runners in scoring position.
12. Rene Rivera, C
The veteran journeyman has embraced the starting backstop job. Despite a below-average bat, Rivera has been a great game-caller with a lethal arm.
13. Jeurys Familia, RP
Somehow, someway, Familia still hasn’t blown a save. He’s personally responsible for roughly two-thousand mini-heart attacks, though, and had a weak month of May.
14. Jim Henderson, RP
Lil’ Ol’ Jim Henderson surprisingly made the team out of Training Camp, and has been a bullpen stalwart since then. He’s struggled with inherited runners, but hasn’t been too bad.
15. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
This slump’s contagious, folks. The double plays are, too. It hasn’t been pretty to watch the veteran sputter.
16. Tyler Kelly, IF
Kelly, who led professional baseball in batting average with Las Vegas (AAA-PCL), hasn’t done anything that suggests he should remain with the big league team. At the same token, he doesn’t have enough at-bats under his bat to be deemed a “4A Player.”
17. Michael Conforto, LF
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Conforto got off to a torrid start to the season, but has been a liability in both the lineup and the field as of late (he’s batting .165/.231/.339 since June 1). He’s a key component of the roster, so Terry Collins has to hope he can surmount this adversity sooner rather than later.
18. Wilmer Flores, IF
Flo, who had the game-winning single in Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory, has struggled coming off the bench. His versatility (can play nearly every infield position) will likely keep him on the big league squad, though.
19. Curtis Granderson, RF
?
20. Kevin Plawecki, C
The young catcher has lost his starting job after he’s repeatedly failed to barrel the ball into play. He’s a better hitter, which is why many scouts and team personnel have been confused over his struggles.
21. Alejandro De Aza, OF
This was a poor signing, expounded by his horrific tendencies at the dish.
22. Logan Verrett, RP
A spot start against Milwaukee on Saturday may be his last chance to prove that he belongs on the big league roster. After embracing his role as a dependable long reliever and spot starter, Verrett has gotten battered in his last couple of appearances.
23. Hansel Robles, RP
Where did that come from? Robles was cruising — until he wasn’t. He’s 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA in his last 10 appearances.
24. Antonio Bastardo, RP
Terry Collins never had faith in Bastardo, and for good reason: he’s not a very good reliever. His bases on balls total is only rising, and there are worthy candidates (ahem, Sean Gilmartin and Josh Edgin) in Triple-A to take his job.
25. Eric Campbell, IF
This guy’s a disaster. He’s abysmal. It’s a travesty that he was the twenty-sixth man for the Bucs-Mets doubleheader this week.
