Getty Image / Gregory Fisher
What was supposed to be a potential championship season for the New York Mets has turned into an unmitigated disaster. The club, which has the highest payroll in MLB history, is basically out of the playoff picture in the middle of July. And the Mets faithful are past the point of restlessness.
Things came to a head during Saturday’s 5-1 loss at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers, one night after Justin Verlander was booed off the mound following yet another mediocre start from last year’s AL Cy Young winner. And, it was ugly.
After rookie Kodai Senga put in another fantastic start, with home runs from Mookie Betts and Brandon Nimmo having the game tied at 1 through 7 innings, Mets reliever Adam Ottavino came in and gave up two hits. But, it seemed like the Mets would get out of the inning, only for star first baseman Pete Alonso to throw high on a routine double play ball, allowing a run to score.
Pete Alonso has made a couple of fine plays at first base tonight, but his high throw on a potential inning-ending double play ball results in the go-ahead run crossing home in the eighth.
Dodgers 2, Mets 1, top eight. pic.twitter.com/RbT0VbZlGK
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 16, 2023
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Things went from bad to worse. After the Metropolitans had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs in the bottom half of the inning and didn’t come close to scoring, rookie 3rd baseman Brett Baty let an infield pop up drop, with the ball bouncing up and hitting him in the face.
Brett Baty makes blooper reels forever on a Max Muncy infield pop. Insurance. pic.twitter.com/Nqcw0S2bbS
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 16, 2023
Oh no. Don’t worry, though! After the game, a very-much-washed Buck Showalter tried to make excuses for his poor ballclub.
"I would not agree with 'non-competitive,' just because there wasn't a return and a result that everybody hoped to get. They're competing their butt off. It's not easy. Ferguson's a really good pitcher."
Buck Showalter was asked about the Mets' at-bats in the 8th inning: pic.twitter.com/50bh4GsFUj
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 16, 2023
"It's not as easy as it may look. It starts out in foul territory and drifts all the way back to where you saw it ended up"
Buck Showalter talks about what he saw on Brett Baty's misplayed pop-up in the 9th inning: pic.twitter.com/pVg5QS91VZ
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 16, 2023
The Mets are now eight games under .500. nine out of a wild card spot in the National League, and heading towards selling territory. Yikes.