The longer the Mets wait until the restart, the more Sunday’s brutal performance will be analyzed and dissected for days on end.
As it was when the game ended Monday night, the Mets were 0-4, and with back-to-back rain cancellations, doubts about whether they would be able to win the game are only growing.
The weather in Queens isn’t surprising — it’s just April being April — but the Mets’ start, especially in the way the game played out, was mostly due to the batting lineup, not the pitchers.
Citi Field’s roof has not been built (and should be, even though Estimating Team owner Steve Cohen is correct in saying he received that adding such a roof would cost $800 million) So we’re just going to try and get through this late winter situation as we wait for better days.
But do those good days include the Mets?
While you probably shouldn’t read too much into the four-game set, there are a few things to consider ahead of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Tigers.
The offense revolves around Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets’ leadoff hitter has reached base just three times in four games and is 1-for-16 (.063) in his season-opening at-bat. Nimmo has been able to largely avoid a slump for the past two seasons, but he’s still a long way from falling into that category, but the Mets need his production.
Early in spring training, manager Carlos Mendoza talked to Nimmo about potentially changing his batting order away from leadoff, allowing the Mets to create more of a stealth threat at that position. But Mendoza kept coming back to the fact that Nimmo’s on-base potential would make it difficult to replace him in the leadoff spot. Nimmo’s on-base percentage has been anemic at .167 through four games.
The bullpen at least looks respectable.
Edwin Diaz had a great performance in two games, which is no surprise. The performances the Mets have received from Drew Smith, Jorge Lopez and Jake Diekman are encouraging signs. Johan Ramirez may have endeared himself to his teammates by throwing behind Rhys Hoskins, a day after tensions escalated between the Mets and Brewers after Hoskins aggressively slid into Jeff McNeil. It’s not a bad idea for the Mets to push back from time to time.
Don’t hate the Mets’ rotation just yet
Luis Severino is the only member of the group to be broken, but the Mets won’t have a full starting five until Adrian Houser finishes his start in Game 1 on Thursday.
Sean Manaea, in particular, inspired confidence with a strong performance the last time the Mets played (when was that?). As first reported by Post colleague Jon Heyman, Julio Teheran has joined the rotation after agreeing to a major league contract with the Mets. The deal comes while Tyler Megill was placed on injured reserve this week with a shoulder strain and Kodai Chiga is rehabbing from a shoulder issue of his own.
JD Martinez can’t get here fast enough
Martinez should wait until he is completely comfortable in the batter’s box before joining the Mets. Unless that lasts beyond Sunday, the first day he will be recalled from the minor leagues, he will need to join the Mets. After signing with the Mets late in spring training, Martinez offered some insight into his mindset, saying it was “unfortunate” to have to remain in the minors for at least 10 days before the season starts, and that perhaps he already has enough He said he may be standing at bat. To think that he is ready.
Francisco Lindor has been a good player in April the past two seasons.
Lindor’s terrible start in April in his first season with the Mets (2021) may have overshadowed the fact that he has had strong first months over the past two years. Now that he’s 1-for-16 (.063), there’s some “same-old Lindor” chatter from his detractors. But that story is beside the point.
Still, Lindor’s four games and Nimmo’s drought crippled the Mets’ lineup.
history cannot repeat
The Mets won all three games in Detroit last May (including a loss in a doubleheader), but later players like Nimmo and Adam Ottavino were the first signs that something might be wrong with the team. I mentioned it. It could bode well if the Mets are swept by the Tigers again, including a doubleheader sweep.
