file photo /TheNYExtra.com
Phils beat the Mets as Escobar is Traded to the Halos by Rich Coutinho/TheNYExtra.com
The Mets continue to lose games as the Phils handed them a 5-1 loss in a contest that featured 2 pop fly balls that should have been caught–one by Brandon Nimmo and the other by Francisco Lindor. Those 2 plays put Kodai Senga and his teammates behind the eight ball as all they could muster off former teammate Taijuan Walker was a Brandon Nimmo solo home run.
When you walk around this Met clubhouse you could see the disappointment in the faces of each of them which was intensified on this night with the news that Eduardo Escobar had been traded to the Angels for 2 pitching prospects. I am sure it made the players stop and think if this team will become a seller at the deadline because of the season which has certainly not been what the organization thought could ever occur.
Francisco Lindor said it best when he uttered the words, “We are a playoff caliber team but not playing like that right now. We just have to start winning and that is clearly not happening.” The things I am hearing indicate to me this Met team will not be sellers and this was a deal to get 2 pitching prospects for a player who figures not to be in the plans as Bret Baty will get a full-time chance to be the everyday third basemen.
In fact, I an hearing the Mets would be willing to take high-priced contracts off a team’s portfolio to get the player that they want. The Royals, Nationals, Reds and A’s have all spoken to the Mets at length about that scenario. Still, this team is not playing winning baseball and one of the few things it could rely on–overall team defense–keyed the loss on this night which is a terrible sign.
The Mets may need a lift and I am thinking that this could be the perfect time to call up Ronny Mauricio who is hitting so well in AAA Syracuse–in 284 at bats he has an OPS 877 with 11 homers and 41 RBI. He could DH for this team as well as play 2B or the outfield and he could be the offensive spark this team needs.
It would mean 3 young Met players–Baty, Alvarez and Mauricio would get regular at bats which I think may not sit well with some of the veteran players on this team like Daniel Vogelbach for instance. But my answer to them would be that you have to earn playing time as it is not a birthright.
As you all know, I am a very patient baseball analyst but it is time for this team to look at themselves in the mirror and play better. I know most of them have the back of the baseball card resume that makes you believe they will turn it around. But talk is cheap and these next 15 games before the All Star break against the Phils, Brewers, Giants, DBacks and Padres are crucial to the Met season. They are seven under 500 and would need to go 11-4 in those 15 games to merely level the record at 500 at the All Star break.
That is a tall order but even 10-5 or 9-6 would get them close enough to .500 to think the second half of the season could be a redemption for them. But the time is now and if they do not I do believe the Escobar trade will be the first of many seller type deals for this team.
They need to look in the mirror and they can spend 5 minutes feeling sorry for themselves but excuses are for losing teams. And if they want to become a winning team, those excuses like injuries or umpires picking on them must be put in the garbage can.
There is a fine line in sports between a winning team and a whining team and the Mets are on that line in the sand right now. It is up to them to figure out what the rest of the summer will be for MetNation. And the next 15 games will give us all a clear glimpse of what that will look like.
