Philadelphia – Every day before a Mets game, Buck Showalter checks in with every reliever on his roster. Talk to them to see how they have recovered from recent travels. He asks if they can put on a show that day. Then he makes his decisions – taking into account the player’s feedback and not relying on it exclusively.
Before the Mets suffered one of their worst losses of the season on Sunday, a 7-6 defeat by the Phillies that moved them a season-high 15 games out of first place, setup man Adam Ottavino told Showalter he was available. He hadn’t felt perfect the night before when he threw 26 pitches to score two touchdowns, but he was ready to go if necessary. Showalter replied that he would only use Ottavino if the game went to extra innings.
Similarly, David Robertson hit the closer five times on Saturday but did it on 13 ultra-efficient pitches. Showalter intends to use Robertson for the one-run maximum. Left-handed Brooks Raleigh, who performed on consecutive days, was not available. The Mets did not use him in three straight games.
Such was the scenario that brought rookie Josh Walker to the mound with a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. Walker did not retire any of the three batters he faced. Next up on the to-do list was Jeff Brigham, who had posted a 5.19 ERA in June. Brigham hit the ground ball he needed, but third baseman Brett Batty made a double and threw wildly to second base, where Jeff McNeil couldn’t catch it.
As Ottavino sat in the bullpen feeling guilty about his slugging, Brigham issued a bases-filled walk, then hit back-to-back batters to force game-tying and forward-pointing runs. He joined Oliver Perez as the only Mets pitchers to hit back-to-back batters with the bases loaded.
Only after all this did Robertson begin warming up to a look that never happened. By then it was too late; The Mets lost for the 15th time in 20 games without a game in the bottom of the ninth.
“What can we do?” said Showalter of his faithful use. “That was kind of where we were.”
The situation drew comparisons to the 2016 American League Wild Card Game, when then-Baltimore manager Showalter left Cy Young candidate Zack Britton in the bullpen while the relievers were less aggressive, ultimately losing that game. Afterwards, Showalter explained that he did not want to use Britton in a tie game because he had no one to shut him down if his team took the lead. His rationale for avoiding Robertson was identical.
The urgency of Sunday’s contest could not be matched by a playoff game to win or go home, but for the Mets it was still a rubber game against a Division 1 opponent at a crucial juncture of their season. Over the past three weeks, the Mets have seen their chances of making the postseason bleak dramatically. Perhaps the series win over the Phillies marks a turning point.
Instead, the Mets lost behind Carlos Carrasco, Dominic Leon, Grant Hartwig, Walker, Brigham and Vinny Nittoli. Combined, these pitchers hold a 5.25 ERA. Two of them were not in the organization at the beginning of May. Hartwig, to his credit, pitched two scoreless innings.
“They can do the job,” said Showalter, who was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes. “They just didn’t do it today.”
In his post-game press conference, Showalter said several times that he did not understand the line of questioning surrounding his use. He repeated his desire to stay clear of Raleigh or Ottavino, holding on to Robertson to save the situation in the ninth.
“I don’t understand,” Showalter said. “What am I missing?”
Part of the problem is that Mets starters like Carrasco don’t routinely get deep into games. Part of that is that with Edwin Diaz on the injured list and Drew Smith suspended, only three of the five high-pressure relievers the Mets have brought into spring training are active. Over the course of the season, general manager Billy Eppler has made a slew of waiver claims, signings and free agent deals, but he has yet to import another top-flight arm.
Perhaps that will change before the August 1st trading deadline. Maybe not. Right now, the Mets risk getting to this point with a record poor enough to make their buying spree unwise.
“I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Brigham said.
Showalter should, at the very least, have Robertson, Ottavino and Raleigh all available Monday when his team opens a three-game series against the Brewers. There are no guarantees the Mets will top it, but if they do, their starting arms will be well rested.
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