Could this be the beginning of the end for the New York Mets? If so, it is even earlier than usual for that to happen this year.
After dropping their fifth straight game, all that excitement from April is fading fast. A big reason for that is due to the fact that the team’s main draw so far, young phenom Matt Harvey, has been unable to reach a 5-0 record for the second straight start. He now finishes April 4-0, with two consecutive no-decisions and his team in the midst of a slide that needs to end soon before things get out of control.
Typically, the Mets will remain somewhat relevant up until the All-Star break. That would be great this year since Citi Field is hosting the Summer Classic. But the Mets are now 10-14 after losing a 15-inning affair to the dreadful Miami Marlins and, once again, failing to help out their starter.
This was the first time this season that Harvey really struggled. It was a battle for him to get through 5.1 innings, throwing a season-high 121 pitches. With the fifth frame being his only clean inning, Harvey got himself in and out of trouble all night. While it was nice to see how he handled the jams he was in, he still put himself in those jams, and lacked the sharpness Mets fans have seen all April.
Once again, the offense was lacking other than a big blast by John Buck, who continues to surprise. As it has now come to be expected, the bullpen was unreliable and ineffective in their innings. Bobby Parnell blew the save opportunity and the game dragged for 15 long innings.
Ultimately, for anyone who stayed up to watch the disappointing loss, you saw David Wright, who sat with a stiff neck, volunteered himself as a pinch hitter, only to strike out looking. Then you saw Shawn Marcum, fresh off the disabled list, volunteer himself to pitch and he ended up taking the loss.
The issues the Mets have are becoming more and more glaring as of late, and the further they fall below .500 the harder it is going to be to stay at all relevant as we move into summer. Typically, they can keep fans’ interest for a few months, but the feeling now is that it is just painful to watch these losses night in and night out — and that is a scary feeling to have when May hasn’t even started yet.
Maybe it is better this way. Everyone knew coming in what this team was and how little was expected of them. A few hot starts and the emergence of a young, dominant ace gave some false hope for a month, but now reality is setting in and it is a good thing.
The acceptance of the Mets residing in the cellar all season is not only inevitable, but necessary in order to get Zach Wheeler up with the club faster, along with other young talents. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the Mets are like in May — May 2014 that is.
