Jacob deGrom has an ERA of 3.86, Noah Syndergaard 5.63, Zack Wheeler 6.35, Steven Matz 4.96, and Jason Vargas is at 14.21.
After the series with the Phillies the Mets pitching staff is 26th in ERA (5.45) and 29th in WHIP (1.53) and it is only getting worse.
The only reason the Mets have a winning record is because they have been scoring a lot of runs thanks to Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Michael Conforto, and Wilson Ramos.
Micky Calloway has made questionable moves and even more questionable non-moves…leaving pitchers in for the “one more inning.” Is that a sign that he doesn’t trust the bullpen?
Why did he remove Jason Vargas in the first inning against the Braves…but then replace him with Corey Oswalt, who obviously wasn’t any better, and leave him in there to get lit up and give up twice as many runs? To burn innings? Why do that to a young pitcher who you have high expectations for? And Vargas made a comment that he wasn’t in there long enough to figure out what was wrong. He had a point…sort of.
Then just a couple of games later, Callaway removed Steven Matz in the first inning against the Phillies, but that was after Matz gave up eight runs, before yielding to another young “call up,” Drew Gagnon. At least Matz got a chance to completely abase himself before being yanked. Just wondering who should feel worse…Matz or Vargas? Or, better yet, Oswalt or Gagnon?
Having two first basemen who are solely first basemen is no different than having three catchers on the roster…why? At least if Smith is hitting, why not let him play left field…he is capable…and then move him to first base late in the game? Or perhaps Smith will be used as trade bait to obtain another veteran starter, because Alonso ain’t going nowhere.
And speaking of catchers, Ramos has been extremely clutch at the plate but he really clogs the base paths and can’t score from second base on a single. The problem is if he is removed from the game then you are left with nobody if the next guy gets hurt. Ironically, Calloway sent Ramos up to pinch hit for Travis d’Arnaud in the third game against the Phillies and got hit with a fastball above the elbow and looked like he wouldn’t be able to continue. Fortunately he made it to first base. But if he couldn’t, then what?
More importantly, if the Mets pitching doesn’t live up to the lofty expectations, THEN what?
