When you watch Mets games now, you’re not really looking for wins and losses. Mostly, that’s because you’re really only going to see losses.
No, you’re looking for important or exciting moments. It’s even better when it comes from a player who has a possibility of being a part of the 2018 Mets doing something important.
Of course, that is difficult with Terry Collins as the manager. For consecutive games, Collins has set forth Jose Reyes, Nori Aoki, and Asdrubal Cabrera as the top three hitters. Of course, that’s more productive than seeing Brandon Nimmo atop the lineup.
We can dwell a bit by bit how a 4-0 lead turned into an 8-6 loss, but frankly we shouldn’t care all that much. The team has a manager more interested in stopping a 90 or maybe a 100 loss season than doing the right thing and playing the young players.
Collins can’t ignore the veterans, and the front office doesn’t care. Worse yet, they handed him Aoki to only further fuel his wants and needs.
Despite the Mets focus on declining vets, it doesn’t mean we all have to focus on them. To that end, here’s what we need to know from this Mets loss to the Astros:
- Dominic Smith continued hitting well going 2-5 with a double and an RBI single in the first.
- Nimmo continued showing off his patience at the plate drawing three walks. One of them was with the bases loaded.
- Chris Flexen fell apart in the third blowing a three run lead. He threw 79 pitches and didn’t get into the fifth inning.
- Amed Rosario was 0-3 and was forced to leave the game with a finger issue.
- Juan Lagares continued hitting well at the plate going 1-3 with a walk and an RBI single. That and he continues to amaze in the field:
A new kind of 'Holy crap Juan Lagares' play pic.twitter.com/0vro1h3Rfb
— Meditations in Panic City (@MedInPanicCity) September 3, 2017
So, yes, the Mets lost. Of the young players who actually got to play, Smith was the standout. Oh, and Rosario got hurt because that’s what happens to Mets players.
Game Notes: Aoki was 3-4 with two runs, a double, two RBI, and a stolen base. Reyes stole two bases.