The Mets’ late-season revival looks as if it’s petering out. After a tumultous first few months of the year, the Mets shockingly climbed into National League playoff contention by ripping off 21 wins in 26 games after the All-Star break. But New York has gone a woeful 6-10 since then, and with six straight losses (including a 4-1 defeat to the Cubs on Thursday), the 67-66 club’s now what could be an insurmountable five games out of a wild-card spot. Here’s more on the suddenly floundering team…
- This season may not be a total lost cause for infielder Jed Lowrie, a free-agent pickup who hasn’t played at all in 2019 on account of knee, hamstring and calf injuries. Lowrie has been playing rehab games at the Triple-A level (he hit a home run Thursday), and the Mets remain “hopeful” he’ll make his debut in their uniform sometime next month, Anthony Rieber of Newsday writes. Manager Mickey Callaway issued a positive update on the 35-year-old Lowrie on Thursday, saying “he’s healthy” and “feeling good at this point.” After a pair of terrific seasons with Oakland, Lowrie joined the Mets on a two-year, $20MM contract, though it’s now unclear how often a healthy version will slot into the club’s starting lineup going forward. After all, the Mets figure to go into 2020 with Robinson Cano at second base and versatile breakout performers Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis as candidates to continue racking up playing time at the hot corner.
- Like Lowrie, injured first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith is progressing toward a comeback, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News relays. Smith went to the IL on July 27 with a stress reaction in his left foot, which interrupted a quality season for the 24-year-old, but he finally just received clearance to resume baseball activity. Although plenty were down on Smith coming into 2019, the former top 100 prospect has slashed .278/.352/.506 with 10 home runs in 196 PA this season. It’s up in the air how much of a future he has with the Mets, however, as first baseman/NL Rookie of the Year front-runner Pete Alonso isn’t going anywhere, while McNeil, Davis, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo represent a handful of controllable and viable corner outfielders.
- There’s a house-cleaning going on in the Mets’ scouting department. The organization let go of director of pro scouting Jim D’Aloia on Wednesday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. D’Aloia, who has been with the Mets for eight seasons, will remain in place until his contract runs out on Oct. 31. The Mets followed D’Aloia’s dismissal by parting with pro scouts Tim Kissner, Tim Fortugno and Lee MacPhail on Thursday, per Andy Martino of SNY. All three ave “good reputations in the game,” notes Martino, who adds that the club’s sure to make more changes in the coming weeks. That jibes with a report from Yahoo’s Matt Ehalt, who tweets that more turnover is coming and hears that it’s “an ugly situation” behind the scenes.
Where in the world is Jed Lowrie.
Be interesting to see what the Mets do when at full strength. Nimmo, Lowrie, Cano and Smith all coming back. all should be coming off the bench. Really interested in seeing what happens this off-season. Cespedes is coming back to play out contract year.
Smith and Nimmo have trade value to bring back some pitching depth
Smith and more so nimmo have to get back on the field and produce to gain value back. I’d be curious what the market for Conforto will be like.
Lowrie would be a nice pick up for the Cubs, over the winter. Only one year left on his contract and then they could turn 2B over to Nico Hoerner.
LFGM!!!!
wonder if all the *****s who bought a shirt saying this will throw it away now?!
You’re a loser dude
What would the Mets realistically be looking for in a Smith trade?
A baseball player, not a cheerleader.
Maybe a few scouts or player development personnel. Given that the front office had no clue about their top talent Agent Brody wasted his resources getting not one, but two obsolete second basemen.
They blocked their best two offensive players in the minors and played all year weak up the middle with a porous defense.
Is that Lee McPhail the IV
or Vth? There’s been Lee
McPhails in baseball for
a hundred years!
Mets have been dysfunctional for over a decade. Can’t seem to get out of their own way. Do have some nice young-ish talent (Confort, Nimmo, Rosario, McNeill and Alonso). Would not be disappointed to see the likes of Frazier, Cano, Lowrie, Diaz and Ramos released and/or sent elsewhere.
Very disappointing to be swept by the Cubs, especially with Thor and deGrom pitching the final two games. Heading to Philly now and aside from Nola, Mets hitters should feast on other Phillies starting pitchers. Phillies are even more dysfunctional than the Mets at this time. Take two out of three from Philly and then start another winning streak.
Not out of it yet. Just get to the dance and I’ll go to war in any playoff series with our top three starting pitchers.
Yes, but they just dropped behind the 4th team they’ll have to pass to get into the second wild card spot, Arizona. Arizona’s schedule has lots of games with the Reds, Padres, and even with the Marlins. 6 in a row left the Mets with the biggest hill to climb.
Nobody’s going to war, especially you. Tighten it up bruh!
Hey Lou-
Your winning streak will end after two straight as tue Mets will lost tomorrow. They will then move onto Atlanta and the Braves will sweep them.
There is no dance this year for your team, unless you count the dance at the party to celebrate the end of the season that Cespedes has invited everyone to.
Let’s hope he doesn’t re-injurie himself on the dance floor
I hope that the Mets bring back Calloway for 2020.He did not have Cespedes or Lowrie the entire season.He lost Nimmo and Cano for a good portion of the season and still has a chance to have the Mets play October baseball.
He’s not Brody’s boy
Is there a database that shows what scout was responsible for players acquired by a team? It would seem the scouts have done a good job over the years of bringing in talent.. I don’t follow the Mets much. Am I wrong?
Jed who?