Tears of a Clown Blogger, Bro

They say every time a Noah Syndergaard start is trampled to death by a team that can’t hit, a baby cries.

Okay, maybe only I say that. And maybe only I cry.

Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets exactly what they needed as his seven inning 12 strikeout game gave the bullpen a breather and gave the Mets a chance to win. But while you get what you need, we aren’t seem to be getting what we want (sorry, Mick.) In the eighth, Dee Gordon wiped out all of Jim Henderson’s energy with a 16 pitch at-bat which culminated first in a single to left, then in the winning run as he scored on a sac fly by Martin Prado to give Miami the 2-1 win and drop the Mets to 2-5. You can stop reminding me that it’s early, because I know. But if the Mets were to go 1-4 against the very teams of the N.L. East that they are supposed to pound at any other point in the season, it would be cause for concern. Just because it happens in April, it shouldn’t be met with a shrug. Especially when part of what killed the Mets was things like running yourself out of an inning like Lucas Duda did in the first as he drove in the only run of the game with a single off Jose Fernandez, but then thought he was greased lightning and got thrown out at second by ten feet. And especially when they chase Fernandez after five innings and a hundred pitches and still can’t hit a bullpen to save their lives.

But at least Duda made a perfect throw home to nail a runner. I’m sure we all appreciated that.

This is the part of the schedule that the Mets are supposed to fatten up on. Instead they’re starving for runs. The good news is that the weather will get warmer and the ball will start flying. Yoenis Cespedes hit one to the wall that probably would have been a home run in July, or even this afternoon in weather that will be ten degrees warmer. Also, outside of Cleveland this weekend, the schedule remains putrid with visits to Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Cincinnati, and then more games with the Braves and Padres close behind. But the schedule is only easy if you win. And Noah Syndergaard can only win if his team hits.

But ironically with all this pitching the Mets are loaded with, it’ll probably be Logan Verrett who will stop the bleeding this afternoon. We hope.

Today’s Hate List

1. Dee Gordon
2. Martin Prado
3. Jeffrey Loria
4. Bryce Harper
5. Cecil Wiggins