The Answer for the Mets

 As Yogi Berra would say “it’s déjà vu all over again.” Buck Showalter is an all too familiar place. The 67-year-old manager has taken a time machine back to 2012. No, he is not managing in Baltimore anymore, however that’s what it feels like the end of Showalter’s Oriole tenure in Queens right now.

The Mets simply can’t get out of their own way. With Pete Alonso likely headed to the Injured List, the Mets scored 10 runs last night in Atlanta. 10 runs on the heels of back-to-back gut-wrenching losses at the hands of the team that has foiled the Mets for the better part of almost three decades, the Atlanta Braves. 10 runs with their hired ace, Justin Verlander, who was looking to put together good starts consecutively for the first time all season. The Mets looked like they were about to exercise some demons in Atlanta last night, and then, the other shoe dropped. It wasn’t good enough. Again.

Last night, I wrote that the Mets season was on the line with Verlander toeing the slab. Well, the Mets did look like they were playing for their season—for about seven innings.

Even against the odds of Justin Verlander barely getting through three innings on 82 pitches. Even with Pete Alonso not having an at-bat. The Mets bullpen which is being held together by scotch tape and push pins battled their way through three and a third innings. With an ominous feeling, the Mets were surviving.

Enter Drew Smith.

Smith hasn’t been the same guy as his impressive 2022 season. Smith gave up a two-run home run to former Met backstop Travis d’Arnaud—which in turn made every Met fan in the ballpark and on watching at home invoke the words of the manager of the 1962 team. It as déjà vu.

Even though the Mets were still leading in the game at that point by a run, the game was over. Atlanta had the Mets right where they wanted them.

If you were watching the game, it would’ve been better off for you to turn on Game 3 of the Stanley Cup or go watch reruns of your favorite show.

Much like in 2012, those Orioles had a six-game losing streak at the end of May into June. That six-game stretch was against the Royals and Blue Jays who would both finish well under .500 and in 4th place in their respective divisions. The O’s also had an upstart rookie who was a bolt of energy, Manny Machado who played in 51 games that season and hit seven home runs and drove in 26 runs, while hitting .262 at the plate. Much like Francisco Alvarez has been in 41 games already for these Mets.

However, unlike the 2012 O’s, these Mets are three games under .500, something those Orioles never had to face.

New York must somehow get off the mat. Somehow, the Mets must save their season from the flames of hell. Many thought, including me, that this series with Scherzer and Verlander coming off impressive starts the last time out, would be the turning point. Instead, it’s a new rock bottom. The likelihood of Buck Showalter making it through the season seems unlikely at this point even though he’s the only one in Met-land that is positive. “I’m proud of this team” are words the Mets manager uttered last night after he watched his team surrender a four-run lead and give up seven unanswered runs to get swept right out of Atlanta.

Again, I hear Yogi’s voice in the back of my mind. That’s because the Mets were in the same position last September, where all they had to do is win one game to win the division with their two aces on the mound. Like last night, it was the same result. The last two times the Mets have traveled down I-95 to face the Braves, Atlanta has taken New York’s manhood and shoved it right in their face as they danced to victory, after victory, after victory. “Sometimes you have to look in the mirror” the Mets manager said, and I would say it’s about damn time.

The Mets are three games under .500, they have no trusted arms in the bullpen, no relief from their starters, and even when scoring double digits runs, can’t find themselves in a victorious handshake line.

Where do the Mets turn? Who is to blame for this 63-game stretch to start the season? How can they fix it?

The only place to turn is back around, lace ‘em up, and make a statement tonight in Pittsburgh. The person to blame is the man in the mirror, because everyone in Queens is responsible for the poor start, and historically bad performance last night. How do they fix their season, by winning games day after day reminding their fans and baseball why this team won 101 games last season and is now the highest paid team in baseball. Billy Eppler can also right his wrongs by parting ways with Francisco Alvarez’ roadblock, Daniel Vogelbach, play the young catcher every single day, and make one blockbuster move.

Shohei Ohtani needs to be on his way to Queens soon! He is the one answer that could fix a few of the Metropolitans glaring issues. He would instantly be New York’s best starter. He would also be their best hitter in the lineup. He would provide protection for Pete Alonso when he returns from his hand injury while also providing some relief for a clearly unreliable and overtaxed bullpen. Ohtani is the answer. Eppler convinced the Angels once to go after the Japanese Superstar, he needs to do it again, only this time offering a trade package, the likes which we haven’t seen in baseball history. But it must be done. Because that’s the answer! As farfetched as it might be, that’s the only way the Mets take their collection of talent and turn the season around.

If Ohtani is in Queens—then the Mets have a chance to truly live up the comparisons of the 2019 Washington Nationals and last seasons’ Philadelphia Phillies. If Billy Eppler cares for his job and the job of his manager, he will do the right thing.

If not, then Eppler and Showalter will be out on the street, with Steve Cohen and the Mets looking around like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction wondering how on earth did we end up in this position again? Déjà vu all over again…