I turned on Mets-Tigers late yesterday, just in time to see LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Atchison pitch batting practice to those ferocious Detroit Tigers. For a team like the Mets, the Tigers are a most unwelcome opponent they can face; with no automatic outs in that lineup our battered bullpen hasn’t a chance. In fact when it comes to playing good teams, as in a .500 record or better, the Mets are an atrocious 27-41.
With another loss yesterday, the 4th loss in a row, the Mets are close to that slippery slope of the last five seasons, meaningless games in September. On Friday night with a 3 ring circus of events;Social Media Night, 3rd Eye Bind concert and of course the Mets-Tigers game, the vibe coming though my TV was one of indifference. Folks at the game, said via social media, that there was a big crowd for the game but it seemed a very subdued crowd at that. I mentioned it was the same way watching on TV where it was the first time in a very long time I got the sense that Gary Cohen wished he was anyplace else than the TV booth. It seems this happens ever September, Mets fan suffer losers fatigue.
IT’s not just the fans and broadcasters that suffer from this malaise, both of our young stud starting pitchers, Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler have said they are running on fumes as well. If that’s the case then why are the Mets looking to run both of these solid foundation pieces out to the mound again this season. If I’m the GM and my two young studs are going public that they have hit the wall, I have to think about shutting them down so not to risk injury. My biggest fear with the two talking about fatigue is that it will alter their mechanics and if that happens, injury will follow. I’d much rather endure starts from Chris Schwinden and Carlos Torres than risk the very valuable right arms of Harvey and Wheeler.
