This is Getting Ridiculous

Mets waste another gem from Jacob deGrom, can't find hits when they need them

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

Once again, the Mets let an absolute gem from All-World right-hander Jacob deGrom go to waste in a 3-0 loss to the Marlins on Saturday afternoon at a sun-splashed Citi Field in Flushing.

The 32-year-old, two-time National League Cy Young Award winner went eight sparkling innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 14, walking none.

DeGrom’s only demerit on his line was Jazz Chisholm’s incredibly impressive solo home run in the second. One hundred miles per hour upstairs is no picnic. Miami’s rookie wasn’t phased in the least.

Miami Marlins @Marlins

Jacob DeGone.

DeGrom threw 95 pitches, 76 for strikes, and picked up an astounding 27 swings-and-misses and 11 called strikes. Vintage JdG.

Once again, as has been the story in nearly every game they’ve played this season — and what feels like every start deGrom has ever made — the Mets had their opportunities to swing momentum in their direction.

In games like these, when deGrom literally does everything within his power to secure a victory and they can’t get the job done, it stings even more.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “We had a couple of chances today and didn’t come through […] Definitely a lot of disappointment.”

Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers blowing 96-to-98 MPH four-seamers and spinning low-80s sliders by Mets hitters all afternoon was frustrating from every blue and orange point of view.

But it was more of a testament to the level of absolute filth the 23-year-old former first-round draft pick (2017, 13th overall) brought to the yard today as opposed to the ineptitude the Mets exhibited.

Brandon Nimmo continued his terrific start to the year, contributing his third double of the season to lead things off in the first. He was left stranded.

Dominic Smith added a leadoff hit of his own in the fifth and McNeil walked later in the frame. Again, all for naught.

Stated plainly, the Mets have not been what experts would refer to as good at the plate this season. Especially in their most pressing moments.

Sure, the Mets stranding 47 baserunners over their first five games is moderately concerning. Heck, it’s causing some fans on social media to certifiably lose their collective minds.

And that’s understandable. We’re a jaded bunch. High expectations have rarely meshed well with this franchise.

But with this roster’s offensive prowess, as well as its ability to put 50-plus men on base over five games, it should be clear that these early inequities will even themselves out.

Wasting yet another of Jacob deGrom’s career days is just flat-out disappointing. There’s no other way to put it. His fourth career 14-strikeout game came at a time when the Mets needed their ace to act as such. And we wouldn’t expect anything less from Jake.

This team’s uneven, exasperated (and exasperating) start is what it is — a bad start. DeGrom did all he could to right the ship. He did his job. Now it’s up to the rest of the gang to pull their weight.

A just-as-futile 2-2 stretch in July certainly wouldn’t be looked upon as catastrophically as the Mets’ season-opening swoons at the plate are currently being digested.

Peaks and valleys, ebbs and flows. We’ve gone over this before. The cache of potent, proven bats residing in Flushing won’t simply fall flat — all at once, no less. This group will pick themselves up. They’re too talented not to.

Michael Conforto, amidst an exceptionally untimely slump to start his showcase season, will find his stroke.

Jeff McNeil, 1-for-15 this season, hasn’t put together a career .338 batting average on balls in play based on luck. He’ll be fine.

Pete Alonso, coming off a scorching-hot spring and an exit-velocity riddled first few games, will hit that hyperdrive button soon, too.

Let things fall into place. As fans, we’d all be served quite well by a little patience. It’s possible the same could be said for the guys in that clubhouse. They’ll never admit they’re pressing, but it’s certainly a plausible scenario.

High expectations take some adjusting to get used to. Keep the faith, friends.

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