This season the Mets have struggled against the NL Central, now going a combined 9-20 vs. the NL Central. They are 48-29 against the rest of the league. In this series against the Pirates, New York was outscored 16-6. The first two series were close, having to go to extra innings in both games, before the Pirates got the clutch hits they needed. In the Sunday game, it was a double whammy that cost the Mets the ballgame.
First it was the mental error by Ruben Tejada in the 7th. After a rain delay, the teams came out for the top of the 7th. Bobby Parnell took over on the mound. With one on, Parnell then coaxed a comebacker from pinch-hitter Michael Morse that seemed destined to result in a double play. However, shortstop Ruben Tejada appeared late covering second and Parnell's throw went into center field, placing runners on the corners with none out. Officially, the error was assigned to Parnell. After that the flood gates opened on the Mets, allowing the Pirates to cruise to an 8-1 victory.
As of late I've been all over Booby Parnell for not really being able to get a quick inning in relief. He has caused indigestion for Mets fans as of late, seemingly getting rocked almost every time he has come out to pitch as of late. I know Parnell is just coming off Tommy John Surgery, which is a tough thing for pitchers to come back from. Sure there have been some instances where a pitcher doesn't fully recover from the operation, but more often than not, pitchers will come back to form (or as close to back to form as possible) and continue on with their careers. Parnell hasn't looked like his old self. Yes he is still throwing very hard, that hasn't been in question. He's just having trouble locating his pitches. They have gas but no movement. If you can't get movement on your pitches, it won't lead to too much success. In two outings this series, Parnell, who’s coming off Tommy John surgery, gave up five hits and six runs, four of which were earned, while only getting two outs. He was booed off the mound after both appearances. This is not to say that other players on the Mets haven't struggled, because they have. Juan Lagares dropped a ball in the outfield Sunday as he crashed into the wall to try and make a catch. Stuff like that can be easily covered up. Bobby Parnell having trouble getting guys out can't really be covered up that quickly, or easily.
After the way this weekend went, it has to make you worry just a little bit as to how the Mets might fair come playoff time. As it sits right now, three of the five playoff spots are being held down by the top three teams in the National League Central, the Cardinals, the Pirates and the Cubs. The Mets have a total of 9 wins against that entire central division, which could spell trouble. I don't know what it is, but the Mets just can't get a win against the Central to save their lives at the moment. But the Mets have caught a couple of big breaks.
As it sits right now, the team still holds a four and a half game lead on the Washington Nationals, who now sit a game under .500. Washington has been an underachieving teams this season. I know they have been dealing with injuries most of the year, but still they were expected to run away with the East, and that hasn't been the case at all. The Mets have gotten a little bit lucky, in that the Natinoals just got Swept by the Giants out in San Francisco. It has helped the Mets out that the Nats have now lost six straight games. Washington last got a win by beating the Dodgers on August 10th. Things have gotten rough for the Nationals, as they are now 10-21 since the all-star break, one of the worst records in the National League in that time frame.
New York does catch a bit of a break going down the stretch run here. As it sits right now (at the time of this writing) the Mets will face two teams, TWO TEAMS, with winning records. They play the Baltimore Orioles (60-56) during the upcoming two-game series at Camden Yards. Then they don't face another team with a winning record until the American League East-leading Yankees (64-52) come into Queens for a weekend series September 18th to the 20th.
Yes the Mets stumbled against Pittsburgh this past weekend, but, as far as the division standings go, they got lucky they didn't lose any ground.
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