IGT 2024-08-13 OAK@NYM

[Frayed Knot]

The A's have:
- an infield single which set up a three-run inning (1st)
- an infield error which was followed by a 3R HR (3rd)
- an infield single which temporarily scored a runner from 2nd base (later overturned) (5th)
- and an infield single which did score a runner from 2nd base and set-up another run (6th)

So basically 8 of their 9 runs were linked to four separate batted balls in a six inning span that didn't leave, or shouldn't have left, the infield.

[Edgy MD]

Damn, it's rough right now to get some runners on with two out and see Álvarez coming up, but that was a surprisingly decent effort at taking the outside pitch the other way.

Not decent enough, sadly.

[Frayed Knot]

Damn, it's rough right now to get some runners on with two out and see Álvarez New York Mets coming up ...

Fixed it for you

[Frayed Knot]

Two hits and a walk vs four Oakland pitchers across four innings.
So the offense has had one good inning but only if you want to put the tag of 'good' on an inning where you go 0/3 starting with two on, none out, and a 3-0 count.

[Gwreck]

A 3 run inning is a good inning, even if it could (should) have been better.

[Edgy MD]

OK, it can happen in the ninth. It's happened before.

[Gwreck]

Surprising number of Oakland fans here tonight. Props for bringing the big “Sell” flag behind their dugout.

[Edgy MD]

But first-pitch swinging from your best on-base guy isn't going to get it done.

[Edgy MD]

Blub.

[Frayed Knot]

A 3 run inning is a good inning, even if it could (should) have been better.

Not when it's your only good inning of the night AND of the last week AND when the opposition has two three run At Bats.

Add that to our usual clutch game of 4/17 w/RiSP and 11 LOB and you've got your nightly clusterfuck.

[Edgy MD]

Well, they found five runs of offense, which eclipses the output in the Seattle series.

The Syracuse Mets went down 8-1, which is more like the Mets in Seattle. They lost to a guy named Brzykcy.

[Fman99]

Yuck

[Lefty Specialist]

You get the feeling that the OMG and Grimace fairy dust is wearing off, and this is what they really are as a team.

Not enough pitching, not enough hitting, not enough bullpen.

[batmagadanleadoff]

But first-pitch swinging from your best on-base guy isn't going to get it done.

Unless he hits a home run on that first pitch. Or even a single. That would've gotten it done.

Again with the don't swing on the first pitch.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cast your vote!

[Edgy MD]

Is there another game today?

[Edgy MD]

Reading Austin Adams' lips.

[Cowtipper]

He better not be too cocky, he has an ERA near 4 and is barely an average pitcher.

Finishing up this game now.

Weak team.

Actually, I lied...weak pitching.

Check out the offense. Every primary starting position player, save for McNeil, has an OPS+ over 100, and McNeil is getting there. The team OPS+ is 110. Iglesias and Torrens also have great OPS+s.

The team is 6th in BA, 6th in OBP, 5th in SLG and 5th in OPS. And 6th in R. 6th in H. 2nd in 2B. 3rd in HR. 7th in BB. 5th in TB. The offense is really solid.

And the pitching isn't BAD, per se. Hard luck is more like it. They're 9th in the league in ERA, so it's not like they're at the bottom of the pile. The ERA+ is 96, which leaves a lot to be desired, but they're also 3rd in Ks, which is excellent.

If the pitching can put it all together for this last month-and-a-half, they'll make the playoffs. Not just that, they'll be formidable. But they need to coalesce, stay coalesced and perform consistently. The streakiness is not going to take them to the promised land.

[batmagadanleadoff]

The team is 6th in BA, 6th in OBP, 5th in SLG and 5th in OPS. And 6th in R. 6th in H. 2nd in 2B. 3rd in HR. 7th in BB. 5th in TB. The offense is really solid.

If you discount the first month, month and a half of the season, when Lindor went through the worst stretch of his career, when the team didn't yet have Martinez and when the team was playing the awful vomit-inducing Baty day in and day out while Vientos was down below organizationally if not geographically, in Syracuse, the team offensive stats look even better.

Maybe the way to evaluate this year's Mets offense is to totally discount that beginning of the season and treat it as an aberration rather than to average in that awful start into the full season's stats.

Also, baseball is now a shithole. You can aspire to be the 13th best team in baseball and you'll probably make the playoffs that way --- and then enter the total crapshoot coin flip playoffs where two or three games decide everything.