It Was Fun While It Lasted for the 2019 Mets

If there were any benefits to the MLB’s 162 game schedule, the 2019 New York Mets would know about them. The Mets sat 40-50 at the All-Star Break, but went on a torrid 20-5 run to climb back into the National League Wild Card race. However, after Sunday night’s loss to the Dodgers, it’s become clear to many in the baseball realm: the playoff hopes are dead.

The Mets’ biggest flaws (bullpen, manager, and bullpen management) were on full display for the whole nation to see. Zack Wheeler could only watch as his brilliant work went to waste. Mets’ manager Callaway left in the left-handed Justin Wilson to face the righty Chris Taylor, and the decision burned him.

This was just one of many questionable decisions that Callaway has made over the course of the season. However, this is the problem when there are only two reliable relievers in your bullpen (the Mets’ bullpen has a horrid 5.17 ERA this season). Wilson has been one of the most reliable relievers for the Mets, but clearly did not have his best repertoire on Sunday. To make matters worse, neither did the other reliable reliever in the bullpen, Seth Lugo, who was charged with the loss after serving up a go-ahead single in the following inning. While any good team would have another arm to use when their best arms are failing, the Mets had no other trustworthy arms to go to, and were forced to run out Wilson and Lugo even though they were struggling.

The Mets have tried to give their fans hope for 2020, but it is hard to have hope when they’ve watched the bullpen get mismanaged and blow so many games. If the Mets hope to contend next season, they must add some strong relievers and fire Mickey Callaway (who

probably should’ve been fired by now anyway), or they will continue to see the same results.