What’s the biggest pet peeve New York Mets fans have right now other than the overuse of the City Connect uniforms? It must be the lack of innings from the starting pitchers. Other than David Peterson, no one is consistently going deep in games. And by deep, the standard has become more than 5.
Clay Holmes has been a frequent example, but let’s not let Kodai Senga slide so easily. Frankie Montas hasn’t gobbled up innings either. Based on the results, fans aren’t so upset about how short his outings have been. We’d rather see Austin Warren on the mound anyway.
It’s a blister on the Mets roster not going away anytime soon. Holmes has burnt out. Senga showed in 2023 what his limitations are. Montas is on the floor of what we could’ve expected. Other than Sean Manaea joining Peterson as someone who can give them length, 40-60% of the rotation will be good for about 15 outs at the most.
It’s not as easy as the Mets calling up a prospect either
As badly as Mets fans have been screaming for the team to call up Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat, it hardly guarantees length nor does it improve the starting pitchers who haven’t been able to last long. We’d have to expect McLean or Sproat to fall right in line with their future big league teammates. Starters simply don’t last beyond the sixth inning often enough.
The Mets reloaded their bullpen at the trade deadline, hoping to shorten games. Well, with the starters lengthening their outings on a regular basis, 9 innings games feel like they’ve been stretched out at least another frame rather than cut in half.
A starting pitcher was on the Mets’ trade deadline wish list. A limited number of available arms plus an outrageous asking price on ones who didn’t move had the Mets holding tight. Their last internal roster move would’ve been to move Holmes to the bullpen and forego adding Ryan Helsley or Tyler Rogers, using either package to acquire a starter. They chose to keep Holmes in the rotation (for now). Every 5 days, it’s becoming more apparent they might’ve printed out the wrong directions from MapQuest.
Just 4 innings out of Montas on Sunday, and not outstanding results, has this blister aching a little more. The team lacks roster flexibility to go with a six-man rotation at the moment because of how many good relievers they actually have. It’s a catch-22. Warren was their optional reliever on Sunday with Reed Garrett available as the only other pitcher they could demote without the player’s ability to refuse.
It’s going to take some wise navigating of the pitching staff through August until rosters expand in September and they get an extra body. Before then, it may take a dry eye or two to get through it. Just don’t get caught like Billy Eppler.
