Whether it represented a goal, a challenge, a standard for which to strive or just an utter illusion, the Mets’ hope for 90 victories is no longer feasible.
Hey, relax. They still can win 89.
But with a mostly lifeless offense that generated just five singles, the Mets could not withstand starting pitcher Bartolo Colon getting ambushed in a five-run sixth inning, and so they suffered their 73rd defeat of the season, a 7-2 drilling by the Phillies on Saturday at Citi Field.
“My perspective on it is obviously the season hasn’t gone the way we would have liked,” said David Wright, who had two walks and two strikeouts. “We all put forth expectations for ourselves, whether it’s individual or for the team and when you don’t meet those expectations, of course it’s disappointing.”
General manager Sandy Alderson said he had used 90 victories not as a prediction or even a goal, but as a challenge that the franchise should move toward. No team ever found success starting a season with, “Let’s be mediocre …”
“As far as Sandy’s comments I can only speak on what I personally feel what the vibe is in the clubhouse,” Wright said. “We obviously have not played as well as we would have liked to and that’s disappointing. With that being said, there’s a lot to play for this last month.”
The Mets handed the game to Colon (12-11) who was nailed for ex-Met Marlon Byrd’s career-high 25th homer, a leadoff shot in the fifth. For the most part, Colon was cruising. Then disaster. The Phillies rapped him for six hits, all singles, in their big uprising that saw a two-run single by Ryan Howard.
“Outside of the pitch to Marlon, he was really sailing along,” manager Terry Collins said. “I’m going to cut him a little slack. The long trips he’s had the last 10 days, back and forth like that.”
Collins cited Colon’s professionalism during his recent personal issues when his mother passed away following a lengthy illness. Colon, 41, flew home to the Dominican Republic, flew back to Los Angeles to pitch (and win) then returned to his homeland for the funeral. Collins also stressed the positive impact Colon has on the young pitchers.
“I’m not sure they realized how hard that was for him, just what he went through with his mother being as sick as she was,” Collins said. “Maybe when it becomes crunch time for them, they’ll think about what Bartolo had to do.”
Colon, through an interpreter, said the travel had no effect on him. And as far as the sixth inning, he made no change.
“Didn’t do anything different. Made some good pitches, they still put them in play,” Colon said, noting the travel “really didn’t affect anything at all.”
Colon also has dealt with — but did not address — a myriad of trade rumors. Having already cleared waivers, Colon can be traded to any team. But if a team wants him for the playoffs, they would need to get something done by Sunday’s deadline.
Of course, he always could make the postseason with the Mets …
The Mets could be better off waiting until the offseason if they decide to deal Colon. Given the price tags attached to starting pitchers, some team easily could find Colon at one year and $11 million not that unreasonable.
“I don’t think it bothers him at all, honestly,” Collins said of the rumors. “You don’t pitch all the years he’s pitched at this level and see a lot of things happen around you and to you [without realizing] stuff out of your control, you can’t worry about.”
Down 6-0, the Mets tried to rally in the seventh against starter Jerome Williams (5-5). They bunched four of their five hits, including the first ever by prospect Dilson Herrera. Wilmer Flores stroked an RBI single and Juan Lagares walked with the bases loaded, but then Curtis Granderson struck out against lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo.