Astros P Wandy Rodriguez came into last night’s contest with the New York Mets sporting an ERA of 7.31. All too typically for the hosts, Rodriguez held the Amazingly Anemics to one run over 7 innings, as Houston’s 6-1 victory left the Mets — 2-10 over their last dozen games — with the worst record in the National League. Though praising skipper Terry Collins (all but called a lame duck for the 2nd time this April) for his willingness to chew out Daniel Murphy last weekend, the Bergen Record’s Bob Klapisch warns, “it’s already a dreadful season at Citi Field, with or without an emotional manager,” citing the Mets’ decision Tuesday to part ways with 2B Brad Emaus.
Emaus was the same player whom the Mets promoted after firing Luis Castillo in spring training. Emaus was younger, more athletic, an example of the New Way in Flushing. Turns out Emaus wasn’t very good at all, batting just .162. After just 16 games, Alderson decided, “We’d given it enough time.”
Alderson is one of baseball’s most self-assured executives – obviously he’s not afraid to rewrite policy on short notice. Still, in last place, change feels like panic. The Mets are lurching from one failure to the next, unable to decide whom they trust.
That’s because ownership is so desperate to make this season meaningful to ticket buyers. Castillo was released not because he’d played poorly in spring training — he didn’t — but because the fans hated him.
You almost could hear the Wilpons instructing Alderson: “We have to do something.’’
Emaus suffered the same fate, as the Mets quickly have become irrelevant and the rookie became the newest scapegoat. Alderson said “you can absorb certain things” during a winning season, but not when the losses come in a steady, depressing stream and the mantra from above turns into a naked plea: “Do something.’’