Series Preview: New York Mets vs Colorado Rockies

Aug 19, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop I. Desmond (20) tags out Colorado Rockies center fielder C. Blackmon (19) who was attempting to steal second base during the first inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

It’s the bullpen, stupid!

Ok, it’s obviously not just the bullpen, because the starting staff ought to pull its weight too (and that’s arguably more important), and the hitters might as well start to, you know, hit the ball.

Nevertheless, some food for thought on the bullpen entering play Thursday night against the Nationals: the ‘pen is 1-5 with 11.57 ERA in its last 10 games (entering Thursday), and was 0-4 with 14.50 ERA in last five games before the final matchup with the Nats. Is that good?

It’s not just the bullpen, stupid!

Yeah, so the bullpen is bad, but they’re not the only problem. The Rockies’ offense has collapsed in the last ten games, putting up a .222/.262/.380 slash line before play on Thursday night.

Hey, I get it, they’ve faced some very good pitchers with Washington and New York, and even saw some decent arms with the Padres, but damn. It’s tough to win when you’re only OPSing .642 over ten games.

Chris Rusin, come on down!

Hey, Chris Rusin, if you wanted to do the exact same thing this week against New York that you did on Sunday against San Diego, I’d be all for that.

And considering Jorge De La Rosa left after six scoreless innings only to see the bullpen blow up his spot on Wednesday night against Washington, I’m OK with Rusin going the distance again to ensure a victory.

That’s probably not likely, but if there is a silver lining, it’s that the Mets are the only team int he National League that have a worse offense than the Padres, the club Rusin tossed his first complete game shutout against. So you’re saying there’s a chance…

Gray Day, revisited

Jon Gray had a phenomenal start against these New York Mets last week. How will he do now having to see them for the second time? Can he adjust to the Mets before they adjust to him?

This won’t tell the whole story of Jon Gray, of course, but this is the first time he’s seeing a team twice in very short order — something he will have to get used to the way Major League Baseball likes to schedule games — and if he can prove he can make adjustments to find success the second (and third, and fourth) times against the same team during a season, it’s just another check mark pointing towards his future success.

Next: Let's Meet The New York Mets

Aug 18, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Mets outfielder J. Lagares (12) holds the gloves of outfielders Y. Cespedes (52) and C. Granderson (3) during a pitching change against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s Meet The Mets

I had a dream on Wednesday night/Thursday morning that I was Juan Lagares, and that I was just called up to the Mets from the minor leagues.

My dream started me off in the clubhouse — the big league clubhouse — meeting my teammates and getting all my gear and stuff immediately after I had arrived (I guess in New York?) after being recalled.

I also met the manager (but it wasn’t Terry Collins), and then met a bunch of my teammates before heading out to the field for batting practice.

And then, right before the game, my stupid girlfriend sent me a text message (ugh, girls) and woke me up from probably getting my first big league home run. And then I couldn’t fall back asleep because the world hates me, so I just woke up and forgot about the dream literally until right now as I’m writing this for you.

Anyways… here’s the latest on the Mets:

Jacob deGrom, Cy Young candidate? (Rising Apple).
Like we need the reminder that the Mets pitch really, really well and we are in trouble… the Rockies won’t actually see deGrom this series, it would seem, but he is pretty damn good (you know, that’s putting it lightly).

Mets’ path to playoffs will be particularly agonizing (New York Post).
I love New York media; even when things are going well, they’re going terribly.

Mets could skip Matt Harvey’s Sunday start (Sports Illustrated).
Not official yet, but this would be something! The Mets are trying to line up a rotation for the postseason and save some bullets for some of their very important starters, so perhaps the Rockies would benefit from that?

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?