When Littell runs into trouble, he doesn't seem to be able to get out of it.
Would you believe that with one out in the 4th, Littell had been more efficient than Holmes? Even after that first walk, was one double-play pitch away from completing 4 innings at something like 55 pitches.
Then the walks, and the error, and another 25 pitches before he got out #2.
The only good I can see from tonight is that neither Littell nor Vivas is really a piece of the puzzle.
Neither Littell nor Vivas was EVER a piece of the puzzle. They've always just been placeholders. Mead, Tena, Weimer, Millas. Mikolas, Schultze, Lovelady. Even Irvin and Ruiz. Poulin and Beeter.
Placeholders, all. The pieces that will complete the puzzle are in the minors, the 60-day IL, other teams, and college or HS. ;)
Before the season started I made a rather obvious comment. But it still holds. The Nats offense depends on Wood and Abrams. When they are going good, they score lots of runs, and when they aren't, the offense goes cold as well.
There's something wrong with Littell as coming into this season he had a 5.4% walk rate for his career, much better than the league average now he can't throw a strike when he needs to. He's never had overpowering stuff but excellent command is what made it possible for him to navigate lineups. Unless he gets his command back he will be hit hard for the rest of the season.
I'm hoping it's just that he was signed so late. That said, I do think that will no longer be a legitimate explanation if nothing changes after another couple starts.
As one who was happy they signed him, I will be really disappointed if he can't fix whatever is causing his struggles.
Ummm. Can they send him to Rochester to work things out? Maybe see whether Cornelia can find the plate? Still not sure why they have both Tena and Vivas.
Al Galdi made a good point on Nats Chat a few days ago, though…there might have been a reason Littell was still available into Spring Training. His numbers may have lied.
Ugh…I was afraid the Mets, with Soto back in the line-up, would get healthy by feasting on Nationals’ pitching….hopefully I’m wrong and today was the aberration not the norm…it gives me nightmares as in 2024, a similarly struggling Mets team swept the Nats in 4 in DC and rode to the NLCS…
The only one they signed who had the potential to be "prized" was Griffin, but whether his stuff would translate back to MLB was unknown. I'd argue it still is -- a month into the season its possible the league hasn't adjusted to him yet.
Littell has been a bum but another loss falls pretty squarely on Vivas for one play with an utter lack of concentration. That’s at least twice now, have there been more? I’m so out on him, if he had more of a positive rep I’d be more forgiving but ask any fanbase of a team he’s played for and they all say the same thing.
Lots of baaaad at bats in the game. James Wood has had some of the worst ABs of late, reminding me of Matt 'Stares' looking at strike three right down the middle.
The Vivas error in the 4th was the most brutal, game defining E I’ve seen in a long time. Turned what was going to be an inning ending DP into opening the floodgates for a 7 run inning. I only saw it once, live, as I was at the game so maybe it was a toughrr chance than it appeared, but seemed like Jorbit just took his eye off ball as he mapped out the force at third in his head…I know Zach still had chances to mininimize the damage but seems to me that play deserves more blame here…
I don’t entirely blame Littell for tonight. In the 4th, he induced the ground ball he needed to get out of the inning. Vivas just didn’t make the play.
It does seem like Littell lacks some resilience though. That E-5 didn’t need to turn into SEVEN damned runs.
I think House has been slumping and needed the mental break of 2 days off — also, despite their bad record, the Mets are a talented team and giving them an extra out with the bases loaded leads to bad outcomes.
I don’t entirely blame Littell for tonight. In the 4th, he induced the ground ball he needed to get out of the inning. Vivas just didn’t make the play.
It does seem like Littell lacks some resilience though. That E-5 didn’t need to turn into SEVEN damned runs.
Hoping this chalks up to just first game post-day-off, sheesh
Unfortunately this felt like watching the Nats of the past few years.
Too much so
"...In the end, it was Littell who gave. And gave. And gave some more" I love Mark's writing!
Given what happened to the Red Sox staff after a laugher, I am not sure the Mets should be too content with their feel good game...
When Littell runs into trouble, he doesn't seem to be able to get out of it.
Would you believe that with one out in the 4th, Littell had been more efficient than Holmes? Even after that first walk, was one double-play pitch away from completing 4 innings at something like 55 pitches.
Then the walks, and the error, and another 25 pitches before he got out #2.
The only good I can see from tonight is that neither Littell nor Vivas is really a piece of the puzzle.
Neither Littell nor Vivas was EVER a piece of the puzzle. They've always just been placeholders. Mead, Tena, Weimer, Millas. Mikolas, Schultze, Lovelady. Even Irvin and Ruiz. Poulin and Beeter.
Placeholders, all. The pieces that will complete the puzzle are in the minors, the 60-day IL, other teams, and college or HS. ;)
Before the season started I made a rather obvious comment. But it still holds. The Nats offense depends on Wood and Abrams. When they are going good, they score lots of runs, and when they aren't, the offense goes cold as well.
There's something wrong with Littell as coming into this season he had a 5.4% walk rate for his career, much better than the league average now he can't throw a strike when he needs to. He's never had overpowering stuff but excellent command is what made it possible for him to navigate lineups. Unless he gets his command back he will be hit hard for the rest of the season.
I'm hoping it's just that he was signed so late. That said, I do think that will no longer be a legitimate explanation if nothing changes after another couple starts.
As one who was happy they signed him, I will be really disappointed if he can't fix whatever is causing his struggles.
We all saw what happened to Corbin. Took awhile for everyone, especially the team, to realize it wasn’t a mirage but a new normal.
He’s throwing strikes. The problem is they’re not missing bats. Too much hard contact.
Ummm. Can they send him to Rochester to work things out? Maybe see whether Cornelia can find the plate? Still not sure why they have both Tena and Vivas.
He's been in the majors since 2018. Highly unlikely he has any options at this point.
Thanks. My knowledge of options is limited. Not sure owners want to send $7M down the drain quite yet.
They might as well. It’s a sunk cost.
Al Galdi made a good point on Nats Chat a few days ago, though…there might have been a reason Littell was still available into Spring Training. His numbers may have lied.
He could only go to the minors if he was placed on the IL (legitimately, which I would not rule out) and was working on a rehab assignment.
Ugh…I was afraid the Mets, with Soto back in the line-up, would get healthy by feasting on Nationals’ pitching….hopefully I’m wrong and today was the aberration not the norm…it gives me nightmares as in 2024, a similarly struggling Mets team swept the Nats in 4 in DC and rode to the NLCS…
Somehow I don't think an opener would have made any difference tonight.
4-8 with our “prized” pitching free agents. Maybe we’d be better off pitching Parker, Alvarez and Cornelio
This!! ^
I agree that I’d rather see the kids, but no one in MLB thought of Mikolas and Littel as “prized.” Pretty much no other team wanted them.
^^ THIS! ^^
The only one they signed who had the potential to be "prized" was Griffin, but whether his stuff would translate back to MLB was unknown. I'd argue it still is -- a month into the season its possible the league hasn't adjusted to him yet.
Littell has been a bum but another loss falls pretty squarely on Vivas for one play with an utter lack of concentration. That’s at least twice now, have there been more? I’m so out on him, if he had more of a positive rep I’d be more forgiving but ask any fanbase of a team he’s played for and they all say the same thing.
Agree that Vivas should be let go. What is the upside, I don’t see it.
I wouldn’t 100% blame Vivas. The Mets had an excellent pitcher on the mound and the Nats didn’t score even one run. So that was a big factor as well.
I agree. They did nothing, unfortunately, to make interesting at the plate.
The offense has gone silent the last few games. I hope it's not a trend.
Same.
Lots of baaaad at bats in the game. James Wood has had some of the worst ABs of late, reminding me of Matt 'Stares' looking at strike three right down the middle.
The Vivas error in the 4th was the most brutal, game defining E I’ve seen in a long time. Turned what was going to be an inning ending DP into opening the floodgates for a 7 run inning. I only saw it once, live, as I was at the game so maybe it was a toughrr chance than it appeared, but seemed like Jorbit just took his eye off ball as he mapped out the force at third in his head…I know Zach still had chances to mininimize the damage but seems to me that play deserves more blame here…
I was watching the game on my phone. When I saw Vivas miss the ball, my jaw literally dropped.
Once Soto went yard, I think we could all sense it was game over.
I don’t entirely blame Littell for tonight. In the 4th, he induced the ground ball he needed to get out of the inning. Vivas just didn’t make the play.
It does seem like Littell lacks some resilience though. That E-5 didn’t need to turn into SEVEN damned runs.
I think House has been slumping and needed the mental break of 2 days off — also, despite their bad record, the Mets are a talented team and giving them an extra out with the bases loaded leads to bad outcomes.
Giving away outs in MLB is like committing defensive penalties in the NFL. They almost always come back to bite you because you can’t undo them.
I don’t entirely blame Littell for tonight. In the 4th, he induced the ground ball he needed to get out of the inning. Vivas just didn’t make the play.
It does seem like Littell lacks some resilience though. That E-5 didn’t need to turn into SEVEN damned runs.