Four runs on four hits and five walks in 2⅔ innings put the game out of reach early.
Dave Mlicki made the Mets’ first start of the very first installment of the Subway Series at the old Yankee Stadium on June 16, 1997. He is remembered fondly by Mets fans for pitching his first major-league complete game shutout against the Yankees in the Mets’ 6-0 victory. It was beautiful to watch. He had complete control of the game by keeping the Yankees off-balance. He pitched with such veteran savvy on that Monday night. The only cheers that night came from Mets fans in the South Bronx.
If Mlicki’s was the best start a Mets starter had in this city series, then Tylor Megill’s Friday night start may have been the worst start a Mets starter ever had.
To say Megill melted down was an understatement. He put the Mets out of the game after he failed to get the final out in the third inning, resulting in a 39-pitch inning that featured four walks, two infield singles, and four runs in the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Mets at the current Yankee Stadium.
Here was the final stat line: He gave up four runs on four hits and five walks in 2⅔ innings, the shortest and sloppiest outing of the season.
This comes after Megill melted down in his last start against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed four runs and seven hits in 4⅔ innings on 77 pitches, including two runs, three hits, and two walks in the first inning, resulting in a Mets’ 6-5 loss to the Cubs.
In his last two starts, his one bad inning put the Mets out of the game early.
If Megill is going to be an automatic loss every fifth start, where he loses it in an inning, there’s no reason for him to be in the starting rotation anymore. The Mets shouldn’t wait until Frankie Montas or Sean Manaea are activated from the injured list.
They don’t have to call up Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, or Jonah Tong. They can call up anyone, and he would be an upgrade over Megill.
Pete Blackburn made his rehab start for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets Double-A team) against the Hartford Yard Goats at Hartford on Friday night. He gave up a hit on five runs (three earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts.
One has to figure he will be called up soon and replace Megill in the rotation.
Megill likely will make his final start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and at this point, it’s hard to think he has a chance against them. This will mean the Mets will make a move.
What choice do they have at this point? Honestly, the Mets are better off throwing an opener against the Dodgers next weekend. He would give them a better chance to win than Megill.
Megill gets off to a great start, but teams figure him out, and he turns into a pumpkin. He has a 2.45 career ERA in March and April, and he follows it up with a 6.41 career ERA in May and June. After posting a 1.74 three starts ago, his ERA has ballooned to 3.74.
This should be proof that he is not qualified to be a starter. This isn’t a sample size anymore. He’s who he is at this point in his career. Not even the great Mets’ pitching lab can save him.
There’s nothing to think about here anymore. He has had plenty of opportunities to show he can put on a great season with his potential. It just hasn’t happened.
Megill struggles to combine all his pitches, as he can’t make adjustments the second time. He relies too much on his fastball at the first sign of trouble rather than trusting his array of pitches. If he can’t have command of his control and if he pitches like a mental midget, he can’t justify being in the starting rotation. It’s not fair for the other 24 guys on the team. Fans shouldn’t be able to watch a starter implode every start.
You can talk about the bad luck with the defense on Friday night in that ill-fated third inning. You can talk about the strike zone calls that Megill didn’t get against the Cubs. If you do that, you are missing the point about Megill.
It gets tiring watching this from him every year. It’s been five years. Maybe he is better off pitching elsewhere where he can benefit from a change of scenery, and there’s no shame in that.
