This misplay vs. the SF Giants proves the struggling is in the NY Mets players’ heads

There seems to come a point in most New York Mets seasons when you realize the struggles have entered their head. It’s a game where nothing seems to go right or an early lead is blown in the way you already envisioned it could be. Their 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday didn’t prove much other than they may be guilty of trying to do a little too much.

Marcus Semien was the one to reveal the magician’s secrets. On this mostly routine pop up between the infield and outfield, he tried to make the catch only for the ball to drop in.

No, the Giants didn’t score as a result. It was one of the clean innings of the night. But it represented the Mets players, the newbies especially, trying a little too hard right now.

The Mets are playing like it's already in their heads

Bo Bichette said something interesting over the weekend about his slump that seems to ring true for Semien.

Have a moment? Semien is searching for his. An Oneil Cruz misjudged ball on Opening Day isn’t it. For Semien, who’s here for his defense, it felt like the play in San Francisco was an attempt to make up for not nabbing the pop up to walk it off for the St. Louis Cardinals the day prior.

There was some debate about whose ball that one was, Carson Benge the player who made the most sense to catch it. This most recent pop fly was definitely not Semien’s ball either, but Luis Robert Jr. as the more seasoned big league defender and perfect angle to make a shoestring catch at worst was right there.

Bad communication? Misjudgement? Where was the emphatic “Yo la tengo!” from Robert when you need it?

Defense for the Mets has not been superb to start the year and little of it has involved Bichette or Jorge Polanco learning new positions. Robert had his own misjudgment earlier this week. On a team that preached run prevention, we haven’t seen the benefits of their Gold Glove pedigree. Paired with a contagious slump only Juan Soto has managed to avoid as an everyday player, it’s sticking out like the black and blue nail on the sore thumb.