The Mets bullpen has busted open the wounds of the 2023 season in 3 straight losses

Enough is enough. Sure, the games the New York Mets are playing “don’t count” in terms of getting to the postseason. If you’re of the mindset that losing is best for the team in securing the sixth overall draft pick or better, you’ve probably had an easier time watching the recent meltdowns by the bullpen.

Despite your logical way of thinking, it’s tough to cheer against your team, the Mets. A sad loss where the offense no-shows or the starting pitcher unravels is one thing. Many of the recent Mets losses have fallen largely on the relief pitchers.

Logically, it’s expected. Emotionally, it’s like an old wound getting busted open.

The NY Mets bullpen is making sure the team loses as much as possible

It all started on Wednesday when Phil Bickford was on the hill for a walk-off Washington Nationals win. Who better to end the game than a trade addition made by the team at the deadline who was probably a day away from being designated for assignment anyway?

The day off on Thursday did nothing to fix the bullpen. Sean Reid-Foley was the culprit on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. He gave up 3 earned runs in his 0.2 innings, no thanks to Grant Hartwig.

Most recently it was Saturday’s game when the once-trusted Drew Smith was tagged for 4 earned runs in his 0.2 inning. Now would normally be a time to say “Et tu?” except Smith has been a lesser version of himself for much of the 2023 season. A bad relief corps seems to be a must for a team like the Mets with little to play for in the standings.

Mets relievers now own a 4.59 ERA on the year. Last year they finished at 3.55. A whole run difference has turned out to contribute to much bigger problems for the team. As much as this can be dismissed as a lack of choices for Buck Showalter in an already dead year, the troubling fact is many of these pitchers should be candidates for next season. Lately, none of those fringe players are looking like a welcome mat will be handed out when the year is over.