Let’s start by stipulating something that may be unpopular: Rarely does a manager cost a Major League Baseball team a game. If a team loses, it’s usually because high-paid professional players fail to execute their jobs well. And, make no mistake, that was the case last night: the Mets’ bats made a journeyman starter and rotating cast of relievers look like an All-Star game staff, while the Amazins’ quality relievers failed to find the plate, and strong defensive players botched a routine play.
But it is also the case that manager Luis Rojas did open himself to criticism — even before the game (or season) had begun. It started with a stunning decision to bench Dom Smith, one of the top hitters not just on the team last season, but in the major leagues. Rojas started (presumed) fourth outfielder Kevin Pillar instead, telling reporters before the game he liked the matchup of the righty Pillar facing Philadelphia’s left-handed starter Matt Moore.
The logic was questionable before a single pitch was thrown. Prior to Monday, Pillar was 1 for 11 (.091) for his career versus Moore, with no walks and two strikeouts. More importantly, Smith, while left-handed, put up a slash-line last season of .283/.391./509 against lefties, for a .900 OPS. He can hit lefties. He’s one of the best hitters on the team, he’s been a great Met, and as SNY’s Doug Williams tweeted before the game:
The Pillar surprise didn’t end there. Beyond penciling him in the lineup over Smith, Rojas also put him in the leadoff slot, despite a lifetime OBP against lefties of .320 — and moved OBP machine (.358 OBP lifetime against lefties) Brandon Nimmo to the 8-hole.
Things got even more curious. Fast forward to the fourth inning. The sluggish Mets bats finally managed to drag two runs across the plate, and now had bases loaded with one out, and Pillar stepping to the plate. Phillies manager Joe Girardi served the easy decision on a platter for Rojas, by removing lefty Moore for a right-hander. Time to bring in Dom! After all, the “matchups” rationale (flimsy as it was) was now gone.
For whatever reason, Rojas left Pillar in (after the game, he alluded to trusting Pillar and noted that he made a solid defensive play in the first inning). The result was one of those missed opportunities you know in real time is going to haunt you: Pillar grounded into an inning-ending, rally-killing double play. And ultimately, in the end, the Mets lost a two-run game on Opening Day with one of their best hitters riding the pine the entire night.
There were other questionable in-game calls. Trevor May clearly didn’t have his best stuff in the 8th inning — which is on him, not Rojas. But pulling him for Aaron Loup with one out meant that the lefty would have to stay in and face three batters (thanks to a new rule), requiring him to retire righties after getting through lefty Bryce Harper (which he didn’t do). The move didn’t work out, but in fairness to Rojas, you can’t blame him for May and Loup not doing their jobs.
Another decision that didn’t pan out was pinch hitting Jonathan Villar for the pitcher spot in the ninth inning at a time when the trailing Mets needed a baserunner more than anything. Villar’s lifetime OBP? .327. Still sitting on the bench at that point? One Dominic Smith, who ended up in the on-deck circle when the last out was made.
It was such a tough night for Rojas that even uncontroversial moves backfired, as he brought in defensive specialist Luis Guillorme to play third base in the later innings… only to watch him make a slightly errant throw that catcher James McCann couldn’t handle, leading to two unearned runs in the 8th.
If you’ve read this far, you may be wondering: How could we discuss Rojas’ questionable decisions from last night, without mentioning the one everyone is talking about — pulling Jacob deGrom after just six innings? The reason is three-fold.
First, this decision was made in consultation with deGrom, who felt that after ten days off (and knowing he’s pitching again on Saturday), he didn’t want to stretch himself too far. So you can’t kill the manager for that. Second, the bullpen should be able to do its job and hold a lead for a few innings. And third — and most importantly — Miguel Castro delivered a shutout inning in the 7th, which means the 8th inning began with Trevor May on the mound, exactly as planned, regardless of whether deGrom had pitched the 7th. Even in a best-case scenario, deGrom would have gone 7 last night and handed the ball to May to start the 8th. Nothing Rojas did changed that plan. May and Loup just didn’t get the job done.
In the end, the Mets lost because they couldn’t hit (until the 9th inning), and their bullpen couldn’t pitch. And it turns out that if you can’t hit or pitch, it’s hard to win baseball games.
But last night, Rojas’s decisions didn’t make it easier.