Rookie Dilson Herrera was crucial to both the good and the bad in the Mets' most recent effort.
When Dilson Herrera got called up to the major leagues, he wasn't supposed to bring the minor leagues with him. The Mets committed six errors in a woeful performance on Monday afternoon, with Herrera contributing two errors in the effort. It wasn't all bad, though, since he belted his first major league home run and first major league triple en route to a three-RBI performance. But Manager Terry Collins did notice his defensive miscues, among the others during the 9-6 loss.
Jeurys Familia racked up two of the team's three eighth-inning errors, one fielding and one throwing, while David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud kicked in one each. Collins held back in not holding back per ESPN New York's Adam Rubin
"I'm not sure I can say it publicly," Collins said about sharing his true thoughts on the error total. "It wasn't just that. A lot of phases of the game weren't very good."
Herrera was straightforward in his self-assessment
"No excuses," Herrera said through an interpreter. "Errors are going to happen. I'm going to make mistakes and errors. I'm not perfect. But I'm also going to continue to work on it and get better."
Collins didn't seem to be concerned about Herrera's future at all
"He's going to be fine," Collins said about Herrera. "He's a good-looking little player. He's got to get used to the speed of the fields here. They're shaved down pretty good. The infields are pretty fast -- everywhere, in every ballpark. He's got to get used to the speed of the game up here. I think when he does we'll see some different results."
While the Mets are mired in another losing season, Collins seems to think it's a lack of focus rather than a lack of effort that has plagued them of late. Collins has received criticism all season long in his handling of the Mets rotation and bullpen, and didn't do himself any favors leaving Zack Wheeler in to throw 114 pitches in 4⅔ innings. He wanted Wheeler to be in line for a decision, something that probably shouldn't be so important at this stage of the season.