NY Mets: Buck Showalter gets testy when asked about sketchy starting pitching

Mets manager Buck Showalter snapped at reporters over questions about New York’s plan on the mound against the Brewers on Tuesday.

The Mets have the biggest payroll in baseball but they’re wallowing in fourth place in the NL East. So of course the pressure is on manager Buck Showalter, especially with a 4-6 record in the team’s last 10.

Showalter cracked a bit on Sunday morning before New York suffered an embarrassing loss to the Phillies when reporters dared to ask about the plan for starting pitching against the Brewers on Tuesday.

“What is it with knowing about things before they happen?” Showalter said, per Tim Healy of Newsday. “Do you want to know about when you’re going to die?”

Showalter maybe should think before comparing anything about Tuesday’s game against the Brewers with dying. First of all, nothing about that matchup should be life-or-death. But if we’re talking in metaphors, increasing calls for the manager’s job does mean someone could be in danger of getting the figurative axe by Tuesday.

Honestly, Showalter is missing the point entirely. Reporters are asking about Tuesday’s start because fans want to know who Tuesday’s starter is. It’s really that simple. And it shouldn’t elicit such a disdainful response.

Mets starting pitching woes aren’t helping Buck Showalter

It’s pretty clear exactly why Showalter is so surly over it. His ire likely has a lot to do with the fact that the Mets don’t have a good option for that start.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and others reported on Sunday morning that David Peterson will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take the mound on Tuesday. Peterson has an 8.08 ERA and 1-6 record in eight starts for New York this year. His last five starts in the minors have yielded an ERA of 6.00.

There’s literally nothing encouraging about putting Peterson back on the mound while the Mets try to win a series for the first time since the start of the month.