Showalter questions Nimmo's failed SB: 'It's like a 30-foot jump shot'
New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo made a questionable decision on Thursday, attempting to steal second base while trailing two in the ninth with one out against the Detroit Tigers. He got thrown out, and following the shutout loss, manager Buck Showalter was asked about it.
"It's like a 30-foot jump shot, right?" Showalter said, acknowledging the decision to go was Nimmo's and didn't come from the dugout or coaching staff. "It's a byproduct of us trying to push something that's not there."
Brandon Nimmo said the decision to attempt a steal of second base in a two-run game in the ninth inning today was his alone. He thought it was an easy steal.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 4, 2023
Buck Showalter: "It's like a 30-foot jump shot, right? It's a byproduct of us trying to push something that's not there." pic.twitter.com/aWvJ6rFHIC
Starling Marte wound up striking out two pitches later to seal the victory for the Tigers.
The gaffe is the latest miscue for the slumping Mets, who have lost three straight and dropped to .500 after a 2-9 stretch.
Showalter didn't pin the entire loss on Nimmo, though.
"He's a really good player for us and we're lucky to have him," the veteran skipper continued on SNY's postgame. "That isn't what beat us ... we only hit one ball hard all day so that's the thing I dwell on."
The Mets and Nimmo agreed to an eight-year, $162-million deal this past winter to retain the outfielder in free agency. The 30-year-old has had an impressive start to the 2023 campaign, hitting .302/.394/.431 with two homers and three stolen bases.