The New York Mets climbed back to .500 last night in their 78th game. I never expected that after the awful several weeks they spent from mid-April through the month of May. In fact, after reflecting back, there are many things I never expected.
The sudden offense. The Mets put up 21 runs in two games against the league-leading Yankees. That includes 24 hits in two games, four home runs against Garrett Cole, six doubles, and 11 walks. Lindor is hitting line drives on almost every at-bat, Martinez is hitting like the guy we thought he was when acquired, and Mark Vientos is hitting with power like most of the writers here kept saying he could.
The quality opponents. The Mets have won 17 of 23 since leaving Los Angeles. At that point, with the Phillies, Padres, Rangers, Cubs, and Yankees on the schedule, most of us thought it was going to get even uglier. The Amazins never cease to amaze. Something turned this team around. Was it the team meeting, the Grimace, or just someone pulling a pin out of a voodoo doll? They have not only beaten good teams and hot teams, but they have beaten some very good pitchers. Garrett Cole, Shota Imanga, Michael Lorenzen, and Jon Gray were among their victims. I certainly thought that this year’s team did not have the will to beat good teams and good pitchers.
The resilience. The Mets have included come-from-behind victories, hold-on-to-lead victories, and have managed to push through any adversity during this streak. That includes the unimaginable 10-game suspension of Edwin Diaz who walked into a game with stickier hands than a one year old who was handed the cake on his first birthday.
The heroes. If someone were to tell me six weeks ago that the Mets were going to establish a winning streak, I would have imagined that Lindor, McNeil, Alonso, and Martinez would finally get hot. Well, Lindor and Martinez did, but there have been so many others like Harrison Bader, Adrian Houser, Jose Iglesias, and Dedniel Nunez that have played outsized roles in this unbelievable roll.
The walks. OK, not all the surprises are good ones. The Mets’ pitching staff have walked 303 batters now, which is third worst in baseball. It is not getting better, as evidenced by the seven free passes given out yesterday and seven more the night before. The offense has managed to overcome this lately but this is not sustainable. I was pleased to see Carlos Mendoza yank Adam Ottavino off the mound in a 9-1 ballgame after he walked the number 8 hitter in the eighth inning. It sent a message not only to Otto, but to the rest of the staff – free bases for the bottom of the order will not be tolerated when there are dangerous weapons (Soto, Judge) close behind them.
I am sure that there are plenty more surprises in store for us this year. Not all of them will be good. The Mets have always treated their fans to the unexpected, so none of us should be surprised that we are being surprised. Yet somehow, we always are. Let’s Go Mets!
22 comments:
And to think I would have been happy with a split against the Yankees. ⁷
Paul,
I think Mets fans are starting to believe this team can be a winner in 2024.The talent is there and starting to play up to their ability level. Now just keep it up.
You got your split
1. A lopsided win
2. An even more lopsided win
So far in June, the Mets have leap-frogged the Cubs, the Reds, the Giants, the D-Backs, the Nationals, and the Pirates in their quest for a playoff spot. They have to pass one of the Braves, Cards, or Padres for the third wild-card.
Since the debacle against the Dodger in late May, the Mets have swept 3 series, split two, and won the other three series. If they keep winning the series, they will be be fine.
This will be an interesting series in Citi this weekend when the red-hot Astros come in to take on the red-hot Mets. After that they have the Nats, Pirates, Nats again, and Rockies to get to the All-star break. That is about as good as you could ask. If they keep playing like they have been, they will be in the driver seat in the NL.
My biggest concern at this point is the bullpen.
I noted an article elsewhere that made me scratch my head and made me look at some stats. The Mets as a team have the 8th highest batting overage scoring the 10th most runs. What made me scratch my head - the team is now fourth in home runs.
Could the resurgence be attributed, offensively. to JD Martinez, Vientos and Alverez? and then the trickle down to the others>
On the pitching side, Alverez has the 3rd lowest catcher ERA of all MLB catchers at 2.49 through 06/21/24. Out of 83 catchers, only eight have an ERA under 3.00 with most having behind the plate with fewer hitters. The lowest has only had 4 hitters. The number two catcher is at 2.48.
Still early, but .....
Outside chance Alvarez goes to all-star game as DH
Steve, we got this in the bag. 1.5 games out of the WC, 84 games to go, and Senga is coming back, I presume, by late July. Nice trade deadline pick up.
The Mets offense against the Yankees in two games at home was very heartening.
Nonetheless, I get back on my move the fences in soapbox. My brother was watching Martinez get up a few times, and he said Martinez hit one ball for a double that would’ve been a Homerun in Yankees stadium and hit another ball that Soto caught at the wall that would’ve been a Homerun in Yankee Stadium, and the Vientos home run that bounced on top of the fence, and very thankfully wasn’t an inch shorter - but slightly shorter fences, if we do keep Martinez after the year? he will absolutely thrive as well Vientos as well Alvarez as well Lindor as well Nimmo.
Alvarez feels like a veteran now. He is cleared to do damage.
Steve, the hitter trickle down effect is a good point that you make. I’ve made that point before. When I was in a bowling league many years back, everyone on the team tightened up when the big guy, who was not me, was having an off game and it was tight. When guys are hitting, I do believe that everyone relaxes at the plate on the team, and typically everyone hits better. Except our former batting champion.
Paul, I will reiterate a point I made recently that despite the last two games’ hitting outburst at Citi, the road shows a team’s true hitting colors. When I looked a few days ago, the Mets were 1st on the road in average, OBP, and runs per game.
Are they, seriously, now the best hitting team in baseball?
Stevie better get his checkbook ready for Alvy and Mark because an early strike like the Bravos did with Acuna is looking very likely and I still can't believe their our players. SC and DS have to be thrilled but I guess DS knew it all along right.
Tom - a point to note that I was trying to make is that it is Vientos and Alverez with Martinez leading the turn around. Not the other veterans
Steve, very true. But I have to add Lindor in there. After his glacial first few weeks, he is All Star caliber 100%
Steve, moving on from Nido/Narvaez to Alvarez/Torrens is probably worth almost a half run per game added, on average. The line up is so much tougher with the latter two.
Steve, when my brother Steve saw Smith go down, he didn’t hesitate….”make a trade…be aggressive.”
On the question, "Is this the best hitting team in baseball?" I would answer no. However, this lineup has always looked on paper like it could hit from top to bottom and that is finally coming true at least for the short term. Can they sustain it? I don't think so. Even the mighty Braves lineup could not sustain their hitting success and they are looking very mediocre lately. I am going to enjoy it while it is here.
They may not be a 12 run per game every night team, but I think with their current approach to bringing in the runners that are on base, they are capable of averaging 5+ every night. They will run into the occasional hot pitcher, but every team loses a third of their games. Their offense is sustainable, and if they can get anything out of McNeil (and Baty later), they can be very dangerous. Even Alonso is not yet extremely hot. Good teams get good results from their bench - the Mets bench is a good one.
I said earlier that I was a little worried about the bullpen . .and I am, but I am also worried about the amount of walks that are issued. A huge bullet was dodged with the 14 free passes issued (+ 2 more HBP) to the Yankees in two games. They cannot keep bobbing and weaving around that much generosity.
Any thoughts of Baty coming up to play 2nd and hitting more like his in AAA because the rest of the lineup is hot?
I don't see Baty as a second baseman. He doesn't have that middle infielder quickness. If he doesn't play third base, then DH and 1B are the only other options that make sense for his physique and athleticism.
Does the guy hitting .309 in June, with a .953 OPS qualify as an "other veteran"?
You can find him in LF or CF in virtually every game. His initials are BN.
DH and 1B are taken, barring injuries or trades. Hopefully, Bady will get a thorough look at 2B upstate.
Pete is now the "elephant in the room" , blocking a possible Baty/Vientos combo at the corners. That will be a major factor in the "keep or trade" decision for him.
I see no reason why we can't use Butto/Smith in the BP short or long.
Gary, Drew Smith is on the IL with….elbow discomfort. Uh oh.
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