Reese Kaplan -- The Big W Doesn't Address the Huge RISP Problem

On Saturday night in Philadelphia the Mets executed not only a victory which was the first after enduring a seven day losing streak, but they also set an odd record by slamming seven solo homers in a high scoring dismantling of the Philadelphia Phillies.  This onslaught even included a back-to-back-to-back three homers during the 3rd inning.  Yes, it was good finally to get that monkey off the team’s back but it graphically underscored the club’s ongoing inability to hit with runners in scoring position.

Oddly, this particular game did include a rarity when Francisco Lindor doubled with two men on and gave the Mets that very rare execution when it drove home both runners.  When it happened I noted it with, “It’s about time!” in the midst of a group in-game chat. Believe it or not, I then had to explain what I meant.

How bad has it gotten for the Mets?  After all, prior to the seemingly endless losing streak the Mets were riding high on top of the world.  They had the best record in baseball and stood alone atop the National League’s Eastern Division.  They had to be scoring at will to achieve this type of success, right?  Right?  RIGHT?

Uh, wrong...big time!

The story to the club’s success had been pitching all along.  When the month of May concluded you had five starting pitchers all hovering around 3.00 in ERA, one even well below 2.00.  When you’re getting 5+ innings night after night with All Star level starting pitching then it’s going to be relatively easy to earn the big W on a daily basis. 

Unfortunately, that’s when the wheels came off the pitching wagon.  You had even more injuries occur with Tylor Megill hitting the IL (which perhaps explained his rapid descent in mound performances), your number one starter Kodai Senga limping off the field on his way to the IL with a low grade hamstring strain and the never ending Syracuse shuttle of fringe relievers replacing one another again and again.

However, while attempting to secure the pitching as best as possible, nothing was done to address the biggest bugaboo in the otherwise impressive stat sheet for the Mets.  They stood in early June at 27th in the Major Leagues in the stat known as RISP — hitting with Runners In Scoring Position.  How bad had it gotten?  Well, as of June 7th the club was hitting a paltry .218 in that regard. 

Now think back to the losing streak which was chock full of less than video worthy pitching performances and instead focus on the hitting.  Do you remember those many Mets seasons when even a two-run deficit seemed insurmountable?  Welcome back to those hard times, friends. 

Even the seven solo homers on Saturday night did not address that glaring black mark on the team’s metrics report card.  Mack recently offered up the opinion that this team could be World Series bound and given David Stearns’ track record both here and in Milwaukee he’s more of a midyear finesse type fo roster enhancer rather than one who takes bold moves. 

Seeing how the club is built right now, you’d have to volunteer that a more dramatic approach could be indeed justified.  You have Lindor, Alonso and Soto in any particular order who are driving in runs though not necessarily at the frequency you’d like for Soto, but after that it’s a major crap shoot as to who you’d like to see at the plate with RISP and RBIs needed. 

Would you like one of Luisangel Acuna, Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Starling Marte, Ronny Mauricio, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Luis Torrens, Tyrone Taylor or Mark Vientos wielding the stick with the game on the line?  It would seem that there is a lot of under performing offense that could be supplanted in the trade market for more consistent and formidable hitters.  Or is a 6th reliever or platoon center fielder or multi-position infielder really going to be what pushes the team over the top?