Reese's Pieces - Power Failure

While the NY Mets are achieving beyond most pundits’ and fans’ wildest expectations, there are still some major areas in need of improvement.  Discussions about defense, the bullpen and lack of depth are well chronicled, but one disturbing trend that has received very little attention is the team’s collective inability to put the ball over the fence.

Some players on the team are not necessarily paid to do that – Tejada and Thole, for example, were never expected to be double digit home run threats.  However, others that have shown flashes of some power in the past such as Daniel Murphy have done nothing with regard to the long ball this season.  From Tom Glavine’s perspective, that could make for some long, lonely nights for our incumbent second baseman.

The various injuries to outfielders will let me give a pass to the unknown – Nieuwenhuis and Torres – and the incompetent – Bay. 

However, this point is not raised to condemn our high average but low power hitters.  The concern is the lack of power demonstrated by the middle of the batting order, specifically Davis, Duda and Wright.  Our dual team leaders in this regard have 4 HRs to show for approximately 20% of the season.  Extrapolate those totals out over the course of the season and you’re looking at a mere 20 HRs for each of them.  In Wright’s case despite his .375 batting average he’s on track for a just 15 HRs.  That’s not exactly going to strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers. The Mets currently rank 27th out of 30 teams for HRs, besting only the Padres, Cubs and Twins.  By comparison the Orioles have hit 50 HRs as a team to the Mets 21.

Granted, Davis has been mired in a whiffable slump AND missed most of last year.  Duda is characteristically starting out slowly.  Wright’s pace for a mere 90 RBIs for your highest paid healthy batter is disturbing, however. 

It all may be much ado about nothing with the team currently sporting a record of 18-13, but another power threat in the lineup would certainly help support the winning ways.