Image via Chris Simon
With momentum coming at a premium these days, the New York Mets are approaching one heckuva fork in the road with nothing but what got them here — fight.
After dropping their series opener in Miami on Monday night, the Mets have lost six of nine, whittling their lead in the National League East down to two-and-a-half games over the Phillies.
Scoring just 30 runs over their 11-game homestand with a 5-6 record didn’t help things much. But with their next three series coming against divisional foes in Miami, Philadelphia, and the decimated Nationals, there is ground to be made up.
The Mets had their chances against Miami left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Monday and nearly broke through against right-hander Anthony Bass in the late-innings, but that big knock never came.
That’s kinda been the story this season. Rise from the dead and maybe pull it off. At least they’re getting the first part right. That means something.
The drive to stay alive has never wavered from the Mets’ psyche, as evidenced by their nearly three-month lead in the division despite 30-plus guys hitting the IL and the team eclipsing their franchise record for most players used in a season before the calendar hit August.
There will always be tough times. We know that well. Even with a full-ish roster, it’s never all peaches and cream. Such is baseball.
It really is tough to remember another season with such hot-and-cold tendencies. But just like snowflakes, every single one is beautiful in its own unique way. Ha.
The journey to the finish line is what builds the character necessary to succeed in the postseason. The team that coasted all year may not be as well-equipped to shrug in the face of adversity (see: 2001 Seattle Mariners) once they’re on the big stage.
These Metropolitans are adversity veterans. They’ve proven as much.
Now, with all they’ve fought for this season hanging in the balance as the dog days of summer arrive, the Mets are faced with another challenge. Shit or get off the pot.
Atlanta reloaded at the trade deadline. The Phils are nipping at heels once again. This is going to be a battle. No question about it.
Sticking and moving, as the Mets have done so well this season while dealing with injuries and inconsistencies in their performance, isn’t going to get the job done.
This offense needs to do what they’re built to do. Create opportunities and cash in on them. We’ve seen this group at its best and it’s a juggernaut.
Brandon Nimmo (hamstring) not being in the lineup as of late put a crimp in that plan. He’s the catalyst and his absence has made that painfully obvious. Just gotta adapt and keep it moving.
The next-man-up mantra that carried this team here is still very much applicable, even with a mostly full staff.
Guys are gonna make outs in big spots. Guys are gonna slump. It’s baseball. All part of the process. It just means that someone else needs to get the job done.
Michael Conforto not doing much of anything (we dove deep into that in case you missed it) means everyone else needs to pick him up. If you look around — runs crossing or not — that’s kinda been the case.
Jeff McNeil (.349/.411/.519 over 90 plate appearances since July 1) has been doing his part, no doubt about that.
Pete Alonso closed out the month of July on a ridiculous tear (.302/.371/.619, six homers in 70 PA from July 16) before taking an oh-fer on Monday in South Florida.
If not for an 0-for-11 stretch against Toronto and Atlanta last week, Dominic Smith’s .801 OPS since July 1 would likely be a bit heftier, but Dom’s kicking in his fair share too.
Oh, and the team just traded for Javier Baez, who hit .320/.350/.560 last month with five homers in 80 plate appearances and is a proven star in this league.
Getting discouraged when you get knocked down is natural. For this team, dusting themselves off and getting back up has become second nature, as well.
This thing ain't over yet. Onward and upward, family.
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