Mets' Offensive Dynamic is Transforming
Bats are waking up upon the roster's replenishment; who'd have thunk it?
The long-awaited groove appears to have been achieved, friends.
We were all pretty sure that once the Mets roster, piece-by-piece, became whole again, things would begin clicking for this offense.
Going six weeks without anywhere from 40-to-60 percent of your positional roster on the shelf and coming out of that storm with a somewhat comfortable lead in the division was huge.
But without consistent production from this replenished Metsies lineup, whatever magic this group was able to conjure over the last three months will have been all for naught.
After scoring just 23 runs over their previous eight games heading into this weekend in The Bronx — even with Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil back in the lineup — concerns were being raised.
What if the observed ceilings of guys like Conforto, McNeil, and Dominic Smith, and Pete Alonso, and even Francisco Lindor, were all simply mirages? Unlikely, but what if?
Despite extremely encouraging runs for the existing Mets core over the past few seasons, none had put together enough long-term success for fans or scribes to comfortably declare, “they’ll be fine” during the hard times they’ve faced this year.
Well, we’ve been saying that. But we’re also blindly optimistic. Take that as you will.
It was always very tough to believe that Lindor, especially, wouldn’t return to form. And he’s well on his way.
Since May 29, following a 2-for-20 stretch, the $341 million-man is hitting .260/.353/.466 with 131 wRC+ and 14 extra-base hits over 153 plate appearances. That’ll work for now.
Is it a coincidence that Alonso’s return from the IL on May 31 (and subsequent creaming of baseballs since; .274/.341/.516, 134 wRC+, nine homers) helped carry Lindor out of the doldrums? Maybe.
Protection in the lineup will do that, as will the inevitable change in approach that opposing pitchers would be faced to employ as this roster was reforming.
After attacking the Mets’ lonely regulars with all they had, in turn forcing The Bench Mob to beat them (which they did in spades; talk about an all-time backfire), pitchers now have to prepare and execute against a much tougher one-through-eight.
Just look at the effect Brandon Nimmo’s had on this offense. Since returning on Saturday, the Wyoming product is 7-for-18 with four runs scored and the rest of the lineup has followed suit.
Change one small dynamic of anything and the entirety of the whole changes with it.
Following a 20-run, 30-hit outburst over 23 innings against the Yanks this weekend, the Mets continued on that tear on Monday night versus the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
It took a while for them to crack right-hander Brandon Woodruff, but they did. Wait for your opportunity to pounce and then take it. Seems like a solid blueprint.
Tied at one in the seventh, Lindor walked to lead off the frame, Dom singled, Pete doubled to score both, and Conforto drove him home with a rope into right, giving New York a 4-1 lead that would prove to be just enough.
Tylor Megill contributed another solid outing in his third start since making his MLB debut (14.1 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 3.77 ERA).
The 25-year-old’s changeup induced a 53% whiff rate and his four-seam picked up 13 called strikes, meaning opposing hitters are having trouble differentiating between his fastball and secondary stuff.
Huge development.
The Mets’ bullpen was terrific, with Aaron Loup, Seth Lugo, and Trevor May putting up a scoreless frame apiece with just a hit allowed combined before Edwin Diaz briefly made things interesting in the ninth (earned run on two hits and a walk).
Like a gosh-darn well-oiled machine. Onward!
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