Mets Wasting Whatever Chance They Have Left
Another uninspired offensive showing, another one-run loss...
Image credit: Roberto Carlo
It doesn’t get much more painstaking than this.
The Mets lost again on Friday night, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the 55-72 Nationals. It was New York’s fourth loss in a row and one that stings a whole lot more than the dozen they were handed by the Dodgers and Giants over the last two weeks.
If you’ve been following along, you know our outlook perpetually leans in the direction of “anything is possible”. Well, possible has already checked its luggage and is currently going to town on a Cinnabon at the departing gate.
Any dreams of making the postseason were likely dashed by the swan dive this team has taken over the last few weeks. Frustrating would be sorely lacking as an apt description of the situation.
On July 28, the Mets were four games up in the division. On Saturday, exactly one month later, they wake up eight-and-a-half games back of Atlanta in the NL East with 34 games left and no one to blame but themselves.
During this month-long fall from grace, the Mets have hit .225/.296/.345 as a team (23.9 % strikeout rate, 79 wRC+), going just 40-for-211 with runners in scoring position (.190/.279/.299, 59 wRC+).
In their last 14 games, they’ve stranded an abominable 108 runners on base. In eight of their 12 losses over that span, the Mets lost by one run. In six of those losses, the Mets scored two runs or fewer.
That feels impossible. But, as noted, nothing’s impossible for this team! (I swear if I couldn’t laugh, I’d cry).
“We’ve gotta fix our approach,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said after the game. “Guys are working on that and it’s just not being translated to the game right now.”
Uh, yes. That does appear to be the case. We’re not in that room and have no idea what types of adjustments this group has been attempting to make, but things have become mind-blowingly stagnant in recent weeks.
“We made the plays to keep the game close and the pitchers did an outstanding job. Once again, another one-run game that we just [can’t flip] because of our offense.”
Naturally, everything comes down to the players’ performance at the plate. Though, half of a roster doesn’t simply up-and-forget how to play baseball. You have to wonder where that break in the line of communication/adjustment is.
The pitching was indeed fantastic. Rich Hill turned in five innings of work, allowing two earned runs with a season-high eight strikeouts, and Heath Hembree, Miguel Castro, Jeurys Familia, and Edwin Diaz kept things right there in relief.
Mets pitchers struck out a total of 17 Nats hitters. In fact, over their last three games, New York’s pitching staff has given up a total of just seven earned runs (eight total). What more could you ask for?
With an offense that can’t seem to find a consistent groove, no matter the situation, the Mets could be sending Jacob deGrom out there every day and still lose half of their games.
“A lot of guys are working hard, a lot of guys are searching, a couple are feeling good right now,” Rojas added. “But we’ve gotta bring the energy again tomorrow, keep working.”
Bring the energy again? Sheesh.
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