Over the span of 162 games, there will be many peaks and valleys. We’ve seen about a half-dozen so far, already.
The latest funk these Mets find themselves in — without a run since the fifth inning of Wednesday’s win over the Cubs — is just another example of the fickle nature of this game we love.
From May 5 through June 6, Francisco Lindor hit .280/.342/.480, shaking off that early-season stagnancy and fueling arguably the most important stretch of the season for this team.
The Mets went 16-10 over that span with an everyday lineup composed mostly of spare parts.
No offense, of course. But this was not the group the Mets headed into the season with by any means and things could have easily crumbled due to that extreme disadvantage.
Lindor’s resurgence — as temporary as it was (5-for-32 since) — had every bit to do with that galvanizing stretch as the Mets’ lights-out pitching did.
As we talked about on Friday afternoon, guys stepped up and the train kept a-moving. That’s what’s on-deck here again.
Jeff McNeil (6-for-15 with a homer and two doubles during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse) and Michael Conforto are heading down the turnpike.
Soon, the Bench Mob will be just that once again, providing next-level depth and then the real fun begins.
Navigating through the ups and downs is what gives a team its character and identity. After what they’ve gone through over the last 12 weeks or so, this group is practically the We Are Family 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates at this point.
Even the greatest regular-season team in MLB history — the 2001 Seattle Mariners (116-46) — went stretches without much offense to speak of (two runs over two games twice).
Will this team win 110 games? No, of course not. But the point is that good teams have bad stretches. It’s inevitable.
What this particular good team has proven over the first 60-odd games of the 2021 season is that even amid a dreadful, team-wide drought at the plate (and there have been a few already), this group will always pick themselves up.
Onward and upward.
A few notes on Joey Lucchesi’s terrific run as of late before we go enjoy our respective Saturdays…
On Friday night, Lucchesi’s sinker picked up 12 called strikes and induced 12 foul balls over 59 offerings.
So not only has the southpaw cleaned up his mechanics to the point of freezing MLB hitters on fastballs — with only two pitches in his repertoire! — but he’s attacking zones that guys can’t barrel up in.
Over his last five starts (22.2 innings pitched), Lucchesi’s allowed three earned runs on 15 hits with six walks and 24 strikeouts (.195/.253/.286 slash against; 0.93 WHIP).
Lucchesi spoke after the game on Friday about the steps he’s taken to increase his effectiveness and the confidence appears to be growing at a rapid pace for the left-hander.
“I’m just keeping it simple,” Lucchesi said. “I was just thinking way too much, in my head during outings. From speaking to our staff and coaches, [I’m] just simplifying it and just thinking, hit the glove.”
“Literally, all I’m doing is thinking hit the glove and I feel like it’s helping me a lot. Just simplifying each at-bat.”
Oh, the progress. We love to see it.
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