Ya Gotta Believe? Tall Task These Days
The Mets have all the confidence in the world. Mets fans? Ehh, not so much.
Image credit: Roberto Carlo
The New York Mets have arrived at that fork in the road we spoke about last week in earnest.
Whether they’re prepared for the battle that lies ahead is inconsequential. It’s time to go.
James McCann was correct in his proclamation this weekend that, as quickly as everything turned against the Mets over the last few weeks, that pendulum can swing back the other way just as suddenly.
A good-faith exhibition of urgency would help that notion take root, without question.
A three-game set versus the sorely depleted Nationals beginning at Citi Field on Tuesday is all that stands between the Mets and arguably the toughest gauntlet they’ll face this season in four consecutive series against the respective NL West-leading and NL Wild Card-leading Giants and Dodgers.
As if the mountain the Mets have been climbing this season isn’t steep enough. Geez.
The journey’s led to their current underwhelming/disappointing/exposing 18-game stretch (Toronto series through this weekend in Philadelphia) where the Mets have hit just .227/.301/.354 with 84 wRC+, scoring just 49 runs over that span (2.72 runs per game).
The immediate result of this downturn has been the Mets’ new position in the standings — two-and-a-half back in the NL East and seven-and-a-half out of the second NL wild card.
The long-lasting effects (well, 51 games) of this funk are yet to be determined. The Mets can either lay down or get up. Those are the only two options.
We’ve made an effort here all season to examine the bad times with a positive eye. For the most part, that well has run dry.
There are reasons to believe that this team can turn it around. Just don’t be surprised when people call you delusional for having faith (trust me on this).
We’ve seen the ceiling of the Mets’ starting rotation, even without Jacob deGrom. As much as this team misses the greatest pitcher in a generation or two, this remains a viable group.
If Marcus Stroman keeps on his consistent path (2.83 ERA, 11th in MLB), Taijuan Walker regains his All-Star form, Carlos Carrasco continues to progress (three runs over 8.1 innings), and Tylor Megill keeps developing (3.20 ERA since his debut is 22nd in MLB), this group can succeed.
If Noah Syndergaard (threw off a mound this weekend) can return in any serviceable capacity and Trevor Williams (2.25 ERA over two starts with Triple-A Syracuse) contributes, again, this is doable.
The Mets’ bullpen has been mostly solid this season. With the relief corps’ collective tanks beginning to empty, how they respond to that presumable wall will play a huge part in how this all shakes out.
But, of course, the offense waking up will be the fulcrum of this once magical, now tormenting 2021 season.
Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil have been terrific as of late, as has Dominic Smith. Unfortunately, eight-cylinder engines don’t run all that well on just a handful of firing pistons.
We’ve discussed Michael Conforto’s struggles here at length. He’s actually got a .847 OPS over 28 plate appearances in August (.227 average).
No idea if that’s a positive sign or not. We’ve seen this movie a few times already this season and it hasn’t gone well, to say the least. We shall see.
J.D. Davis is reportedly playing through continued issues with his injured left hand and the results have supported that scenario (.211/.338/.368 over his last 68 PA). That’s hurt.
Jonathan Villar will get most of the open reps at third with Luis Guillorme shelved (hamstring) for the foreseeable future. Not ideal but, again, palatable.
What sort of ripple effects Javier Baez’s hip flare-up on Sunday will have are also to be determined, but that situation figures to play heavily into the dramatics of the next few weeks.
Everything begins with this team escaping the nightmare they’ve been lost in against the Nats.
But if they can do that, plus pull off a successful showing through the Los Angeles and San Francisco leg of this traveling circus, as far-fetched as it may seem right now, the Mets still have the potential to turn the tides on this season.
Pete Alonso, mired in an 0-for-21 drought and just 2-for-28 in August, opened a few eyes and slacked a few jaws with his comments after the Mets were swept out of Philly this weekend.
“There’s certain times in the process where you know you’re doing the right thing, you know you’re on the right path,” Alonso told reporters. “But you’re just not getting the tangible results.”
“Mets fans, believe in us. And don’t just believe — know,” he said. “Because there’s tough times. Not just in baseball, but in life in general. Know that this is just a speed bump and a challenge. And also smile.”
The optimism was too much for some fans to bear at the time. We understand those sentiments well. Sometimes, Mets fans just don’t want to hear it. We’re a fickle bunch, aren’t we?
“I know we have the most passionate fan base in baseball. I know that,” Alonso said. “And I understand that it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating for us. But just understand that we’re here together. We’re all in this together. We got this. Just smile and know that we got this.”
OK, Pete. We’re with ya, man. Just don’t make us look like jerks :)
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