The New York Mets got off to a terrific offensive start this season, at one point ranking among the top five in baseball in runs scored. Though, over the last two weeks or so, the Mets have seen their production at the plate peter out.
The rest of the National League East contenders haven’t quite pulled away while the Mets have been mired in their team-wide slump (The Phillies head into Saturday’s games with a two-and-a-half game lead over the Braves and Mets, who are both at 16-16), but that luxury won’t last. Make no mistake about it.
With the level of talent residing within this division, prolonged stretches of inadequacy — not unlike the one we saw this team go on over the first-half of 2018 — will decidedly leave the Mets on the outside looking in once the race for October heats up.
Since April 20, the Mets are hitting .224/.301/.351 with a 25.6% strikeout rate, .284 weighted on-base average, 79 weighted runs created plus rating, and have lost eight of their last 13 games. That simply won’t cut it.
For this team to keep pace with the Phillies, Braves, and undoubtedly not-dead-yet Nationals — as well as make-up for the unexpected inconsistencies of their starting rotation and bullpen — they’re going to need their big bats to produce, first and foremost.
The recent harrowing stretches of Michael Conforto (.195/.346/.317, 25% strikeout rate over his last 52 plate appearances), Wilson Ramos (.158/.220/.211, 26.8% strikeout rate, 41 plate appearances), and Brandon Nimmo (.171/.277/.195, 27.7% strikeout rate, 47 plate appearances) simply isn’t conducive to the long-term success of the Mets.
Encouragingly, as individual players fall into valleys of unproductivity, their teammates have been there to pick them up. That’s a clear sign of these guys having each other’s backs. Not to mention, it shines an approving light on general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s depth-first approach this offseason.
For example, National League Rookie of the Month for April, Pete Alonso, has gone 3-for-his-last-16 after making an indelible mark on Major League Baseball over his first three-plus weeks in The Show. Clearly, MLB pitchers are making adjustments and putting the ball in Pete’s court to do the same.
While we should have every bit of confidence that the 24-year-old will indeed adapt to the ever-changing environment he faces in the batter’s box, there are other capable hitters on this team to guide the Mets through unavoidable tough times.
Robinson Cano, who began the season in a deep funk after absolutely raking in Spring Training, is slashing .375/.429/.531 over his last 35 plate appearance — a great sign. His strikeout rate is still uncharacteristically high (22.7% on the season; 12.5% career mark), but the offensive upside of the 14-year MLB veteran has proven to be exactly as advertised.
The inimitable Jeff McNeil hasn’t slowed down since making his debut last July. There’s not much to worry about there. Hopefully, the situation remains as such. Amed Rosario‘s hitting .282/.317/.436 over his last 41 plate appearances, which is promising. His fielding could be a bit more consistent, but progress is being made, for sure.
Hopefully, this funk is short-lived and the Mets get back to making their presence felt from the plate. Actual contention doesn’t feel outside the realm of possibility this season. Let’s do it, boys.
