The losses are mounting. Runners continue to be stranded. Opportunity after opportunity is being squandered. Slowly the ship is beginning to sink on what was supposed to be a promising season.
After things were looking up for the team, getting back to being just 4.5 games out of first place. The Nationals have taken care of business yet again though and the Mets find themselves 7.5 games back for the division lead.
They once found themselves with a strangle hold on a Wild Card spot, that is no more. They now look up to see a 2.5 game gap separates themselves from a playoff opportunity. The season is no longer young as we quickly approach August. It is time for each and every player on this team to look in the mirror. Second Baseman, Neil Walker believes though that this is not the time to panic.
“The last several days we’ve given ourselves a lot of opportunities and we just haven’t gotten it done,” Walker said. “This is not the time of year to panic. … I’ve played in a wild-card race for the last three years and we’ve gone through the same things in July and August. The thing you can’t do is panic.” (NY Post)
Panic may only create more pressure, this is true. The team is aware where they currently stand. They know just how bad they have been. Yet again yesterday they went hitless with runners in scoring position in Friday night’s loss, going a disappointing 0-for-8. They are now hitting just .202 in such situations this season.
Manager, Terry Collins believes things are too tight in the clubhouse. His players, thinking too much of what they are doing wrong instead of going out there and getting the job done.
“A lot of things pile up and I said, ‘Look, we need to lighten it up around here,’ ” Collins said. “We’ve still got good players, good pitching. Quit worrying about bad things.”
It is hard not to wonder whether this team lacks a voice in the clubhouse. Captain, David Wright is not there on a regular basis to rally the troops anymore. Walker has seemed to be the voice in most situations like this after a troubling defeat. He though has been on this team for less than one season. Someone needs to step up.
We have been told the “cavalry is here” by Sandy Alderson. No big trades to be made, of course that tune has seemed to change in recent days with the pursuit of Jonathan Lucroy and Jay Bruce. There is no guarantee the Mets get either.
It is time for each and every player on this team to have a gut check. Time is no longer on their side. Sure there is a lot of baseball to be played, but if continuing to play it at this level, the playoffs will soon be a pipe dream.
