A new weekly feature that will look at the Mets beyond the box score.
The Mets find themselves in the same spot as the crosstown Yankees. Both are in second place in their respective divisions, and both teams are 1.5 games out of first place.
In the last ten games, Mets starting pitchers have a combined 1.38 ERA to lead the league. It’s the lowest ERA in a 10-game span since Gooden, Viola, Cone, Darling, Whitehurst in 1991. However, they still continue to walk batters at an alarming rate, but have been very good at stranding runners and keeping them from scoring. In other words, they are battling.
In the seven games since rookie Ike Davis has been called up, the young phenom has reached base safely in six of his seven games started. In that same span the Mets have won six of seven games.
Starter Mike Pelfrey now leads the National League with a 0.69 ERA and a 4-0 record. He extended his streak of scoreless innings to a career-best 24 as the Mets ran their winning streak to four games. His 0.69 ERA matches Nolan Ryan’s record for for lowest ERA by a Met in March/April.
David Wright’s sixth-inning double off Cubs left-hander Tom Gorzelanny last week, gave him 225 career doubles which ties him with Ed Kranepool for the franchise record. It took Kranepool 1,853 games to get to that doubles total. Wright achieved it in 863 games.
Henry Blanco is quickly showing his value to the Mets. Blanco threw out his fourth consecutive runner attempting to steal this past week, and Mets pitchers have an earned run average of 1.26 when he’s behind the plate. Blanco also stole a base Saturday, his first since 2001. He had gone 567 games without stealing.
Jeff Francoeur continues to lead the team with a .514 slugging percentage despite shaving over 100 points during his 0-25 slump the first five days of last week. He currently leads the Mets in hits, doubles, homeruns and total bases.
Francisco Rodriguez is gaining steam. Last week he saved 3 games in 3 days, and his 0.93 ERA leads the bullpen.
Fernando Nieve has now appeared in 12 of the Mets’ first 19 games. He is on pace to appear in a record 102 games for the Mets, if is arm doesn’t fall off first.
Jason Bay and David Wright are both on pace to strikeout well over 200 times this season if the current trend holds.
Mets pitching has now dished out 49 bases on balls in 19 games. It is the second worst mark in the National League and six less than the Colorado Rockies who have walked 55. Mike Pelfrey walked five more batters on Sunday night against the Braves and leads the team in walks allowed with 13.
The Mets wrapped up a pretty solid week, winning six of their seven games and infusing the fanbase with renewed hope and excitement. See you next week with more Mets By The Numbers!
