Mets’ Inconsistencies Must Be Addressed To “Take Off”

Before Tuesday evening’s nightcap in The Bronx — and after the Yanks’ 12-5 drubbing of the Metsies in the matinee — New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway touched on his squad’s inability to get over the .500 hump but showed confidence that this group could turn it around.

“I’ve been on a few teams where whether it’s the .500 mark or getting above four games above .500, there [are] always these marks that seem to be difficult for teams,” Callaway told the media (video via SNY). “But once you finally eclipse them, you can take off.”

He noted his time with the 2017 Cleveland Indians as an example of a team fighting to stay relevant, finding their groove and, in his words, “rattle off 22 in a row”. The Tribe made it to Game 7 of the World Series that season, losing to the Cubs.

That type of scenario certainly isn’t outside the realm of possibility for this group, but as their track record so far this season exhibits, they’ve lacked the consistency thus far to be considered an actual contender.

As many around this team have already noted, it seems like these Mets can’t seem to get themselves all on the same page this season. When the pitching is there, the offense vanishes. Once the bats wake up, Mets hurlers get lit up.

Over the first month of the season, the Mets’ 107 wRC+ and .327 wOBA were good for fifth and seventh in the National League, respectively. However, the pitching staff as a whole owned a league-worst 5.28 ERA over that span, and their 15-14 record reflected their overall mediocrity.

In May, Mets hurlers pitched to a collective 3.85 ERA — third in the NL — but the offense sputtered, putting up a 94 wRC+ (ninth in NL) and .315 wOBA (11th). Inconsistencies will be the death of this team.

Entering June at 28-30, five games back in a still-within-reach NL East, the Mets have continued their middle-of-the-road play, entering Tuesday 4-4 with the third-most offensive team wins above replacement (1.4; FanGraphs) in the NL, and the fifth-worst staff ERA (4.51).

“We’re not gonna give up. We’re gonna get to .500 and then we’re gonna take off at some point. We’re just gonna keep on grinding away.”

At one game under that mark after a series split with the Yankees and still five games back of the Braves and Phillies, what else is the Mets’ second-year skipper supposed to say in that situation?

Mickey’s unwavering encouragement and faith in the potential of these Mets — while appearing a bit delusional, at times — is simply his schtick; take it or leave it.

Callaway’s confidence in his players, as well as his perpetual positivity, will only take this team so far. Ultimately, it’s up to the players themselves to right this ship.