There’s a different type of energy with the Mets in 2021. There’s a buzz with this team that hasn’t been around Queens since the last time they were in the playoffs, five years ago.
We’re a long way from the 2021 playoffs, there’s still plenty of baseball left on the calendar. And while there’s an exciting buzz in the air for the team under new management, the early results have a familiar feel to it.
What’s not clicking right now for the Mets is the offense. Tuesday night, the Mets were 1 for 3 with runners in scoring position, lifting their major league-worst average to .193 in those situations. Their futility contributed to a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, at Citi Field. The defeat dropped the Mets to a 9-9 record on the season.
While 1 for 3 with runners in scoring position doesn’t jump off the page, the red flag is due to their recent stretch of games.
In their last 10 games, the Mets have left 64 runners on base. In that stretch, they’re batting average is a lowly .233.
With runners in scoring position the Mets are hitting just .193 on the season. Yikes!
“Runners in scoring position is the biggest thing right now,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said after the game. “It’s almost like it’s still haunting us.”
What it’s also doing is overshadowing a strong start to the season from the pitching staff.
Jacob deGrom is showing everyone why he’s the best starting pitcher on the planet. Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker have been solid in their respective roles as the No. 2 and No. 3 arms in the rotation. And left-hander David Peterson has held his own, despite a couple of tough defeats, including Tuesday night against Boston.
Moreover, the bullpen hasn’t been the major weakness some projected it to be before the season. Jeurys Familia has a 1.93 earned run average. Miguel Castro and Trevor May are holding up their ends as the new faces in the pen. And Edwin Diaz, so far, looks like the closer the Mets were hoping they traded for a couple of years ago.
It’s the hitting right now, which is the problem.
Tuesday night, Francisco Lindor was booed after grounding out in the eighth inning. He has a .212 batting average, with just one home run through 17 games.
“It’s our fan base being passionate, as they are,” Rojas said. “Wanting us to perform better, to win games. I’m sure it’s not the last time we’ll hear a reaction from our fans.”
It’s a matter of time before Lindor picks it up, he’s just too good not to. But it was a matter of time before the boos were coming his way, that’s just what comes with the territory after signing a $341 million, 10-year deal. In a New York Minute, the cheers can turn to jeers.
The pitching has held up and is doing their part. Now Rojas needs his bats to start showing up to the party.
