135.
That is how many runs the New York Mets have scored this season. Only the Padres (12-20, 108), Rockies (12-19, 134), Reds (12-20, 132), Giants (14-18, 106), and Nationals (14-18, 125) have scored less in the NL.
But unlike these cellar-dwellers, the Mets have a record of 16-13 and find themselves tied for second and a half game out of first place in the NL East.
To go along with their 135, the Mets also share the number .248...their combined team batting average. Only the Brewers (.246), Nationals (.239), and Padres (.230) are lower on the totem pole.
If the Mets want to be playing baseball instead of golf in October, something needs to change. Santana hasn't been getting any coinsistacy from his offense. Although Santana has a 2.91 ERA with 47 strike outs, he has a 3-2 record, which is considered a slow start for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.
In the three games Johan has won, the Mets offense has scored an average of 6.6 runs per game. In the two games he has lost? Only two runs.
How many runs did Johan get in his no-decision vs. Arizona last night? Two runs. And the Mets should have lost the game had in not been for Chris Burke's greedy base running and Conor Jackson's Chuck Knoblauch-esk throw to second.
The Mets bats need to wake up. Luis Castillo, whom the Mets traded for last season, is hitting only .239, and is a career .293 hitter. Endy Chavez is hitting .169 after hitting .287 last season.
Carlos Beltran is hitting only .210 with two home runs, and he is a .279 hitter. He has hit 74 home runs in the last two years as a Met. The Mets have only hit 20 home runs this year. That is 28 less than Philadelphia, 22 less than Florida, and 13 less than Atlanta.
Other than Billy Wagner, who has been lights out with an ERA of 0.00, 13 strike outs, and seven saves in eight chances, the bullpen has been awful. They have a combined record of 4-4 (four of those wins belong to Jorge Sosa, who is 4-1).
The bullpen ERA has room for improvement as well. Sosa, 4-1, is sitting on a 6.38 in 16 games. The Mets' season won't last past August if this trend continues.
With a competitive NL East and the Mets reputations for "excelling down the stretch," they need something to happen. Acquiring Johan was the right move. He has a 2.91 ERA with a NL leading 47 strike outs.
John Maine has an ERA of 3.48, Oliver Perez has 4.08, Nelson Figueroa has an 4.08, and Mike Pelfry has a 5.27. Pedro Martinez is scheduled to come back this season, but one has to wonder if and how long he can stay healthy.
With a very good Phillies team, a young Marlins team, a road-weary Braves team, and an improving Nationals team in the division, it will take a lot to get the Mets back to the postseason. Acquiring Johan was a step in the right direction, but I think the Mets are one good bat and a couple relievers away from popping the champagne.
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2 months ago
That's a pretty bold statement there, Zeke.
All of your observations and suggestions for improvement are correct, however I would say that the other NL East teams have these problems and even the elite in the entire NL are not without their flaws.
The Brewers can't find reliable relief pitching (Who trades for Guillermo Mota and signs Eric Gagne?!) and the D-backs lack veteran leadership amongst their position players.
The Cubs are also struggling to piece their bullpen together. Perhaps Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood should switch roles.
The Phillies could use some rotation help and are barely keeping their heads above water w/o Jimmy Rollins.
Yes, most teams have scored more and hit better than the Mets, but now that they have their full lineup back, let's see how they fare over the next mont before making any predictions.
2 months ago
Sure, the Mets aren't scoring that many runs this year, but it's not that surprising. Luis Castillo should never have been signed to a long-term deal. His lack of power make him both a boring and unproductive. He is less valuable than both Ruben Gotay and Jeff Keppinger, two 2nd base prospects the Mets have dealt away.
Beltran is going to be ok. His on-base percentage is right where it should be, which means he's seeing the ball well. The hits will come in time.
Delgado is more of a concern, but there's really nothing that be done about that for now. Mike Carp and Nick Evans are two 1B prospects who are hitting well in AA Binghamton, but it would be a shock to see them before September.
It's nice to have Alou back, but he's another old bat that can't be counted on for long.
The only offensive position the Mets have improved over last year, is right field, where Ryan Church is doing everything. Power, average, defense, and the other two tools. He might be the team MVP so far.
Even with Church, the Mets need to do a better job preventing runs this year. Figueroa has been a great surprise filling in for Martinez. Perez and Pelfrey might be inconsistent all year while Santana and Maine provide stability and strikeouts.
As for the bullpen, it's not as bad as it could be. Even with Heilman struggling, other RHPs like Joe Smith and Duaner Sanchez have been good enough. Schoeneweis isn't a great left, but he doesn't have to be because Feliciano is the best lefty in the pen (not counting the closer, Wagner).
So the Mets will be a good team, but probably not a great team. A lot depends on older players like Castillo, Alou, and Delgado being assets instead of liabilities.
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