Trying to Explain Why the Mets are Struggling

Written by Mike Mariano | 24 May 2010

As it stands, the Phillies walk into Citi Field tomorrow night with a 5 game lead over the Mets who're a game under .500 at 22-23.  The Mets faithful are understandably, check that (because I can't do strikethrough on here), incomprehensibly are jumping ship... in May.  Suddenly the whole team sucks.  David Wright is a bum.  Shit is literally and figuratively hitting the fan.  I'm not sure why, but that's precisely the impression the Mets faithful are giving me.  Then again, if the Mets somehow sweep the Phillies this week, then it'll be all "woo hoo" and "world series" just like it was in March.

Let's pretend for a second that the Mets are completely out of it and a crap ball club from top to bottom.  What's the problem?  Seeing as they seem to be fine on the surface it must be a deeper, underlying issue that we're not seeing.  Let's go to the statistics to try and figure this one out.  I'm sure it's something you'd have to watch day in and day out to notice.  So let's give Mets fans the benefit of the doubt -- their team sucks -- and we'll search for the answers as to why in the National League stats...

The Mets lead the league in pitches per plate appearance! [3.98]

That's a good start, more pitches almost uniformly means more problems.  Starters getting pulled early leads to bullpens being overworked leads to end of game implosions.  It's science.  Maybe their throwing a lot of junk to get guys to chase, but they're taking them.  Maybe the catchers are calling terrible games and the pitchers can't get into a groove out there.  More pitches per appearance means more waiting time in the field and guys get bored and complacent and make errors.

The Mets have the third lowest batting average on balls in play! [.287]

Maybe it's bad luck.  Maybe it's bad hitters.  I never know what to make of this stat.  The SABRE guys love it because it seems to account for good and bad luck when you're hitting.  However, when things aren't going good you don't make good contact.  You're making outs because you're hitting everything off the end of the bat or the handle.  However the Mets fans already cleared this one up -- it's not bad luck, it's bad team.  Gotcha.

The Mets are second in the league in four pitch walks issued! [34]

This one is inexcusable.  You can't walk guys on four pitches, ever.  Unless of course it's Albert Pujols or Mega Barry Bonds circa 2003 or "The Kid" Griffey Jr. circa 1998 -- then it's encouraged, if not mandatory.

The Mets lead the league on percentage of plate appearances with platoon disadvantage while pitching! [58%]

So either, the Mets simply have the least amount of switch hitters in the league or Jerry Manuel isn't playing his match-ups correctly or at all.  The latter is very possible, which leads to wonder if "the latter" applies when there are three options... I ... am going to let them one fester a little.

The Mets allow a lead high percentage of line drives hit against them! [22%]

This one is never good.  Basically, guys are hitting piss missiles all over Citi Field which explains a lot when things aren't going your way.

The Mets lead the league in strikes for which detailed information is unknown! [2]

The who? The what? The where now?  Classic Mets.