The New York Mets are Wallowing

May 14, 2023

The New York Mets are wallowing as we come to the quarter part of the season. Currently they do not have a winning record and with the highest payroll in baseball, and with championship ambitions in mind, they are off to an underwhelming start.

Early Adversity

The team started the season by losing three key pitchers. They lost Edwin Diaz, one of baseball best closers, to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee just two weeks before opening day. Jose Quintana was expected to be a work-horse starter for the number of innings he pitches but suffered a small stress fracture on the fifth rib. He ended up having surgery, and is out until after the All-Star break. Justin Verlander spent time rehabbing a strained muscle near his right armpit from an injury that arose late in spring training. He did not pitch until May 4.

Max Scherzer

The Mets are wallowing, and Max Scherzer is not faring any better. He has just not looked right to start the 2023 season. In his last seven starts he has a 5.72 ERA, and he has given up 12 home runs. Scherzer has dealt with injuries going back to last year. His back has been an issue for him, and he missed his last start due to neck spasms. He also missed starts due to suspension for the use of a sticky substance on his pitching hand.

Rest of the Staff

Not only has Scherzer been inconsistent, the rest of the Mets’ starting staff has had trouble pitching past the fifth inning. Their starting staff ERA is close to five. Although Tylor Megill has pitched better, he has not taken that next step. Kodai Senga has looked good, but he is still defining himself in his change-over from pitching in Japan.

David Peterson was counted on to be a good starter, but has struggled to a 1–5 record with a 7.68 ERA. He was sent to Triple-A Syracuse. Carlos Carrasco had been injured with bone spurs and was ready to make a rehab star,t but that has been pushed out and is now dealing with an illness.

Mediocre Offense

The offense has had their problems as well, and is mediocre at best at this point. Overall, they are ranked 22nd in baseball in runs scored and 23rd in hits. They have an overall team batting average of .237, which ranks number 21st in the majors.

While Pete Alonso has provided the home runs, his average is at .234. Starling Marte has struggled with a .226 average and one home run. Francisco Lindor, who is hitting 223, only has four stolen bases, despite MLB’s rule changes. He was counted on to be a force on the basepaths with those changes.

With Lindor in a slump, the Mets have gone into plunge. They are just 5–13 in their last 18 games. Alonso and Lindor need to up their average to get this team going. Currently both are on pace to have their worst batting average over a full season.

They are Producing

While suffering with their issues, they are producing as the heart of the Mets’ lineup, and are manufacturing run-scoring situations. Alonso has driven in 31 runs and Francisco Lindor has 30 RBI, but they need others to produce.

Brandon Nimmo continues to be an excellent and efficient leadoff man for them. He is in the top-ten in hitting, and has logged multi-hit performances in three of his last five games. However, he can’t do it alone. The other regular position players must get on base as well.

There is Still Time

The New York Mets are wallowing, and it is going to take more than just Alonso, Lindor, and Marte to get their bats going in order to turn things around. Mets fans and their owner expected much more already. This team has the highest payroll in baseball. With their power lineup and Scherzer and Verlander as lock down starters, the expectations put on the team before the season started needs to be fulfilled.

Yes, it has been a disappointing start to the 2023 season for the Mets, but the good news is that the season is still young. Over the past two years we have seen the Philadelphia Phillies (2022) and the Atlanta Braves (2021) show that a strong finish can often compensate for a lackluster start. The Mets have suffered their lackluster start. Now they have to regroup and finish strong.