Why the Mets Can't Hit

[Willets Point]

https://www.mlb.com/news/why-mets-offense-is-slumpingAn analysis. Probably nothing here that anyone watching hasn't observed already, but interesting to see summed up in one article.



Quick and dirty summary:

• First pitch swinging
• Citi Field suppresses offense
• Lindor, Smith, and Conforto are underperforming
• Injuries
• Mediocre replacement players

[roger_that]

But let's fling some at 'em anyway!

[MFS62]

"Can't hit fer shit" is a brief, but accurate, observation.



Later

[Fman99]

Their approach, collectively, is terrible. They're all swinging from their heels on every at bat, trying to hit a nine run HR.



This is true of most MLB hitters and teams, too, but when you're not connecting, and you don't play in a tiny joke of a stadium like some certain other local teams, then the failures are magnified.

[kcmets]

Perhaps a hot and humid weekend in the Philly Band Box is just what the

doctor ordered? Problem is, the Phillies will be hitting there too lol. Three

9-8, 10-7 and 11-9 results?

[Ceetar]

Their approach, collectively, is terrible. They're all swinging from their heels on every at bat, trying to hit a nine run HR. This is true of most MLB hitters and teams, too, but when you're not connecting, and you don't play in a tiny joke of a stadium like some certain other local teams, then the failures are magnified.

It seems, based on the article, that it's not that they're trying to hit a HR every AB, it's that they're choosing the wrong pitches to do so.



We discussed this a bit on the https://www.barleyprose.com/beer/mets-on-tap-episode-19/Podcast, but Javy Baez is a prime example of this mostly bad strategy (And them choosing him as their acquisition is an indictment for sure) where he just swings at anything and even when he manages to get a ball or two, that just seems to unleash him more. Baez is maybe a singular talent in that he can hit some of those balls for power, but mostly others can't.

[Lefty Specialist]

Conforto invariably looks at piches down the middle and swings at pitches out of the zone. Drives me nuts.



They're a bunch of guess hitters who frequently guess wrong.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Conforto not making a great case for his upcoming free agency. Would he accept a QO? Would the Mets offer one?



EDIT: Yeah, they'd probably offer one so they could get the draft pick. But would they be hoping he doesn't accept?

[kcmets]

Can one imagine the uproar if they had re-upped him early (as some were clamoring

for) and this is what they signed up for? I think he'll wake up. He often has a look on

his face like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Smile, broforto!

[bmfc1]

We've heard about the lack of success w/the bases loaded. The article talks about swinging at the first pitch in general but it seems as if they always "attack" the first pitch with the bases loaded. E.g., Drury on Tuesday (or was it Monday, these games are a blur) was up in the 9th, bases loaded, and swung at the first pitch which was a foot out of the strike zone so he was down 0-1 when he should have been up 1-0. He took a fat pitch for 0-2 and one pitch later weakly grounded out.

[MFS62]

Mr. Kotter: Why can't the Mets hit?

Arnold Horschack: “Ooh-ooh-ooooh, Mr. Kotter!”

Mr. Kotter: Yes, Arnold. Do you know the answer?

Arnold Horschack: Mr. Kotter. They suck.



Later

[The Hot Corner]

Flail and fail.

[Centerfield]

Well it wasn't Citifield's fault tonight.

[smg58]

I'm mystified by Conforto. His .412 BABIP last year was never going to be repeated, but it really looked like he had matured as a hitter. Maybe he is still hurt, I don't know.



Alonso is doing as well as a one-dimensional power hitter in this park with this ball can do. And to be fair, he's been the team's most consistent hitter. The problem is that he and McNeil have not been as hot in August as they were in July, and nobody has picked up the slack.



I mentioned in another thread that Smith hit breaking pitches well the past two seasons but has not this year. Is his approach different (and if yes why), has he been playing through a nagging injury too, or is he just off?



Lindor was switching leagues and may have been playing hurt for longer than we knew, but he hasn't been the problem lately.



It's worth pointing out that the Mets are 33-20 at home and 23-33 on the road. So Citi Field has been a bigger issue for our opponents than it has been for us (a reversal of what it had been in the last few years of Alderson's tenure as GM). What it may have done is make our pitching staff look better than it actually is (i.e., a 4.39 road ERA with a deadened ball does not cut it). That is something to consider when the Mets made no deadline deals to bolster the bullpen.

[batmagadanleadoff]

What it may have done is make our pitching staff look better than it actually is (i.e., a 4.39 road ERA with a deadened ball does not cut it). That is something to consider when the Mets made no deadline deals to bolster the bullpen.

To tell you the truth, I haven't been high on any of the Mets starters this season other than (naturally) deGrom. Even when they were "going well". I could never quite put my finger on why I felt that way, but was too lazy, or indifferent, to scope it out. But that was my hunch. Also, I haven't been following the team as a whole as closely as I usually would this season -all season long- , other than deGrom's starts and season, which was other-wordly while it lasted.

[The Hot Corner]

=smg58 post_id=73797 time=1628364032 user_id=62]
I'm mystified by Conforto. His .412 BABIP last year was never going to be repeated, but it really looked like he had matured as a hitter. ...

[Centerfield]

I don't know if the philosophy is bad, or the execution of the philosophy is bad, but what's absolutely maddening is the Mets unwillingness to make any adjustments after four and half months of failure.



I mean sure. Let's keep pulling ground balls into the shift.

[TransMonk]

The Hot Corner wrote: I frustrated, exasperated, and done with Conforto. He has always been streaky and inconsistent, imho. I think he was greatly over-rated based on his one big year in the shortened 2020 season.

He was an All-Star in 2017. I'd argue his only sub-par year before this one was 2016. There was nothing about Conforto's history that made me think he'd be as bad as he is in 2021.



I also think he might be playing hurt. Impending free agency might do that to a guy trying to turn his shit season around.

[Centerfield]

Could be lingering effects of CoVid too.

[Ceetar]

did he have Covid? I lose track. But yeah, it seems like his power is sapped mainly, which could easily be a lingering fatigue thing which IS a Covid symptom. Or some other nagging injury we're unaware of.

[Edgy MD]

Zack Scott facing the music NoW!!!!

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