Based on some stats from ESPN.com, the Mets are on pace to average leaving 10 men on base a game this season.
10 men a game.
That's over 1,600 men being left on base for the entire season. And you wonder why we missed the playoffs? I've been a major voice in saying that the Mets issues last season were with the bullpen. Fix the bullpen and you'll fix the issues. But now I'm questioning myself.
The bullpen absolutely needed to be fixed, but the clutch hitting will hurt our chances almost as much. If you leave over 1,600 men on base over the course of the season, there's no way you're winning a division. Now I expect that average to drop as the months drag on, but the lack of timely hitting may be the Mets achilles heel this season.
You'd like to place the blame on a particular player or two, but you really can't. The whole team has issues with driving in runs with 2 outs. I don't know what the answer is to this problem. Can you really do anything to fix a lack of clutchness?
I have a feeling it's a mental issue and until there's a 3 or 4 game stretch where Mets batters start coming through in a tough spot, I think we'll see this trend continue.
1 comment:
Yes it's mental and it's been an ominous trend for the last 2 years. Their bull pen had been so brutal that it overshadowed their ineptitude on offense in key situations. people like to talk about how the mets were second in runs scored last year but that stat is over rated. it's about getting the hit when you need it. how do you think a team with guys like timo perez, benny agbaynni and jay payton made it to the world series? b/c they hit with men on!
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