Coleman: Can The Mets' Offense Get Any Worse?
By Ed Coleman
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When the Mets began their most recent home stand back on April 19 -- one which saw them go 3-6, by the way -- they were a .500 baseball team averaging a robust six runs per game.
They scored 13 runs in splitting the first two games with the Nationals, and even though Dillon Gee out-pitched Jordan Zimmerman 2-0 to win the series, the offense was heading south -- and it's continued to spiral downward.
The Mets scored a total of 31 runs over the home stand for an average of 3.4 per game. The team hit a collective .186 over the nine games and struck out nine times per game, a total of 81.
And it got worse on Monday night in Miami.
Probably because there were an extra six innings to play with -- the Mets falling 4-3 in 15 after blowing the lead twice. The Marlins have scored the fewest runs in all of baseball, they went 2 for 13 with RISP, and they grounded into five double plays. Yet they still handed the Mets their fifth straight loss because the Mets were even more hapless.
The Mets went an almost unimaginable 1 for 18 with RISP, and during the losing streak are now 4 for 38 (RISP) for a paltry .105 average. They left 14 runners on base Monday night, and over the five losses have stranded 38. The Mets are sixth in the NL in OBP, but 16th overall in the majors in leaving runners on the bases. They have scored just 10 runs during the skid, three or fewer runs in seven of the last 11 games, and have dropped down under five runs per game.
It's enough to drive manager Terry Collins crazy.
Terry Collins
UPDATE: Make it six in a row. And more abject futility, blowing a gem by Jeremy Hefner and a 1-0 lead in the ninth to lose to the Marlins again, this time 2-1.
Just four hits, and the lone Mets RBI was produced on a sacrifice fly by backup catcher Anthony Recker, who had his own personal nightmare in the ninth to gift wrap the victory for Miami. Add another 0 for 3 with RISP and over the last 11 games, the team is hitting .169 (14 for 83) with RISP.
Yeeesh!
The Mets were jobbed by a terrible call at third base by umpire Tim McClelland in the fateful ninth inning, but Mets 3B David Wright doesn't want to hear any complaints.
David Wright
The Mets have hit a collective .189 over the past 12 games, and Wright says they have to rectify that as a unit.
David Wright
And they have to do it quickly and decisively.
David Wright
BAD NEWS: Shaun Marcum has been back for four games and he's already 0-2.
GOOD NEWS: Zack Wheeler had his best start of the year thus far -- 6.2 innings, five hits, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts. Wheeler threw 108 pitches, 65 for strikes. He gave up a first-inning run, but eventually retired 13 of 14 with the only runner reaching on an error. Wheeler also had an RBI single.
C U soon
Eddie C.
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