For 147 days the New York Mets were alone in first place in the NL East. For a vast majority of those 147 days, Mets fans felt a certain giddiness and confidence in a team, a franchise that so many times in the past has disappointed them. For most of this season it felt like 2022 would be a different year, a Mets year. With Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer healthy atop the rotation; closer Edwin Diaz pitching lights out of the bullpen, and his walkout song Narco becoming an international sensation. And with a lineup full of solid all around hitters. The Mets were rolling.
Even last Thursday there was that good feeling when the Mets took two of three from the LA Dodgers. But even as the Mets were winning series, and beating back rival teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, the Atlanta Braves were always on the Mets tail. Even after the Amazin’s seemingly buried the Braves after taking four of five from them in early August, Atlanta just kept plowing along. And winning games. And winning series as well.
Since that five game series, Atlanta is 21-5. The Mets are 15-12. A 10.5 game lead over Atlanta in early June is now a tie atop the standings.
The Mets offense has gone limp, getting outscored 19-4 in its last three games against the lowly Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates, and it is obvious the team is pressing.
“It’s about us trying to play better,” Manager Buck Schowalter said, who faces his first major test in crisis management with this year’s squad.
Can they get back on track? They have the ability. They have the talent. The Mets need to get back to basics, such as taking pitches, showing more patience at the plate, and moving runners over. And, more importantly, they have to not only win a game, but sweep a double header against Pittsburgh today.
