The New York Mets enter a decisive month after weathering a crisis that included seven consecutive losses and a month where their record could be considered misleading when factoring in the numbers achieved within the franchise and their win-loss record.
Carlos Mendoza‘s team can feel somewhat at ease given their position in the Wild Card race, sitting four games behind the Cincinnati Reds. However, they head into September where relaxing is strictly forbidden.
Franchise records with a negative balance
The New York Mets‘ offense exploded in August with 177 runs scored and 53 home runs, both franchise records. These numbers were accompanied by a .285 batting average and an .866 OPS. If we could ask another franchise if they’d sign a contract to achieve these numbers, I can assure you they’d sign it for life.
But if we told them the record the Mets achieved in the month, they might think twice. The players, led by Carlos Mendoza, posted an 11-17 record, which seems surprising given their offensive production.
This only proves that numbers can be deceiving, and attention must be paid to other facets of the game.
We could infer that these results came because the pitching faltered, as the Mets allowed the most runs in August (156), only surpassed by the Colorado Rockies (204), Miami Marlins (182), and Washington Nationals (178). Teams like the Chicago White Sox (148) and Minnesota Twins (152) allowed fewer runs. What these teams that outperformed the Mets have in common is that none of them are contending for a postseason spot.
It’s a simple statistic that says a lot, but there could be many other factors influencing the August record. The reality is that the team cannot afford to fall into a slump in September, as it could be fatal for their aspirations.
For now, they can take a breather after winning the first of their 25 remaining games in September. There’s still a long way to go, and Carlos Mendoza knows it better than anyone.
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