N.Y. Mets: This Time Last Season Offense Began its Downward Spiral

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets winning streak hits lucky number seven against Giants.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Giants     1

Mets      13

FINAL

Mets set team record 

for most runs scored (12) in an inning.

N.L. East

1) Nationals  15-7

2) Mets          14-7

NEW YORK METS: Unlike this time last season, the Amazin's enter the month of May equipped with a more formibable line-up.

Last season, the Mets got off to a 2-3 start, then went on to win 11 games in a row.  After which they posted a 2-5 record over their next seven games, giving them a 15-7 mark for April, and placing them 4.5 games in first place ahead of the Nationals.

Since stumbling out of the gate this season with a 2-5 record, the Mets have since won 12 of their last 14 games.  With Friday night's 13-1 thumping of the visiting San Francisco Giants, their present winning streak is now up to seven games.

They are 14-7 thus far, with Saturday's game against the Giants being the final game of April.   They'll enter the day's action a mere half-game out of first place.  And that's a good place to be.

Last year's shortcomings started manifesting in May, when the Mets struggled to post a sub par 13-15 record.  While Mets pitching carried the team as best they could, the offense was only in the beginning stages of a two month long downward spiral.  By June, their woeful lack of hitting started negatively affecting the pitching, resulting in a combined 25-30 record through May and June.

They finally played .500 ball again during July thanks largely to Curtis Granderson, and Sandy Alderson's trade deadline acquisitions.

As of Friday evening's stats, Mets pitching will tentatively enter the month of May having allowed the National League's least amount of home runs, with the second most strikeouts, and the circuit's third best (2.81) ERA.  Although they sport the league's seventh highest batting average against, they at least own the 5th best (1.26) WHIP.

Offensively, the transformed Mets are one of only four N.L. teams with 30+ home runs.  They're first in the N.L. East in runs scored, but eighth overall.  As a team, they're slashing seventh in batting average, sixth in OBP, and fourth in slugging.

Said another way, this edition of the Mets is light years ahead of last year's crew, making the future so bright ... I gotta wear shades.  In May 2015, Noah Syndergaard, Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, Addison Reed, Jim Henderson, Antonio Bastardo, Steven Matz, were not yet members of the Mets.  Therefore, it is with great anticipation I await this year's start of May - and the transition into June, and Summer.

After Sunday's series finale against the Giants, the Mets will conclude this home stand with another series against the Braves.  After which the Mets will head westward with stops in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Colorado.

The Mets will then open their next home stand on May 17, when they'll host the season's first showdown against chief division rival, the Washington Nationals.