N.Y. Mets: Prime Time Wonders or Blunders

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SEPTEMBER MORN

69-66 (.511)

GAME THREE

New York Mets (2-0)

vs.

Philadelphia Phillies (0-2)

FROM

Pinball Bank Stadium

You asked for it; you got it; meaningful games in September!

Fred's wish come true ...

Many said it couldn't be done. Yet here they are, albeit barely alive, but feeling wild as ever with 27 games left to play in the 2019 regular season.  Even ESPN thinks there's something going on.

Or not.

The Nationals lead the wild card race over Chicago by 3.5 games.  The Cubs in turn are presently 3.5 games ahead of both the Phillies and Diamondbacks for the second wild card.  And then come the Brewers and Mets four games back of Chicago.  Right after getting swept by the Braves is when I said (podcast) the next twelve games would decide the Mets season.  After which they promptly got swept by the Cubs.  Nothing really changes, the Mets must still visit Washington then host a return series against Philadelphia which will clarify much.  However that upcoming four game series against Arizona at Citi Field suddenly looms large.

After two straight wins the Mets are poised to sweep the Phillies Sunday night at Pinball Bank Stadium.  They've accomplished in these last two games what they could not in their previous six games against Atlanta and Chicago: being productive at the plate.

vs. Phillies

• Game One: 12 for 39 (.308); four walks, nine strikeouts; six LOB; 4 for 10 (.400) w/RiSP; three home runs with five runners on base.
• Game Two: 13 for 41 (.317); three walks; six strikeouts; twelve LOB; 6 for 20 (.300) w/RiSP.

During their six game losing streak against Atlanta and Chicago the Mets go 49 for 219 (.224) at the plate, with 14 walks, and 49 strikeouts.  They leave 44 runners on base, and go 7 for 48 (.146) with runners in scoring position.  They hit seven home runs over the six games but only two come with runners on base for a net ten runs.  As a result they average just 2.83 runs per game against the Braves and Cubs.  On Friday they hit three home runs at Philadelphia with all coming with runners on base for a net eight runs.  After two games they are averaging 8.5 runs a game against the Phillies.

Go figure ...

MORE FUN WITH NUMBERS

• Michael Conforto: 125 games; slashing .264/.367/.503/.870, with 24 doubles, 28 home runs, and 80 runs batted in.  On Saturday Conforto is 2 for 3 w/RiSP.
• Bryce Harper: 130 games; slashing .257/.373/.503/.876, with 32 doubles, 29 home runs, and 97 runs batted in.  On Saturday Harper is 0 for 2 w/RiSP.

• On Saturday Wilson Ramos goes 4 for 5 with a double, two runs scored, and one run batted in.  He extends his hitting streak to 24-games.

#LFGM