The New York Mets enter this homestand in the midst of an 11-game losing streak. During that team, the club heard boos and questions about the franchise’s immediate and long-term future. Eno Sarris of The Athletic attempted to sift through and pinpoint the issue.
“It’s actually kind of hard to pin down what exactly is wrong with the New York Mets. Because right now, it seems like everything.”
At 7-15, the team sits firmly in the basement of the National League Eastern division. With a deficit of 8.5 games, the Mets precariously teeter on the precipice of a lost season. Sporting a $300 million payroll means that the optics match the performance.
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 18: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets runs to third base during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Hitting Became a Forgotten Art Form
With a lineup presumed to possess the ability ot to cover all fields with authority, the Mets looked strong on Opening Day. Yet, it did not last. Only the Kansas City Royals (3.23 runs per game) scored less than New York’s 3.7. However, the expected run total to start the season hovered around 4.64.
In essence, the bats took a nap and decided to sleep through the bulk of April. The common excuse centers around the loss of Juan Soto to injury. Yet, Soto is just one player, and the rest of the lineup cannot reach base via hit. Francisco Alvarez is the only full-time player with an OPS over .700. Ironically, before the season, suspicions about his future arose when he could not stay healthy enough to play.
GettyMets infielder Mark Vientos
It is That (Too) Deep
One of the oldest baseball axioms remains: to let the ball travel a little before swinging. Nevertheless, the team took this advice almost too literally.
“But Bichette’s issues do highlight a potential team-wide problem. No team lets the ball travel as deep into the strike zone as the Mets do. Bichette has had a lot of success doing this in the past, but he’s letting it travel even further this year, making contact 23.6 inches in front of his center of mass. The team as a whole makes contact at 28.4 inches.”
In other words, the offense does not attack the ball. Instead, they delay their swing, taking the ball to the opposite field. Granted, hitting to all fields actually helps. The process keeps defenses guessing. On the other hand, striking a ball with the same force as the opposite field is not a trait that all MLB players possess.
Speaking of Bichette, his batted balls land in right field 45.7% of the time. Passivity is a symptom of the power outage occurring in Queens. With just 16 home runs, the Mets don’t just fail to hit; they also cannot drive the baseball with power. This graph provides a helpful description.
Baseball history actually resides on the Mets’ side. No team has ever faced elimination after the first two games of the season. Although this may be true, New York still needs to find a way forward, being aggressive in the batter’s box and not relying on a taxed bullpen to preserve 2-1 leads.
“But can we look at the major facets of this team and identify where there’s still hope, and where there’s perhaps the most work to be done?”
Manager Carlos Mendoza needs something to turn positive before he comes the one to take the fall.
Mets’ 11-Game Losing Streak Attributed to This Underrated Stat