A batting line of .176/.189/.239 is not one to be proud of normally. When it applies to a group of pitchers though, it’s actually very impressive. The Mets’ collection of arms are hitting at an excellent rate as the first half of the 2015 season concludes, and it has done wonders to help the overall beleaguered and befuddled Mets offense.
Those numbers above may look ugly, but in context the Mets pitchers are actually first in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the National League. Their combined isolated power of .063 is tied for first with the Giants, they are tied for first in home runs (again with the Giants) and their 15 RBI are far and away number one. And in actuality the only reason the Giants are that far up the list is because of Madison Bumgarner. He alone accounts for both of their home runs, and his batting line is better than that of Wilmer Flores. All told the Mets pitchers are hitting much better than the Giants, or anyone else for that matter. They are doing something they never really have before; pull their weight with the bat.
Never is rather harsh, as some pitchers have been well above average over the years. Dwight Gooden has the best offensive fWAR at 3.8 in over 837 plate appearances with the Mets. He still leads the organization with seven home runs and 65 RBI by a pitcher. Roger McDowell wasn’t too bad either with a .328 SLG, but he only had 67 PAs. And we could go on and on about one good season here or there. But on the whole, consistently decent hitting pitchers haven’t been the Mets strength, or anybody’s strength for the past few decades. Since 1962, only four teams have a positive fWAR for their rotation’s hitting, and the Cardinals and Dodgers blow everyone else out of the water with 18.6 and 12.4 respectively.
Just last year the Mets rotation was the second-worst squad in each of the batting line categories listed at the top, and their total RBIs for the 2014 season stood at just 12, a number they’ve already blown past in half a season. The pitchers had a collective -0.9 fWAR at the plate last year. This year it’s 0.7. Roughly doubled, that one extra win might be all the Mets need to make it into the playoffs.
Matt Harvey’s first career home run on Saturday was just the latest in the seemingly endless stream of Mets young arms carrying their success from the mound over to the plate. Noah Syndergaard leads the bunch with a .381 SLG over 23 plate appearances, but everyone else is contributing nicely too. Even Bartolo Colon was helping out earlier in the year, and continues to at least be entertaining every time he steps in the batter’s box. And we can’t forget Steven Matz’ historic 3-3, four RBI night just so recently. A healthy Matz in the second half may have more in store for us.
All this slugging success has done more than simply make the Mets feel good, it is genuinely helping the team win. As Gary Cohen mentioned during Sunday’s broadcast, Harvey’s two-run shot the day before was the first time a home run by a pitcher determined the winning run since 1963. The ninth, and increasingly eighth spot in the batting order is not so much a free pass for the opposing pitcher any more. This rotation is getting things done on both sides of the ball, and it is adding tremendously to the otherwise inconsistent offense around them. By both keeping the other team down with great pitching, then turning around and driving in some runs, these guys are not only building their own confidence, but helping take the pressure off the hurt and hobbled offense that Terry Collins has repeatedly asked to “relax.” Having your pitchers do all the work is one way to relax alright.
Maybe the best part of this whole situation is that it breeds competition. When Syndergaard hit his first homer back on May 27th, a stunned Harvey reaction video was almost more popular than the hit itself. If the Mets pitchers continue their success through the long doldrums of summer, the spark should be traced back to that moment. The moment the Mets realized they had nine hitters in the lineup, and they can all do damage.
We missed Mad Bum in both of our series against the Giants this year. Too bad but we’ll just have to entertain ourselves with the hitting exploits of Thor, JDG, Matz, Harvey, Niese and Colon.
Syndergaard to RF, except his day after pitching and the day he throws. He has such a beautiful lefty power hitting swing. Now imagine trying to run on his arm also. He is a workout freak and could do it. If he saw pitching all the time he could be special at the plate. His health would not be at too much risk as an outfielder as well, he has dsys he looks better than Duda and Cuddyer right now
Stark contrast to the record 0-67? slump that the Met pitchers started out last season.
And while the hitting is nice, Met pitchers still still still can’t get the bunt down though, which costs the Mets a few games earlier in the year!