The Royals have been caught in an offensive tailspin, and the only thing that’s allowed them to avoid too much attention is the fact they were expected to be bad in the first place. Once the expectation is there, people don’t care so much about the degree.
The Royals’ last outburst, if you will, came in a 9-6 loss to the Angels on June 4. They scored those six runs, and they managed twice as many hits. Then they went 19 consecutive games without ever scoring more than four runs, which has been the longest streak of the season. The Royals also have an active 24-game streak of not scoring more than five runs, which is the longest streak of the season. And to top it off, the Royals have an active 24-game streak of not producing more than nine hits, which is the longest streak of the season. The second-longest such streak has gone 15 games. At the plate, the Royals just haven’t been able to get a single thing going.
Source: Jeff Sullivan, FanGraphs
The Mets had a 14-game streak where they did not score more than four runs from 5/30-6/15. But their offense has been much better since then, scoring five or more runs nine times in 17 games.
If the Mets were playing stout defense, were fundamentally adept at handling different tasks at the plate, and had their reliable relievers actually reliable, they would have won more if those games and no one would have said too much. However, when they look like the Bad News Bears on the field and in the standings, everything gets noticed.
Gus, I totally agree. I can’t say that I watch a great deal of MLB games outside of my time spent watching the Mets, so my point of view may not be quite objective. That said, the Mets seem to be very poor with both defense and fundamentals, and this is a trait that has been around for close to a decade. All teams make mistakes, but the Mets routinely beat themselves, both at the plate and in the field. Winning can cover that up to some degree, but add to that a bunch of under performances and boy does it get ugly.
The Mets score more runs, and let in more. The Mets score few runs, and so does the other team. We seem to “play to the level”. It leads to this misguided thought that the team is “in these close games” when in fact they almost never really are. Its a real mystery.
Since that date they are 6 wins in 17 games.
Let’s look at those 11 losses:
6/19 – Mets down 10-6 in 9th inning, had runners on 2nd and 3rd and no outs. They scored runs with outs, rather than hits for a 10-8 final. Were they in it? The game was in Colorado against a terrible Rockies bullpen. The RE chart shows them as not being in it but I’d say they had a puncher’s chance.
6/20 – They had an 8-6 lead in the fifth inning. Gave up 3 runs in the 5th and one in the sixth. Again in Colorado against a bad bullpen. I’d say they were in this one.
6/21 – Trailed 5-2 in the eighth inning, had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Scored a run with an out. Scored another run with an out in the ninth. I’d say they were in this one.
6/22 – Home against the Dodgers. This is the game Wheeler was dealing, didn’t get the strike 3 call and things got away from him in the sixth inning, ending in the grand slam. Since Dodgers had Jansen to close, I’ll say they weren’t in it.
6/23 – Jake left the game down 3-2 and the bullpen gave it up. I’ll say they weren’t in it.
6/24 – Lost in extra innings. Safe to say they were in this one.
6/25 – A 5-4 game in the 8th inning. I think they were in this one.
6/27 – Had a 3-run lead in the 9th inning. Safe to say they were in this one.
6/29 – Down 6-0 in 3rd inning. They were never in this one.
6/30 – Had JDG on the mound with a 2-0 lead in the sixth. He gave it up and the bullpen piled on. I don’t know how you classify this. Certainly the fan base had to feel good through over half the game.
7/3 – Had a 6-1 lead in the 7th inning. Safe to say they were in this one.
*****
I mean, it all depends on how you look at things. I think the only game where it’s clear they weren’t in it were 6/23 and 6/29. I’d bet money that you’d say the only ones they were in were 6/24 and 7/3
Id say 4 of those you classify as in, I dont see it.
Runners on, 2 down, late innings…no configuration of that is “in it” given how poor they play, and have almost no capacity for comeback wins. No hitting with RISP.