With Spring Training 2.0 now underway at CitiField, the sense that actual baseball being played in 2020 is palpable. No doubt, misgivings about putting people together in the midst of a spiraling pandemic still run deep, especially with Mike Trout, the game’s best player, seriously questioning his participation – and for good reason. Nevertheless, baseball is only a few weeks away from its unusual 60-game season. So what do the Mets look like after the first 60 games played in the last five years? Let’s find out below.
The first thing to consider in this exercise is why focus on the start of the past five seasons as opposed to the final 60 games, which would align better with the time of the year. No super good comparison exists for what is about to happen for such a 60-game stretch, but the start of the season makes the most sense. The main reason for looking at season starts is that all teams have the same record and are tied for first place. By the time 100 games have elapsed so many factors are baked into the records that just focusing on time of year is not smart. By 100 games each division will already have lost one, two, or three teams from real competition, injuries have potentially put a large stamp on a team, and it has been shown that the first 60-game (say two months) record poorly correlated with the end of season record for baseball teams in general. Basically, a huge amount of variation is imposed on the record based on short streaks. Records only begin to stabilize after 60 games and really only become super stable after four months of games as shown here: https://community.fangraphs.com/when-do-the-standings-matter/
In the 5-year stretch from 2015 through 2019, the Mets have never been in first place after 60 games, although they were essentially tied for first in 2015 (0.5 games back having played one more game that the first-place Nationals). Of those five seasons, they would have been essentially out of the post-season in 2017-2019; in 2015 the Mets were National League Champions, but would not have made the post season after 60 games despite being 0.5 back in the East. The only season the Mets would have made the post season in the first 60 games in recent times is 2016, when they were 8 games over .500. Looking at the compiled record for all five seasons in this analysis, the Mets were 147-153 for a .490 winning percentage. The standard deviation is +/- 3 games.
A lot has been written here at Mets360 over the years about the Mets finishing strong in recent seasons. Excellent articles from earlier this year looked to see if the end-of-season player performances translated to a success “hangover” in the next season, which you can read about here https://mets360.com/?p=39968 and here https://mets360.com/?p=39976. The research showed no real correlation. Looking at this from a team perspective reinforces that analysis. In the past five seasons, the Mets have an outstanding record in the last 60 games of the season, playing .560 ball or better in four of the five seasons; only the terrible 2017 season did the Mets play poorly to finish the season with a winning record of .367. The compiled record for the last 60 games is 167-133 for a .557 winning percentage. Reviewing the first 60- from last 60-game record shows the team with a 70-point improvement. One can debate the string of causes for such a consistently dramatic difference in performance, but it seems to be real.
What does all this mean for this crazy 2020 baseball season if it actually materializes? I am inherently skeptical of how past seasons predict future seasons because the variables are so many such that a team with different players and managers playing other teams with different players and managers from season to season should not be correlated. That said, patterns that develop for a team are broadly worthy of consideration if there is a team philosophy in how it is run that might bend the course of play. This analysis indicates the Mets need to really step up their game this season and make the most of every out in order to be competitive. One positive will be the weather, with no games played in snow. Add the reigning Cy Young and Rookie of the Year award winners and that is certainly special. Here’s hoping the Orange and Blue flip the recent pattern and start with a .560 winning percentage!
Chris, what’s your theory on the disparity in records? Seems to be a consistent trend.
Name has a good correlation of the 60-game record and their sub .500 play early on. They question is why are they so poor against these teams? One could say the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, and Cards are regularly tough, but then you have the Padres, Rockies, Pirates, Reds etc that are pretty poor.
I think part of this leans towards off-season planning and – as you might have guessed – payroll. The Mets regularly told us this is a 90 win team, but really failed to bring in the best players from the beginning. I think it has always been a “hedge your bets” philosophy early on with the hope of discovering a heartbeat then bolstering at the trade deadline, like in 2015. How many Marlon Byrd‘s, Michael Cuddyer’s, DiceK’s, Agon’s, Bobby Abreu’s, Chris Young’s, Jose Bautista’s etc have we seen? It’s cringeworthy.
Whoever first termed the phrase “catch lightning in a bottle” never exactly explained how impossible it was to the Mets.
All in all, Byrd was a decent signing. DiceK was desperation, the rest were just to block youngsters. Stupid.
Here are the Mets record against NL Central/West last 5 years in the first 60 games. As you can see it’s been their kryptonite except for 2016, which is not coincidentally the only year they would have made the playoffs in a 60 game format.
2019: 7-17
2018: 12-17
2017: 8-14
2016: 16-12
2015: 7-16
Could mean something or nothing. Anything can happen in a 60 game crapshoot.
Excellent info there Name. For sure their play against the Central and West must be a big part of the pattern…perhaps linked to weather and the far travel. I haven’t looked to see if they play more games against the Cemtral and West earlier in the season.
Typical breakdown is 45% East, 40% Central+West, 15% interleague so ~25 games vs Central/West in the first 60 isn’t abnormal.
Could be no reason but they just can’t figure out those teams in the early going.
The Rockies seem to be a problem and I know in 2015 they did bad against both the Cubs and Pirates. And the Dodgers have kicked their butt the past few years. The flip would be interleague record against AL West and AL Central. My guess is they’ve done well against those clubs recently.
Game Management is going to play a Major Issue, strategically and “clubhouse management”.
Every game is going to be at Stretch Run/Playoff importance…. there can be no “Lost Games” and personal considerations—Short Hooks…Pinch Hitters…. Playing the Hot Hand, not The Name…. Rojas is going to need to step on some toes while making game management and lineup management decisions. You cannot give away innings or ab’s….all complicated by Health/Player availability/Roster Rules—Everyone won’t always be available.
I agree Eraff. Every out. Every pitch. Even though it is mathematically like April, they need to play like its August. Cano cant get 100 ABs hitting 5th or 3rd while going nowhere.
I am so bummed out that we don’t have Noah Syndergaard with us this year. That injury is a major bummer.