Scoreless In Seattle

By Mike Rifkin

The New York Mets were swept by the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. The Mariners outscored the Mets 22-1 over the three games, and the Mariners pitching staff only allowed 17 hits. The Mets were shutout for the first 24 innings of the series until Jeff McNeil hit a home run in the fifth inning on Sunday.

The Mets offense which was the catalyst for them turning their season around, has hit a funk. And outside of a few innings and a game in Colorado the Mets offense has really struggled since the All -Star Break. A few guys who have been in major slumps are Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez. Nimmo said after Saturday’s game “I expect more of myself and I’m working on it every day. It’s just not good enough. I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’m supposed to come through, I’m supposed to do better and I’m not.” Nimmo was 3-22 over the last week and one has to wonder if the 16 homers he has, has changed his approach at the plate. Similar to Jeff McNeil a few years ago. As for Alvarez it’s been a struggle since he was activated off the IL with a broken thumb, so one has to wonder if that is still bothering him along with a sore left shoulder. The other guy who the Mets need to get going is JD Martinez. When the Mets were hot Nimmo and Martinez led the charge and at the moment they’re not getting much from either guy. With Pete Alonso having the season he is having, and we all know the contract is weighing on him, the team needs others to step up. 

Jeff McNeil has been great since the break and Francisco Lindor has been really good since being moved to the leadoff spot. The Mets do have a reinforcement on the way in the form of Starling Marte, who played for Binghamton on Sunday, so his return will give the Mets offense another dimension. Despite being swept by the Mariners the Mets remain ½ game behind the Braves for the final wild card spot.