Walk This Way 

By Mike Rifkin

No, this is not a tribute to the greatest American Rock Band that has announced their retirement but congrats on a tremendous journey.. 

In the Mets 9-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics Mets’ pitchers walked six hitters. Walks have been a theme for the Mets pitching staff, who have walked 447 hitters, only the White Sox have more. The Mets walked nearly 600 batters last season and in 2022 the team only walked 435 hitters. So why the increase in walks? Part of the reason is the starting rotation doesn’t have a ton of swing and miss in it especially with Kodai Senga and Christian Scott out with injuries. The bullpen just hasn’t had the consistency all season to it and the walks have cost the Mets all season. 

So, what’s the solution to the walks issue? Well, David Stearns talked about people being under evaluation this season, does that include Jeremy Hefner, who was a holdover from the Buck Showalter administration. Will Stearns and Mendoza hire their own pitching coach or is this a personnel problem and the Mets will find guys who are more strike throwers over the winter. 

I know Juan Soto is going to be a free agent and will command a lot of money. While fans like to spend other people’s money especially a billionaire’s like Steve Cohen, but pitching should be the top priority. With names such as Corbin Burnes, Walker Buehler, Max Fried, Shane Bieber, and Nathan Eovaldi on the market it makes sense (and that’s just starters). No matter how the last month plays out, a major  priority for the Mets should be to find pitchers who don’t walk as many hitters.