The Mets currently hold a .243 batting average in 2021, a solid number given the historically low offensive numbers this season, but the team has struggled to put runs on the board. Their collective batting average is good for seventh in all of baseball, but they're dead last in runs scored, and it's not particularly close.
Manager Luis Rojas spoke on his weekly segment with Carton & Roberts on Wednesday and admitted that his team looks to be pressing at the plate once a run scoring chance arises.
"We talked about it openly, how much anxiety it creates when we have those situations with a runner on second or third and less than two outs and the big hit hasn't come," Rojas said. "It's just not getting away from the approach. It sounds simple, but the emotions are kicking in too much, wanting to get it done in that situation. The desire to get the run in and get the big hit, I think that's what's causing the anxiety."
The Mets have just 57 runs scored this season, with the next-lowest team in the Nationals having 67. Granted, New York had plenty of games postponed in the early going, but the production with runners in scoring position hasn't been there, a problem dating back to last season. The team batted just .231 with runners in scoring position last year, which was 22nd in the league, and those problems have materialized again in the early going of 2021. After leaving an average of 3.77 runners in scoring position last year, the worst mark in the league, New York is still leaving 3.44 runners in scoring position this year, which is 20th in the league.
"That's one part of the game where we're still maturing," Rojas said. "Even though we have some new personnel in our lineup, we're maturing. I think we're learning and slowing that down a little more as we go. To master our demeanor in that situation is what we're working on the most. I think you're going to see it. It's only 18 games. These guys are pros. They're just going to keep working on it and keep openly talking about it and you'll see it come."
Brandon Nimmo has been the only Met to consistently come through in such situations, picking up five hits in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position. No other player with at least 10 at-bats in those spots has a batting average higher than .231. For Rojas, it's a product of that anxiety that seems to creep in once a runner gets to second base, rather than capitalizing on the pitcher's need to be even more precise.
"It should be that way," Rojas said. "Once again, it comes with the process of trying to do too much, and that's when you get away from your approach. What's the pitcher doing in a situation like that? He's going to his best pitch and trying to make you chase, so he's expanding and you're emotional in the at-bat. If you're trying to do too much, you're getting away from your plan."
Rojas has talked with the team about their struggles in big spots, but he isn't worried about it becoming a trend, or continuing to be one since the start of last season. With new bats in the lineup, Rojas believes the Mets are poised to turn a corner offensively.
"It's something we have to control more and more," Rojas said. "But again, the guys know this…we just need to go ahead and do it. I think we're going to keep creating situations, because we're a team that gets on base….we create the situations but we just can't finish it. But I think we're going to break through."
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