Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
(Queens, NY) – It couldn’t have started much worse for the New York Mets. Losing their first four games, the 2024 club has gotten out to one of the least impressive starts in franchise history.
In 2005, the Mets started the season 0-5. Of course, the team went 83-74 from there to finish above .500. The worst-ever start was in 1962, the franchise’s first-ever season. After beginning 0-9, that Mets squad finished 40-120-1. Just two other teams in the modern era ever finished with a worse record.
So the lesson is, it can only go up from here – hopefully? Reflecting on the team’s ice cold start, short stop Francisco Lindor said: “It’s one of those where it comes down to execution, because we are extremely prepared. We know what [the opponent] is going to do, what they are not going to do, how they are going to attack us. The coaches are here working extremely hard…. We have just got to execute.”
Lindor hasn’t exactly helped the cause – he and fellow top-of-the-order hitters Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil have been non-factors with the bat. The team’s pitching has faltered at times, and on Monday the defense was the culprit – in addition to the non-existent offense.
Playing second base, utility infielder Joey Wendle botched a ground ball in the 10th ining, leading to a 5-run frame for Detroit. Wendle explained he “tried to turn a ball that wasn’t a two-ball into a two-ball.” But Wendle likely didn’t have enough time to turn a double-play. One out would have been realistic but he “just didn’t secure it. I tried to do it too fast. I took an aggressive line to it and obviously I booted it.”
Sloppy play, as well as sloppy weather, has left New York Mets fans with a sliding feeling here in early April. But it’s as good a day as ever to snap the streak – weather permitting – as rain in the forecast threatens the Mets’ ability to play both Tuesday and Wednesday.
