The Good, The Bad, and The Purple: The ’24 Mets at the All-Star Break

Published: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

by Chris Heite

All you have to do to get a reaction out of someone from New York or New Jersey is utter two words; “The Mets”. Of course, Mets fans might not smile, but the reactions by opposing fans sum up how the season has gone thus far for one of the New York baseball clubs.  

With a very shaky start, the Mets quickly became one of the worst teams in the MLB, finding new ways to lose with each game they played. Yet going into the All-Star break, the Mets have found success through big wins against teams such as the Yankees and Astros. They currently find themselves sneaking into a wild card spot in the playoffs, which nobody could have predicted based on the team's start to the season. 

Their 2024 campaign has been a roller coaster, and there are specific components to analyze as we move into the second half of the season. 

 

The Hitting 

To start, the bats have been on and off for the Mets. Even though they both had slow starts, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo have both been exceptional as of late, with many believing they should have made the All-Star team. Since Lindor was moved to the leadoff spot, he has been at his best, hitting home runs and solidifying his reputation as one of the premier shortstops in the game.

Second baseman Jose Iglesias has been on fire as well, most distinctly having two home runs in his recent performance against the Rockies. Iglesias has become a big name not only for his athletic performance but also for his singing. His song “OMG” has been a hit with the fans, with Iglesias even performing it live after a Mets win. He will be a name to look out for as we move into the second half of the season. 

But the last hitter to note is star Pete Alonso. Previously hailed as one of the best players on the team, his performance this season has been immensely lacking. With a fairly low batting average of around .240, and a home run count of 19, Alonso has disappointed his fans. Even being in the Home Run Derby, Alonso must improve if the Mets want to make waves in the postseason.  

All in all, hitting has been inconsistent, yet nothing horrific, for the Mets.

 

The Pitching 

While the Mets have a solid starting rotation on paper, the whole pitching staff have struggled in the first half of the season. 

Kodai Senga’s injury was a huge blow to start things off for the team. Senga, who has not pitched in the majors this season, was poised to be their ace. Fortunately, Senga has been pitching in rehab starts in Syracuse, and there’s a good chance we will see him after the All-Star break. 

In the absence of Senga, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana have all stepped up. Manaea has the best ERA (3.46) of any starter on the team and has proved himself to be a consistent and solid pitcher in New York. Severino and Quintana have been good as well, keeping each of their ERAs under 4.00, respectively. Starting pitching is not a huge problem for the team. 

Coming off a season-ending injury? Yes. Ten-day suspension? Yep. Another injury? Also yes. Yet, Mets closer Edwin Diaz has shown promise in his return to the diamond, even with the meager number of 10 saves on the season. Diaz has become a name synonymous with closers and the Mets, and even with his 4.05 ERA, he will still be key in their attempt to make the playoffs. 

Even though Diaz has given the Mets fans hope, there is no denying that the bullpen has been unsatisfactory as of late. However, one name to look out for as the season goes on is reliever Jose Buttó. Buttó, who was called back up to the majors just a few days ago, had an exceptional performance against the Rockies, striking out five in two and 2/3 innings.

In addition to Buttó, Dedniel Nuñez, with an ERA of 2.35, has been another solid closer for the team. While Buttó and Nuñez give the fans hope, the Mets should certainly look to add some depth to the bullpen at the trade deadline. One big name they may go after is Tanner Scott of the Miami Marlins. Scott is one of the best talents going into the trade deadline, and would be a big help to the bullpen if acquired. 

Overall, the Mets' pitching is alright but could be better. They must do so if the squad wants to play baseball in October.  

 

Grimace. The Good Luck Charm.

June 12th: The date of destiny for the Mets. The big purple McDonalds' mascot named Grimace took the mound for the first pitch, donning a comically oversized glove, and dealing a rough pitch. But there is no doubt the Mets season changed after that fateful day. 

Mets fans and baseball fans alike found themselves enjoying their games more, as “good luck” Grimace seemingly brought momentum to the struggling club. The “Grimace Era” featured seven straight wins for the Mets, and became the team’s key turning point of the season. Grimace surely was not on many baseball fans’ bingo cards this year. 

Suddenly, the losing record flipped to a winning one, and the Mets are now setting their sights on the potential of October baseball. Victory has been a friend of the Mets ever since that first pitch, and fans only hope the momentum continues after the All-Star Break. 

 

Looking Ahead 

With a 49-46 record coming out of the break, the Mets certainly will have their work cut out for them as they move into the second half of the season. In the weeks following the All-Star break, the Mets face the formidable Atlanta Braves, as well as a struggling yet solid New York Yankees. In September (when it will be crunch time for the Mets to push their way into the playoffs), their schedule features tough matchups against the Phillies and Braves. These series will be the ones to watch, as these in particular could define the autumnal fate of their squad.

The keys to punching a ticket to the playoffs lie in the fundamentals. To put it bluntly, the pitching needs to improve. With the 4.23 team ERA, the team always has to come back to get the win. If the Mets have better starts, naturally, they will have more chances to win. On the other hand, the hitting has been satisfactory, but not enough. Mediocre hitting does not get a team into the playoffs; the Mets need to see their stars like Alonso and Lindor step up. “Home run or nothing” is not the mentality they want to have in a postseason push. 

But despite it all, the Mets’ season has been an entertaining one thus far, and one can only look forward to seeing what the team is going to do next. With winning streaks, good luck first pitches, and the trumpets returning, Citi Field could be a spot for baseball in October. 

Will the Mets miss the playoffs? Or will they finish the season off with a spot in the postseason? One of these questions will be answered in the following months, in the second half of the Mets’ 2024 campaign… 

Chris Heite can be reached at chris.heite@student.shu.edu

 

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