This slump the Mets are in, it’s not something new.  At least it’s not since the clinching that took place on September 18th at Shea Stadium.  It has been going on for longer than that.  If the Mets current tribulations had begun after they were crowned division champs I wouldn’t be too concerned.  The fact that it began a number of games before is what has me worried.  The club is in a tail spin right now and at the moment they do not seem able to pull out of it.

On September 7th, the Mets soundly defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a four game series by a score of 7 to 0.  In that game Jose Reyes hit an inside the park homer run.  Tom Glavine combined with three other Mets pitchers to shutout the Dodgers.  The Mets record for the month of September after the game was 5 and 2.  Something happened after that game.  What, who knows but the Mets except for a couple of instances haven’t played a game like that since, a game which more or less defined this season. Solid pitching, sound defense, and a dynamic offense were how the Mets built the huge lead they have enjoyed in the division.  But suddenly all of that has escaped them and now they find themselves with five regular season games left to get it together before they begin the playoffs.

Here are the facts. Since September 7th, the Mets have played 18 games with a record of 6 and 12, by far their worst stretch of the season.  In those games the Mets have averaged just 3.2 runs a game, far lower than their season average.  And this average includes the game on Saturday when the Mets scored 12 runs against the Nationals. During this 18 game stretch the Mets have been shut out three times including last night’s 12 to 0 debacle at the hands of the now ousted Atlanta Braves. Mets batters have produced five or more runs a game just four times and one of those games they lost.  Prior to September, the Mets lost three games in a row three times.  During this month, they have lost three games in a row three times.  Perhaps the most telling and startling fact of all is that in the 18 games, the Mets scored first in just five games and four of those they lost.  The only game in which they scored first and won was the clincher when they defeated the Marlins by a score of 4 to 0.  The other five games won were of the comeback variety.  That is down right shocking.

Things could have been worse. The last series the Mets won was against the Marlins in Florida.  After loosing the first game by a lopsided score of 16 to 5, the Mets won the final two games of the series largely in part to Florida’s inability to play defense.  Since that series, the Mets were swept by the Pirates, lost a four game series to Washington and split a four game series with the Marlins.

What about the pitching?  Well, it’s just as bad. Over the 18 games, Mets pitchers have given up 97 runs, 91 of which were earned. That’s a team ERA of 5.15, one full run more than their season average.  For the most part their fielding has been okay with only six unearned runs given up over the stretch.  When you combine all of this information with the Mets starting pitching problems, you have to be concerned heading into the playoffs.  I know the team tends to make it sound like it’s all because they have been getting rest and ready for the post season, but as I have pointed out, the Mets poor play started a good ten days before they clinched.

Can the Mets turn it on when the playoffs start?  That’s a good question. In 2000 the Yankees lost 16 out of the last 19 games of the season clinching the AL East in the midst of a seven game losing streak. They went on to win the World Series.  However, the Yankees had won three of the four previous World Series including the last two prior to that year.  The Yankees in 2000 had lots of experience with the post season, the 2006 Mets do not.  Certainly a team can end badly and still do well in the playoffs.  Gary Cohen pointed out in last night’s telecast that their have been three World Series winning teams in the last several years that had losing records in September.  But as Ron Darling added, you would prefer to be winning these games.  And let’s stop the comparisons to the ’86 club.  After clinching the division, the 1986 Mets went 13 and 4 to end the regular season.

In regards to the current Mets I am not confident.  Maybe it’s because I have been a Mets fan for over 40 years but I am not seeing the winning attitude and aggressiveness that the Mets exemplified for all of this season up until three weeks ago.  A lot is expected of them and maybe that pressure is starting to build.  Their starting pitching is suspect, we’re not sure yet who will start game one.  The hitters are not getting timely hits and run scoring rallies are becoming rarer than the Condor.  I certainly hope this is an aberration.  I’m hoping the Mets can win a few of these last five just to get their confidence back.  It certainly would take some of the pressure off when they head into the playoffs next week.

Extra Innings:

It is looking more and more as if Houston will sneak into the playoffs.  They have won seven in a row and now only trail the Central Division leading Cardinals by 1.5 games. The Astros can be a very dangerous team in the post season with Oswalt, Pettitte, and Clemens as their starters.

With Oakland clinching the West last night, the only thing to settle in the American League is home field and who will be the wild card.  The Tigers have a one game lead over the Twins.  Most likely the Yankees will play the wild card since it will come from the Central.  It is unlikely that Oakland will finish with a better record than New York.

The Post Season Brackets as of today: