The longer the Mets have to wait to play again, the more they become a football team whose brutal Sunday performance gets analyzed and dissected for several days.
Just like when play concluded Monday night, the Mets are 0-4, and wonderment has only increased through consecutive rainouts whether they will ever win a game.
The weather in Queens isn’t a surprise — it’s just April being April — but the Mets’ start is, especially in the manner it’s unfolded — with the lineup, not the pitching, as the biggest culprit.
The roof over Citi Field isn’t happening (nor should it if the estimate team owner Steve Cohen says he received that it would cost $800 million for such an addition is correct), so we’ll just slog through these late-wintery conditions awaiting better days.
But will those better days include the Mets?
It’s probably best not to read too much into four games, but here’s a few things to consider heading into Thursday’s scheduled doubleheader against the Tigers.
The offense flows through Brandon Nimmo
The Mets’ leadoff hitter has reached base just three times in four games and is 1-for-16 (.063) at the plate to start the season. Nimmo over the past two seasons managed to largely avoid slumps — and he’s still quite a distance from this downturn falling into that category — but the Mets need him producing.
Early in spring training, manager Carlos Mendoza broached the subject with Nimmo of potentially moving in the batting order from leadoff, allowing the Mets to place a better base-stealing threat in that spot. But Mendoza kept reverting to the fact Nimmo’s on-base potential is difficult to replace in the leadoff spot. Nimmo’s on-base percentage through four games is an anemic .167.
The bullpen looks at least respectable
Edwin Diaz has been terrific in his two appearances, but that’s not a surprise. The performances the Mets have received from Drew Smith, Jorge Lopez and Jake Diekman, among others, has been an encouraging sign. Yohan Ramirez, if nothing else, may have endeared himself to teammates by throwing behind Rhys Hoskins a day after tensions escalated between the Mets and Brewers following Hoskins’ aggressive slide into Jeff McNeil. It’s not a bad idea for the Mets to push back on occasion.
Don’t hate on the Mets’ rotation just yet
Luis Severino is the only member of the group to have turned in a clunker, but the Mets won’t complete a full turn through the starting five until Adrian Houser finishes his start in Game 1 on Thursday.
Sean Manaea, in particular, inspired confidence with his strong performance the last time the Mets played (when was that again?). Julio Teheran now figures into the rotation mix — as Post colleague Jon Heyman first reported — after agreeing to a major league contract with the Mets. That deal occurred after Tylor Megill this week was placed on the injured list with a shoulder strain and as Kodai Senga rehabs from his own shoulder issues.
J.D. Martinez can’t get here fast enough
Martinez should wait until he’s completely comfortable in the batter’s box before joining the Mets, as long as — wink, wink — it doesn’t last beyond Sunday, the first day he is eligible to be recalled from the minor leagues. After signing with the Mets late in spring training, Martinez offered insight into his mindset, saying it “sucks” that he would have to stay in the minors for at least 10 days to begin the season, so perhaps he’s already received enough at-bats to consider himself ready.
Francisco Lindor was a good April player the past two seasons
Lindor’s abysmal April start in his first season with the Mets (2021) maybe clouded the fact he performed well in the first month the past two years. Now that he’s 1-for-16 (.063) there’s some of the “same old Lindor” chatter from his detractors. But that talk is off base.
Even so, Lindor’s four games, coupled with Nimmo’s drought, has crippled the Mets’ lineup.
History can’t repeat
The Mets got swept three games in Detroit last May (including losing a doubleheader) that players such as Nimmo and Adam Ottavino later cited as the first sign something might have been amiss with the team. If the Mets get swept again by the Tigers, with a doubleheader sweep included, it could be an omen.
