Mets’ Offensive Struggles Highlighted by Hitting Coach Insights

Going into Tuesday’s game, the Mets’ offensive statistics were less than encouraging. They were at the bottom in the league for runs scored and had the lowest figures for on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

“I’ve honestly never seen anything like this before,” remarked Carlos Mendoza after the Mets managed to gain a one-run lead during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Rockies.

When asked about the team’s struggles, hitting coach Troy Snitker didn’t elaborate much. However, the former Astros hitting coach expressed that he couldn’t recall such a long slump as the one the Mets had during the first month of the season.

“You know, as a hitting coach, you encounter tough stretches during a season. It might take a bit longer this time, but it’s definitely possible to turn things around,” Snitker commented before the series began against the Nationals at Citi Field.

Snitker, whose father is former Braves manager Brian Snitker, was brought on board alongside major league hitting director Jeff Albert with the goal of revamping the offense. He believes the success he had with the Astros can also be achieved in Queens.

“I still stand by this. We have quite a few talented hitters. I’ve seen other strong groups struggle, too, and there’s always a way to fix it. That’s our focus,” he added.

If improvements are to be made, many of the hitters will need to adjust.

Mendoza acknowledged the situation, admitting, “We’re all in this together, but it’s not solely the hitting coach’s fault.”

When pressed about whether anything was unexpected about the team’s poor start, he mentioned, “It’s tough to point fingers, but clearly, we’re struggling to score. It’s odd to see so many players facing difficulties at once. Usually, a few players are doing well, while a couple might struggle, but right now, it’s a collective issue.”

Despite what Mendoza pointed out regarding Snitker and Albert’s efforts, the results were still disappointing.

Heading into Tuesday, the Mets had the league’s worst slugging percentage at .231 and ranked poorly in both on-base percentage (.269) and batting average (.185) against fastballs over 96 mph, according to MLB Network figures.

“We need to improve on the basics. We should be getting the ball into the outfield and hitting our fastballs more effectively,” Snitker stated. If the hitters can achieve that, it’ll make everything else much smoother. Adapting to off-speed pitches is crucial for better zone control,” he elaborated.

The results against high-velocity pitches have been baffling, with most of the team struggling except for Juan Soto and Brett Batty.

Outside of Soto and Francisco Alvarez, regular players like Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and newcomer Carson Benge have also underperformed.

Snitker explained, “At the start of the season, we set out to achieve specific goals and reflect on how things were going, tweaking as necessary.”

In spring training, he emphasized a culture of teamwork, similar to what he experienced in Houston. “We want our players to support one another and build on each at-bat, rather than feeling like they have to go it alone,” he noted.

“We remain confident in our approach, but we’re always searching for areas to improve,” Snitker added on Tuesday.