Word to the National League: stop hitting the Mets. It’s not helping your cause. You’re getting them angry. And you’re getting yourselves beat.
The Mets have taken pitches to the body more than any other NL team. The Mets have also piled up more wins than any other NL team. Perhaps there’s a connection. If you’re trying to impede the Mets’ winning ways by hitting them before they can achieve another victory, it’s not working.
Even if this is all one big non-conspiratorial coincidence, you’re only making the Mets more determined to do damage to you.
On Tuesday night in St. Louis, Cardinal pitchers let three get away, including one toward the face of Pete Alonso [1], fortunately deflected by his helmet’s C-Flap, and one into the ribs of Starling Marte [2]. Marte’s came with the bases loaded, automatically driving in a run. Obviously not intentional, we assume.
Both times, the Met batter in question took exception, as did the Met manager and those populating the Met dugout. The Mets are fuming at being dinged. They occasionally emerge onto the field to make their feelings known. They express themselves best on the scoreboard.
The Cardinals riled the Mets twice? The Mets defeated the Cardinals [3] a second night in a row, 3-0. Chris Bassitt [4] shut out the Redbirds for six innings, three relievers took care of the rest of business. Two runs were driven in by conventional methods of bat hitting ball, not ball hitting body. Throwing near if not necessarily at Mets isn’t working for the opposition. The Mets might be stopped by better pitching, better hitting, better deployment of traditional tools. They’re not being stopped by HBPs. A little bruised, not at all battered. Competitively, they’re splendid. Physically, they’re fine. But baseballs thrown at high speeds are not benign projectiles.
Somebody needs to determine if there’s something about the balls [5] used when the Mets are hitting that lets them go so askew. Meanwhile, get a grip, pitchers in other uniforms. Figure out why your throws are so errant. Work with your catchers on direction. We don’t mind your putting Mets on base. We have a problem with how you’ve done it a few too many instances. As do the Mets, apparently.
Nineteen games in, the Mets are 14-5. No, hitting them isn’t working. Try something else if you dare.