On Aug. 19, the Phillies and Brewers concluded a four-game series in which each team won twice. At that point the Mets (57-64) were one game better than the Phillies (56-65) and 2 1/2 better than the Brewers (54-66). All seemed like dead teams walking.
Since then (going into last night) the Phillies were 16-6, the Brewers 18-5 and the Mets 8-14. The Mets’ next six games are against Philadelphia and Milwaukee, surging wild-card contenders. This should leave the Mets examining yet again why they keep falling in the second half and not getting up like the Cardinals last year or the Phils, Brewers and Padres (16-5 since Aug. 19) this year.
Consider the Phillies have surged despite trading two-thirds of their starting outfield, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence, on July 31 and starter Joe Blanton a few days later. The Brewers lost Prince Fielder in the offseason, had as bad a bullpen as the Mets for much of the season, traded Zack Greinke in late July and released Randy Wolf a few weeks ago.
You can argue both teams still had better remaining talent than the Mets. But, in general, teams as dead as Milwaukee and Philadelphia were in August stay that way, especially a club such as the Phillies who were used to winning and adding players in July, not losing and selling off. However, they didn’t quit. So the Mets need to ask why? Is this, for example, about managing?
Well, the Mets collapsed down the stretch for Willie Randolph in 2007 and, to some degree, for Jerry Manuel in 2008. But it is since 2009 — for Manuel and Terry Collins — that their pattern has really established. In that period, the Mets are 182-170 (.517) in the first half (the majors’ 13th-best record). But in the second halves, they are 109-168 (.394) and only the Pirates at 100-176 (.362) are worse. And Pittsburgh — trying to end its record 20 straight losing seasons — is crumbling down the stretch, as well.
That the Mets have faltered for multiple managers doesn’t dismiss that as a contributing factor (after all, look what Buck Showalter has meant to changing the culture of the Orioles). But I still believe this is a bigger issue involving a culture beyond the manager’s office and the lack of overall organization depth.
The Mets must come to their own peace why this keeps happening. If they need any further motivation to ask the tough questions of themselves then just look across the field for the next six games.