New York Mets: Reflecting on the horrors of going 5-21 in June 2018

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 30: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 30: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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PHOENIX, AZ – JUNE 14: Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets ties his laces on-deck during the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 14, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Cold June Offense in 2018

Would you believe, Jose Reyes had the second-highest batting average in June of 2018? We all gave him plenty of grief last year yet his .257/.366/.343 slash line looks Ruthian compared to other Mets from the month.

The leading hitter was Wilmer Flores who still only batted .286/.327/.561 in his opportunities. Flores, now the team’s regular starting first baseman, also tied Brandon Nimmo for the team lead in RBI with 13. Nimmo did outslug Flores and everyone else with a team-leading 6 home runs in June, but only a .250 batting average and 39 strikeouts in 96 at-bats.

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Some numbers from the offense this month weren’t abysmal. However, many times you will find a player or two putting up numbers which far exceed their lifetime averages. The Mets didn’t get this from anyone. To make matters worse, the men they hoped to lean on were struggling.

Amed Rosario slashed .216/.284/.311 in June which greatly outperformed the batting lines from Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier. This pair, perfectly healthy for the month and able to participate in the majority of the team’s games both hit .198 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI. Conforto did manage to post a .327 OBP thanks to his 16 walks. Frazier, no longer a threat to get on base via the walk, only took four ball fours and put up a putrid .227 OBP for the month.

To no one’s surprise, Jay Bruce was one of the worst hitters of the month. In 34 at-bats, the former slugger slashed .118/.231/.147. Adrian Gonzalez also signed his own walking papers by slashing .111/.143/.148 in his 8 games played.

At month’s end, the Mets scored 89 runs which put them 27th in baseball. The rebuilding Kansas City Royals were the only team to record a batting average worse than the .210 the Mets hit.

And by the way, the Royals also went 5-21 this month. The Orioles, who beat the Mets twice, only won 6 games.

As ugly as it was, not everything fell on the bats. Plenty of Mets pitchers also struggled in this month we’d all like to redo.

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