Tag: Sports

Few Teams Disappoint Like the Mets

Posted on by metbaseball

Sports cartoons often look simple at first glance—a single image, a short line, and a quick reaction. But the best ones do more than just show a moment; they capture a feeling that fans recognize right away. This post takes a closer look at the above cartoon centered on a New York Mets fan and asks a few key questions: What is the cartoon really saying? Why doesn’t it feel traditionally “funny”? And how does it tap into the shared experience of being a fan?

More importantly, this post aims to move beyond just explaining the cartoon and help readers connect to it. Instead of just pointing out what’s in it, the cartoon explores how the scene mirrors the routine, emotions, and expectations that come with following a team over time. By the end, the goal is for readers not just to understand the cartoon—but to recognize themselves in it.

The cartoon shows a moment that many New York Mets fans will recognize almost instantly. You sit down to relax—maybe by the pool, maybe on the couch—and check the score. The headline reads: “Angels beat Mets in 10.” You don’t react with shock. You don’t even get angry. You just shake your head, because you’ve seen this kind of game before.

That’s what makes the cartoon feel so real. It’s not loud or dramatic. The fan doesn’t throw the paper or yell at the sky. Instead, he thinks, “They’re getting too good at losing.” And if you’ve followed this team long enough, that thought might feel uncomfortably familiar. It’s not really a joke—it’s more like something you catch yourself thinking after one too many games that slip away late.

The extra-innings detail matters. These aren’t blowouts you can ignore by the fifth inning. These are the games that keep you watching, keep you hoping. The Mets are right there, one hit or one pitch away—and then somehow, it goes the other way. Again. After a while, you stop being surprised. You start expecting it.

That’s why the cartoon isn’t laugh-out-loud funny. If anything, it feels too accurate to laugh at. It captures that slow, worn-down feeling that comes from sticking with a team through repeated letdowns. You’re still watching, still hoping—but a part of you is already bracing for how it might end.

In that sense, the cartoon works as a kind of quiet satire. It flips what we expect—teams are supposed to get better at winning—and suggests the opposite. But it does so gently, without exaggeration or bite. Instead of mocking the fan, it invites you to see yourself in him.

And that’s really the point. The cartoon isn’t just showing one fan’s reaction—it’s reflecting a shared experience. If you’ve ever followed a team long enough, you recognize the pattern.

You’re not just looking at the cartoon. You’re sitting in that chair.

Are you?

Meet PickleMet

Posted on by metbaseball

I’m PickleMet, a die-hard Mets fan sporting the Retro 1920s Rubber Hose look—always ready to rock and roll the bases or run wild on the pickleball court. I may look like a cartoon from the ’20s, but I play like it’s game seven.

Mets Pitching Will Be Tested Against Top-Hitting Cardinals

Posted on by metbaseball

After dropping two of three to the Twins—despite both teams scoring 11 runs in the series—the Mets now face the Cardinals. That near sweep got me wondering: how have the Mets fared against St. Louis lately?

Since 2020, the Mets are 15–12 against the Cardinals, including just 5–8 at home. And the last time the Mets swept the Cardinals at home was all the way back in 1988. It’s the only time it’s ever happened. That was before Citi Field, before Mike Piazza, and before most of today’s roster was even born.

That 1988 Mets team won 100 games. Darryl Strawberry led the league with 39 home runs, and Dwight Gooden went 18–9 with a 3.19 ERA. It’s been a while.

This season, the Cardinals are sitting at 9–9, right in the middle of the NL Central, while the Mets lead the NL East at 11–7. But here’s the twist: the Cardinals lead the majors with a team batting average of .280. The Mets? They rank 22nd at .219—a 61-point gap.

So how are the Mets winning? Pitching. Until the Twins series, their staff had been in lockdown mode, keeping runs off the board and covering for an offense that acted like it had to pay a silent penalty every time it reached base.

Seven Mets batters are barely treading water at the plate. Four haven’t even cracked .200—and one is barely visible:

  • José Siti: .050 (That’s not a typo.)
  • Mark Vientos: .145
  • Tyrone Taylor: .163
  • Starling Marte: .167
  • Brett Baty: .175
  • Jesse Winker: .200
  • Brandon Nimmo: .203

If I hit like that in Little League, I never would’ve made it off the bench.

And while batting average isn’t the most fashionable stat these days—on-base percentage is the current darling—it’s still hard for me, as an old-school fan, to ignore how poor these numbers are.

Where does that leave us for tonight’s game? Griffin Canning is starting for the Queens men. He faced the Cardinals once last season, throwing six innings for San Diego and notching the win. Before that, in two other starts—one in 2023 and one in 2019—he split the results, with one win and one loss. Given his win against the Cardinals last year as a Padre and the Mets’ adjustments to his pitching, I’m hoping Canning can keep them from outscoring the Mets tonight during his time on the mound.

Why Bat Speed Alone Doesn’t Make a Great Hitter

Posted on by metbaseball

When we see a home run crushed into the upper deck, it’s easy to think: “That guy swings so fast—no wonder he hit it so far.” And there’s some truth to that. Bat speed is a huge asset. A fast swing can launch the ball with serious power—if the hitter makes clean contact.

But that’s the key: contact.

Hitting a baseball—especially a fastball—takes more than raw bat speed. And if you ask some of the game’s best hitters, they’ll tell you the same.

Bat Speed = Power Potential

Bat speed gives hitters potential. Faster swings create more energy on contact, leading to higher exit velocities—the speed the ball leaves the bat. That’s what turns hard line drives into doubles and long fly balls into no-doubt home runs.

But all the bat speed in the world means nothing if the hitter misses.

The Real Challenge: Timing, Balance, and Adjustments

A 95-mph fastball can travel about 139 feet-per-second, so it will reach home plate in about 0.43 seconds. In that tiny window of time, a hitter must:

  • Recognize the pitch (fastball? slider? curve?)
  • Track its spin and speed
  • Decide whether to swing
  • And if yes—launch a swing that connects in exactly the right spot

That’s what makes hitting so difficult—and so impressive when it’s done well.

Tony Gwynn, one of the best contact hitters in baseball history, wasn’t known for explosive bat speed. But his pitch recognition, timing, and ability to adjust his swing to where the ball was going was unmatched.

Adjustments Are Everything

Modern hitters like Juan Soto or Freddie Freeman show what it means to combine bat speed with elite control. Soto has excellent bat speed, but what really sets him apart is his ability to track pitches deep into the zone and adjust at the last moment.

Freeman is known for his smooth, controlled swing. He’s not just trying to hit the ball hard—he’s trying to hit it well. And he adjusts to pitch location better than almost anyone in the league.

In contrast, some young players come up with massive bat speed but struggle at first in the majors because they’re out of control or can’t read pitches. Bat speed doesn’t help when you’re swinging at the wrong pitch.

For example, this season, the Mets’ Brett Baty has the second-fastest bat speed at 75.8 mph, per Baseball Savant, just behind Pete Alonso’s 76.6. However, Baty is hitting just .111—the lowest batting average on the team.

Why is Baty still starting at second base? Mets manager Carlos “Mendoza said, Baty is going to continue to receive chances because ‘we believe in the player … there’s tools, there’s a lot to like there.’”

So, What Makes a Great Hitter?

Bat speed is important—but it’s not enough on its own. Great hitters:

  • Time the pitch perfectly
  • Stay balanced so they can swing with control
  • Adjust mid-swing to the pitch’s location

That’s why someone with average bat speed but who’s shown elite timing and pitch recognition—like a Jeff McNeil—can consistently produce, while others with top-tier bat speed might flame out.

The Bottom Line

Bat speed gives you power potential. But hitting ability turns that potential into results.

It’s not just about swinging fast—it’s about swinging smart.

For more related to this topic, check out Enos Sarris’s article, “What Can Hitters Actually See Out of a Pitchers Hand?”