When the Mets announced they postponed their home opener due to inclement weather nearly 24 hours before first pitch, many questioned the decision.
Sure, it looks good if the team was getting out in front of a potential washout but Thursday afternoon in Flushing was summer-like in the high 70s with plenty of sun. Even worse, there was not a drop of rain until the sun had already gone down.
So instead of playing in summer weather, the Amazins took the field Friday on an overcast and chilly April afternoon.
Well, it turns out the Mets’ batters welcomed the day off as they exploded for nine runs in their win against the Miami Marlins.
“[The off day] helped me for sure,” Francisco Lindor told reporters after the game. “I’m sure it helped the other guys, as well. It made me get my legs again and slow the game down.”
After a brutal seven road games in seven consecutive days between Miami and Milwaukee to start the season, the rain out gave Lindor and the other batters a chance to reset. Nine runs on six hits and 12 walks helped end the Mets' three-game losing streak and start their homestand on the right foot.
“In Milwaukee… we had three games in a short amount of time. And then to get some time off and everybody settles into their homes was important,” Brandon Nimmo, who walked four times in the win, explained. “Some of those guys were away from their families for six-seven weeks now, so it was good to be back and see them. [The off day] definitely helped and it showed in our performance.”
Prior to Friday’s win, the Mets were scuffling especially on the offensive end. After winning three-of-four from the Marlins, New York scored just six runs in their three-game series -- all losses -- with the Brewers.
Friday was a different story, though. The team scored a season-high nine runs including home runs from Lindor, Pete Alonso and Starling Marte. But it wasn’t just the big homers, it was the plate discipline from the entire lineup.
“I’m really happy how we commanded the zone today,” Alonso said. “It was very special. One through nine everyone contributed… Our situational hitting was very good today.”
“Nobody was trying to be the hero. Nimmo set the tone, taking quality pitches very close to the strike zone and that set the tone,” Lindor added of his team’s offense. “The whole entire lineup was ready to hit but we were trying to get a pitch in our zone. We did well, it was a good day for us.”
Now with the Mets getting back to .500 and seemingly rested, they’ll look to take care of business this weekend and build upon an offensive outburst they haven’t seen all season.
They also want to move past that Milwaukee series, and a veteran squad like the Mets know just how to do that.
“It’s good to come and play better but we have a lot of veteran guys on this team that understand that one series doesn’t dictate the season,” Nimmo said. “As much as we would not like to get swept, we understand that sometimes it happens in baseball. Sometimes you run into some hot teams. And sometimes you’re not swinging the bat or pitching particularly well. That was one of those series.”