The Mets are in a serious tailspin right now, dropping three straight series and struggling hard to put runs on the board, but Juan Soto is back and already launching dingers. The post-trade deadline “dead cat bounce” is definitely over, and it’s brutally clear things are not trending in the right direction. We went from two “fireballs” and zero “poop emojis” on the player performance meter to zero “fireballs” and *two* “poop emojis” in just two weeks. It’s a gut punch, man.
Team’s Batting Order Feels Like a Cold Shower, Except for Juan Soto’s Blast
Seriously, outside of one double-digit run explosion against the White Sox, this team has been an absolute mess trying to score. It’s like they forgot how to hit. But then there’s Juan Soto. He just came back from the injured list and, even with a tiny sample size of only eight plate appearances, he’s showing us what we’ve been missing. The dude skipped a rehab assignment and still doesn’t look like he’s lost a step at the plate. He’s already got two hits, including a homer, in those eight PAs! It’s a huge relief, especially knowing he’s going to be eased back in with off days and a lot of DHing, which is smart given it’s kind of a lost season already. When Soto got activated, Eric Wagaman was optioned to Triple-A. Wagaman had one hit, one run, and one RBI in five plate appearances before heading out. That Soto homer even came back-to-back with a shot from Francisco Lindor, giving us a rare glimpse of what these two can do together. We just need to see more of it.
Lindor’s Power Nap and Ewing’s Wild Ride
Speaking of Lindor, man, he’s been in a bit of a funk lately. Over his last 12 games, spanning 51 plate appearances, he’s got a 59 wRC+, which is rough to see. He does lead the team in runs scored with seven and has blasted two homers, which account for two of his eight hits. He’s also drawn four walks and driven in two runs, but the ten strikeouts are a concern. And yet, believe it or not, Lindor doesn’t even lead the team in strikeouts. That “honor” goes to A.J. Ewing. Ewing is absolutely mired in a horrific slump, rocking a shocking 7 wRC+ over his last 50 plate appearances. Yesterday’s double was literally his *only* extra-base hit in this entire two-week stretch. Even worse? He hasn’t driven in a single run in the entire month of August. It’s brutal. The wild thing is, even when his bat is ice-cold, Ewing is still swiping bags and playing some seriously good defense. He’s got six stolen bases in the past two weeks, way more than anyone else on the team. So, it’s a mixed bag, to say the least.
This team needs to figure out its scoring issues, and fast. The only real hope right now is seeing more of Soto and Lindor consistently in the lineup, generating those back-to-back moments. We gotta look forward to those sparks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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