It has been a painful beginning to the 2022 season for the New York Mets. They are leading the National League in having been hit by pitches, having been struck by pitches 19 times heading into Thursday’s action. The ice tub and various ice packs have seen a great deal of use thus far.
This is also nothing new for the Mets. Over the course of modern MLB history, only 22 teams have been hit by a pitcher at least 16 times in their first 20 games. Three of those teams are the Mets – over the past three seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022).
New York Mets feeling familiar pain to start of season
Pete Alonso and Starling Marte are leading the charge at being hit. Both players have been hit by pitches four times already in 2022. James McCann and Dominic Smith have both been hit by three pitches thus far as well.
Part of this is an unfortunate consequence of the gameplan against the Mets. Pitchers are looking to bust Alonso and Smith inside during their plate appearances, keeping them from extending their hands and tapping into that power. Unfortunately, missing inside would also mean that Alonso and Smith would wear the brunt of those mistakes.
It is, however, notable that the Mets have been drilled so much to begin the last three years. At the same time, Mets pitching is not exactly forcing the issue, having only hit seven batters heading into Thursday. Maybe it is time for the pitching staff to send a message to the opposition as well.
Baseball is a game of adjustments. Teams are going to pitch the Mets inside until they can prove they can hit those offerings. And in doing so, the Mets hitters are going to keep wearing those pitches. Maybe that will make a difference – teams will start to change their approach if they keep putting runners on base.
The New York Mets are feeling a familiar pain to the start of the 2022 season. It is the same as they felt in 2020 and 2021.