It’s a classic baseball drama unfolding in New York: a team with championship aspirations and a massive payroll is in the midst of a sudden collapse. Just weeks ago, the Mets were flying high at 62-45. Now, after a disastrous 10-game stretch, they sit at 63-53, barely holding onto a playoff spot. They have been swept twice in this stretch — since the series started with the Padres on 29th July — and have dropped nine of their last ten games.
Amid this chaos, a voice from the Mets’ past glory has emerged. providing a simple yet brilliant diagnosis of the situation. Mets icon Dwight “Doc” Gooden, who won the World Series with the franchise and was one of the best pitchers in team history, recently shared his thoughts on the team’s struggles.
In an interview with SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod, Gooden said, “I think the Mets gonna be okay. I still like to say, pitching, pitching wins. I mean, you gotta have pitching, pitching got to be consistent. ‘Cause the lineup is nice, but they gotta get consistent and and the main thing is they stay healthy. I think they gonna be right there. ‘Cause once you get in the postseason, it’s the hottest team to win, not always the best team. I think they gonna be okay. Just got to get more consistent.”
“Pitching wins.”
Doc Gooden offers up his thoughts on the Mets with @ChelseaSherrod: pic.twitter.com/5GU3zsdwHp
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 9, 2025
Gooden made the comments amid intensifying cries for a coaching change in the Mets’ setup. Hitting coach Eric Chavez has been the lightning rod for frustrated fans and media due to the team’s woes at the plate. Mets are 23rd in the majors in batting average (.238) and hits (920). And just decent in OBP(.318).
Jon Heyman has made the most notable proposal thus far: that of adding recently retired slugger J.D. Martinez as a hitting consultant. “The Mets should hire JD Martinez as a hitting consultant. Vientos and others would benefit from his vast knowledge,” he wrote on X. But GM David Stearns has publicly supported his current staff: “I have confidence in our hitting coaches,” he said.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the Mets’ slump.
Mets’ offense is struggling big time
At the core of the Mets’ issues is an offensive collapse. The most glaring has been the performance of their most notable buy in the offseason, Juan Soto. After a dominant July where he hit .322 with a 1.196 OPS and 11 home runs, his slashline has plummeted to .220/.350/.390. This mirrors his slow start to the year, where he posted a similar .231/.357/.413 line through the end of May.
But Soto isn’t the only problem. The problem is a lack of depth. The Mets’ offense is dangerously top-heavy. That relies too much on Soto, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo. These four players have contributed to 91 of the team’s 142 home runs this season so far.
Pete Alonso remains a consistent run producer with 91 RBI, and Lindor has led the team in hits (114). The rest of the roster has been unable to support the team offensively when these bats have gone silent. Players like Mark Vientos (.641 OPS), Tyrone Taylor (.546 OPS), and Luis Torrens (.585 OPS) have failed to perform consistently throughout the season.
The offensive issues are only deepened by a constant onslaught of injuries that have torn through the heart of their pitching staff. Season-ending injuries to players like Griffin Canning and A.J. Minter have forced the team to lean on unproven arms.
Despite the injuries, however, the pitching staff has recorded decent numbers. Their team ERA of 3.65 ranks an impressive 6th in all of Major League Baseball. However, this number hides a critical flaw: a lack of control. The Mets’ pitchers have issued 415 walks in 1030.0 innings, ranking a dismal 27th in the majors. This ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ method probably can’t be sustained long term, particularly when there’s minimal run support.
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