Why are the Mets better on the road this year than at home?
I don’t actually think that there’s a reason. It’s probably just a fluke that will correct itself. But if there is a reason, here’s a suggestion.
I suggest that booers make the relief pitchers nervous. I suggest that this is also the reason why Carlos Beltran hit so much better on the road last year than he did when he was at home. He was more relaxed on the road because of the boos he heard in 2005.
I suggest (I accuse) that some fans of the New York Mets (you know who you are) actually hurt the team by putting too much pressure on some players by booing them if they underperform. Of course, many players can just ignore booing. But some players can’t. And that’s enough to hurt the team.
I’m not saying that Heilman doesn’t deserve to be booed for giving up a 3-run homer. I’m not saying that Schoeneweis doesn’t deserve to be booed. What I am saying is that it is counter-productive. That is enough of a reason not to do it.
So please, let’s give them more of a break. If they give up a lead, be sad, don’t cheer, don’t make any noise. Cheer if they do well.
Then, maybe the Mets will start to play at home as well as they play on the road.
Save your booing for players on other teams, and for real, genuine assholes.
sorry. I don’t think your theory works. First, they get booed on the road. Maybe it doesn’t bother them as much, but it’s certainly there. Second, I have not heard at Shea this year much booing BEFORE people mess up. Sometimes there’s a little AFTER they mess up. Perhaps fear of future booing is messing relievers up? I doubt it. Third, while our relievers have faltered a bit the last few days, that has not been the sole source of our problem. Lack of offense is certainly a large part of it. And despite the lack of offense, no one is booing Reyes or Delgado or any other hitter. They are cheering them with all their hearts.
So I would offer a theory of my own. A large part of what kicks this team to the next level is team chemistry. On the road, they’re living with each other. The opportunities for chemistry flourish. At home, they leave each other at the end of the day to their separate lives. Maybe they are playing better on the road because their chemsitry level is enhanced. They spend their free time with each other – ok, maybe cutting each other’s hair – but having fun. What do you think?
Subie, I guess you’ve convinced me that booing is probably not the explanation for the discrepancy this year (though being booed on the road would not have a psychological impact). But I’ve got my doubts about your theory that there’s better chemistry on the road because they’re all together. If that were the case, then it wouldn’t at all be rare for a team to have a better road record. My theory at this point is that this is just a fluke that will correct itself.
It reminds me of an overbearing and highly critical parent or spouse. Maybe you’re right and the players just need to get the heck out of Shea and all the booing and high expectations. I wonder why they play better on the road and I bet your right and that ship will right itself. I feel bad for ticket holders who don’t get to see how spectacular they are.
Thanks
Genny: don’t feel bad for us ticket holders. We’re at the Mets game!!!
Since I enjoy being at the Mets game even if they lose, I agree with Subie’s point. But I also agree with Genny that it would have been nice to have seen some of those spectacular road games. What can you do? We have an embarrassment of riches, even though we’ve just lost 5 out of our last 6.
There is a fair amount boorish behavior at Shea these days by fans I could live without, and, like I’ve said before, unless a player is dogging it (i.e. – they should have called Bonilla on his home phone and booed him) its ridiculous.
I think that’s not the reason, though. You can’t play here for more than 10 mins and not know some idiots will boo you. I think its more likely 2 factors.
First, many of the new parks are easier to score runs in.
Second, not sure its chemistry as much as being relaxed. If the players are generally tense and subconsciously know that they’ve been weak at home, its a viscious, self-defeating spiral. They press harder to win at home and suffer the effects. Baseball being the only pro sport where the less laid back you are the more problems you have.
PS – Ugly debacle for Tommy G in Detroilet today.
Hi. My name is Deb, and I’m one of the “Deans” of Flushing University. We feature this blog on our site.
And if you wanna see a couple of other theories on why the Mets don’t play so well at home, well, it just so happens I wrote an article about it, and you can find it here:
http://www.flushinguniversity.com/moxie/columns/home-home-home-on-the-roa.shtml