Seems almost like yesterday the Mets were struggling, right? How good have they been this month?
The Mets were 9-12 (.429) in April. They are 9-3 (.750) in May. May’s success has been largely due to the 7 game streak we had going though.
Last year it wasn’t until July 5th when we had a 10 game winning streak going. This year on May 4th (24th game of the year) we already have a 7 game winning streak under our belts. Hopefully we don’t end up like the 1972 Mets who had a 11 game winning streak started on May 12th (22nd game of the year) but went on to have a 83-73 record. Or the 1976 Mets who had a 10 game winning streak started on June 23rd (71st game) but went on to an 86-73 record. Or the 1991 Mets who had a 10 game winning streak on July 1st (74th game) but had a 77-84 record. I don’t think we have to worry about that. It’s a scenario more or less like the 1998 Mets had which is almost reminiscent of the past two seasons. The 1998 Mets had a 9 game winning streak started May 21st (43rd game) and ended up short with an 88-74 record (1.5 games behind the wild card). Their 12-12 record in September almost got them in.
It’s generally been good news though for teams with long streaks.
The 1985 Mets had two 9 game winning streaks started on July 2nd (74th game) and August 3rd (102nd). Their record was 98-64 which didn’t get them into the playoffs, but I’m pretty sure that record would get most teams into the playoffs in today. Then you have the 1990 Mets who had an 11 game winning streak started on June 17th (60th game) with a 91-71 record which probably gets most teams a wild card spot today. The 11 game winning streak by 1990 Mets was the 2nd time a Mets team had accomplished such a long winning streak. You’ll see who did it the first time.
The 2000 Mets had a 9 game winning streak which started on April 13th (13th game). But even more impressive are the 2006 Mets who had a 7 game winning streak started on April 3rd (3rd game). They had longer winning streak later in the season started on June 7th for 8 games. The 1986 Mets didn’t get a quick start on their first long winning streak, but they made sure to ride out out when they did. They had an 11 game winning streak started on April 18th (6th game). Right after the loss, they went on a 7 game winning streak. If it weren’t for a loss on May 1st to the Braves they would have had a 19 game winning streak. I guess that’s why they were called the Amazin’ Mets. But wait, that’s not all, the Miracle Mets in 1969 had an 11 game winning streak started on May 28th (42nd game) , then on September 6th(136th game) they had a 10 game winning streak, followed by a 9 game winning streak started on September 21st (153rd game). 2 long winning streaks in a month, well now we know where they got their nickname.
If the past is any indication, to make the post-season, you gotta get the streak going early in the season or at least get multiple long streaks going later in the season.
