Craig Carton

It feels the same, but it's tough to connect it when you've got new players contributing to more than a half of the plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

No, it doesn't feel connected.

I think this is actually...

It feels more like new people in a new place trying to find their bearings.

That's what it feels like.

I mean, ultimately, I think they're going to be fine.

But it is a little disconcerting because the same thing happened last year.

And it's not like you can blame the coaching staff because they fired everybody.

Right.

So what's the same?

Carlos Mendoza?

Yeah.

We're going to blame him for it?

The guy who needs to come through probably more than anybody else is Bo Bichette, and it has nothing to do with his salary.

It has everything to do with batting third in the Mets lineup.

If you're the guy hitting after Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, who even when they're not playing well, get on base for you, you're just naturally going to have more opportunities.

In fact, that's what the numbers bared out.

He had six at-bats with runners in the scoring position.

No one else had that number.

And that's not a coincidence.