This wasn’t how the Mets were supposed to open the second half and head toward the trade deadline, still wondering what their team is.
But at six games under .500 as they began a series against the Dodgers at Citi Field, even general manager Billy Eppler couldn’t pinpoint where the Mets were at this point in the season.
Prior to the year, with a record-setting payroll, it seemed only natural that they’d be buyers to fill in whatever holes that might exist, but their issues run deeper than an easy fix or two and the GM wouldn’t rule out selling.
“I’ll be open to any opportunity and look for an avenue to continue to add talent to the organization, whether it’s short-term or long-term,’’ Eppler said Friday.
Asked if he was “surprised” the team was in this spot despite such lofty preseason expectations, Eppler said, “Yeah, but the circumstances are what the circumstances are. You try not to get surprised by anything, do your homework and try to take advantage of opportunities as they come.”
The Mets had a six-game winning streak shortly before the All-Star break, but ended the first half with two straight losses.
It left players like Brandon Nimmo still waiting for the team to click on all cylinders.
“The first half didn’t go exactly like we would have liked, but the second half, we’ll try to right the ship and get our foot in the door of the playoffs,” Nimmo said. “We know from last year, once you do that, anything can happen.”
With Jose Quintana expected to make his season debut on Tuesday after being sidelined following rib surgery during spring training, the Mets are finally set to have their full starting rotation for the first time.
And there are other reasons for optimism, according to Nimmo.
“We won [six of eight] to go into the break and we’ll be in a good spot if we keep doing that,’’ Nimmo said. “All we need is for the starting pitching and the offense to click together. When that happens, I think we’re one the best teams out there, but it’s been elusive at times.”
That’s putting it mildly.
Eppler said the way the team plays towards the deadline will be a factor in how they approach the deadline, but he’ll take a look at a bigger picture.
“It was nice to see us play well,’’ Eppler said of how they finished the first half. “We have more work to do.’’
As for the next two weeks, Eppler said the team’s play will “be an element of [how the deadline goes], no doubt and also the conversations we have with other teams. That’s kind of the biggest factor. Just ‘what can be done?’”
And he knows the players are aware of the situation they’re in.
“When I listen to them talk to [the media], I don’t think the urgency is something that’s just turned on,’’ Eppler said. “It sounds like it’s been there for a while. They’ve recognized it and at times played well and at other times we haven’t. So, I think it’s the consistency aspect that really needs to take hold. We were encouraged by what we were seeing going into the break and hope to continue down a similar path.’’