Home Cooking

The 2007 Mets finished 1 game out of first place with a record of 88 and 77. That finish was 9 games below their 2006 record. What accounted for this decline? A look at the raw numbers brings a shocking answer. It was the Mets play at home that was the difference between 2006 and 2007. In fact, in 2007 the Mets posted their worst home numbers since Willie Randolph took over the club.

2007 41-40 (home) 47-34 (away)

Home Team Batting Average = .270
Home Total Runs Scored = 367
Home Team Pitching ERA = 4.20

Away Team Batting Average = .280
Away Total Runs Scored = .437
Away Team Pitching ERA = 4.42

2006 50-31 (home) 47-34 (away)

Home Team Batting Average = .256
Home Total Runs Scored = 395
Home Team Pitching ERA = 3.76

Away Team Batting Average = .272
Away Total Runs Scored = 439
Away Team Pitching ERA = 4.56

In 2006 and 2007 the Mets posted identical records on the road (47 wins, 34 loses). In both seasons they posted similar road statistics. In both 2006 and 2007 the Mets finished at the top of the NL in runs scored on the road. In both years they posted solid batting averages on the road.

At home, it was a much different story. The Mets finished 2006 with a fantastic 50 wins at home. They had a league best ERA (3.76) at home, and posted a respectable number of runs at home (395). In 2007 these numbers were much worse at home. The team ERA at home jumped to 4.20 and the numbers of runs scored at home dropped to 367.

If the Mets want to contend for the division in 2008 they must find their groove at home.