It’s a classic baseball drama unfolding in New York: a team with championship aspirations and a massive payroll is in the midst of a sudden collapse. Just weeks ago, the Mets were flying high at 62-45. Now, after a disastrous 10-game stretch, they sit at 63-53, barely holding onto a playoff spot. They have been swept twice in this stretch — since the series started with the Padres on 29th July — and have dropped nine of their last ten games.

Amid this chaos, a voice from the Mets’ past glory has emerged, providing a simple yet brilliant diagnosis of the situation. Dwight “Doc” Gooden, who won the World Series with the Mets in 1986 before winning another one with the Yankees in 2000, recently shared his thoughts on the team’s struggles.

In an interview with SNY’s Chelsea Sherrod, he said, “I think the Mets gonna be okay. I still like to say, pitching, pitching wins. I mean, you gotta have pitching, pitching got to be consistent. ‘Cause the lineup is nice, but they gotta get consistent and and the main thing is they stay healthy. I think they gonna be right there. ‘Cause once you get in the postseason, it’s the hottest team to win, not always the best team. I think they gonna be okay. Just got to get more consistent.”

Gooden made the comments amid intensifying cries for a coaching change in the Mets’ setup. Hitting coach Eric Chavez has been the lightning rod for the frustrated fans due to the team’s woes at the plate. Mets are currently 23rd in the majors in batting average (.238) and hits (920).

Jon Heyman has made the most notable proposal thus far. It’s about adding recently retired slugger J.D. Martinez as a hitting consultant. “The Mets should hire JD Martinez as a hitting consultant. Vientos and others would benefit from his vast knowledge,” he wrote on X. But GM David Stearns has publicly supported his current staff: “I have confidence in our hitting coaches.”

What has been the Mets’ most glaring issue, though?

A deeper dive into the Mets’ slump.

At the core of the Mets’ issues is an offensive collapse. The most concerning aspect has been the performance of their most notable offseason acquisition, Juan Soto. After a dominant July, during which he hit .322 with a 1.196 OPS and 11 home runs, Soto’s slash line has plummeted to .220/.350/.390. This mirrors his slow start to the year, where he posted a similar .231/.357/.413 line through the end of May.

But Soto isn’t the only problem. The problem is a lack of depth. The Mets’ offense is dangerously top-heavy. That relies too much on Soto, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo. These four players have contributed to 91 of the team’s 142 home runs this season so far.

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Pete Alonso remains a consistent run producer with 91 RBI, while Lindor has led the team in hits (114). But the rest of the roster has been unable to support the team offensively. Players like Mark Vientos (.641 OPS), Tyrone Taylor (.546 OPS), and Luis Torrens (.585 OPS) have not performed consistently throughout the season.

And, the offensive issues have only deepened due to a constant onslaught of injuries that have torn through the heart of the Mets’ pitching staff. Season-ending injuries to players like Griffin Canning and A.J. Minter have forced the team to lean on unproven arms.

Despite the injuries, however, the Mets have recorded decent pitching numbers. Their team ERA of 3.65 ranks an impressive 6th in all of Major League Baseball. However, this number hides a critical flaw: a lack of control. The Mets’ pitchers have issued 415 walks in 1030.0 innings, ranking a dismal 27th in the majors.

This ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ method probably can’t be sustained long term, particularly when there’s minimal run support.