The Mets had just looked helpless once again -- falling behind in the count, flailing at hittable pitches, retreating to the dugout bearing looks of frustration.
But to put a finger on the reason is impossible, hitting coach Kevin Long said. Not when things are going this poorly.
"When you're going through stretches like this, it's a number of things," Long said, shortly after the Mets' fifth straight defeat on Sunday, 1-0 to the Braves. "You get some good pitches and you'll miss them. You'll expand the zone some. Guys won't come through in a clutch situation.