Citi Field probably isn't killing the Mets' offense

Despite early-season proclamations that the Mets could never succeed offensively at Citi Field, they're actually hitting better as a team there than on the road this year.

Everyone loves a good storyline, so when the New York Mets started the season struggling at home, especially on offense, people started pointing to the “pitcher-friendly” confines of Citi Field as the reason for the slow start. Even I alluded to it at one point.

However, the storyline didn’t hold for long. Since Citi Field opened in 2009, the Mets have had fairly equal offensive success (or lack thereof) at home and on the road. Since the early season lull, the team’s offensive statistics have stabilized and the team has been as good, if not better, in all of the major hitting categories at home.

It’s clear that the Mets have been equally mediocre on the road as they have been at home. The most intriguing results are the team’s power numbers. At home, the Mets hit for a higher slugging percentage and a notably higher (22-point difference) isolated power.

This power surge at home is seen up and down the team’s starting lineup. Aside from left field (where there has been no clear starter), five of the seven starters have better isolated power and slugging percentages at home.

The only players who don’t hit for more power at home are second baseman Daniel Murphy, who has been a better all-around hitter on the road, and shortstop Ruben Tejada, who has a higher slugging percentage at home but a higher isolated power on the road (I use the word power very loosely with Tejada). The rest of the lineup, including first baseman Lucas Duda, outfielder Curtis Granderson and third baseman David Wright, the team’s main sources of power, have all hit for more power at home.

Not only have the Mets been better hitters at home, but they have somehow managed to overcome the “spacious” dimensions of Citi Field.

So until next fall, when the storyline is resurrected once again.