Mets' Brandon Nimmo discusses disappointing home attendance figures

The New York Mets have generated headlines over the past couple of weeks both for an impressive run of form and also because of disappointing Citi Field attendance numbers throughout the opening month of the season. 

Outfielder Brandon Nimmo addressed that second topic following New York's 9-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. 

"It has been cold and maybe just not as excited about this year, with all the hype that was around the past two years and maybe not feeling as hopeful this year without quite the big moves in the offseason," Nimmo said about the situation, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

The Mets traded co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer last summer, failed to replace them this past offseason and ultimately pivoted to a strategy that involved stocking up on depth rather than on big names. New York then began the season with a five-game losing streak that understandably had fans fearing the worst. 

Anthony Rieber of Newsday mentioned back on April 2 that the announced paid attendance for a Mets home game against the Detroit Tigers the previous day was "by far the lowest non-COVID crowd at Citi Field since the building opened in 2009." 

Per Ryan Chichester of Audacy, WFAN radio hosts Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber have repeatedly discussed the fact that the Mets began Thursday 19th in MLB in attendance for the ongoing campaign (according to ESPN). 

"Success would definitely bring people back," Nimmo added. "This is kind of a show-it town, so it depends on if we remain successful and keep winning series. If we do that, like in '22 (when the Mets won 101 regular-season games), we will have a packed stadium."

Don't look now, but the once 0-5 Mets are beginning a West Coast trip at 10-8. Per ESPN stats, New York entered Thursday sixth in all of MLB with a 3.15 team ERA. Ace Kodai Senga hasn't yet made his season debut but should give the rotation a boost assuming he returns from injury before the end of June.

MLB insider Jon Heyman of MLB Network called the Mets "a contender" on Wednesday. As of early Thursday afternoon, FanGraphs gave the Mets a 38.2 percent chance to make the playoffs.