New York Mets

Jay Bruce insists slumping Mets haven't reached 'Oh, [expletive]' levels

Published Apr. 25, 2017 12:40 p.m. ET

Chris Bahr

The Mets are banged-up, in an offensive funk and sinking in the NL East thanks to a four-game losing streak. But Jay Bruce — one of the team’s few productive hitters — isn’t about to give up hope.

“It’s easy to push the panic button, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, [expletive]’ but we are too good for that,” Bruce said, via the New York Post. “We are a legitimate World Series contender, I believe, and I wouldn’t just say that. This is a team that is stacked. We just have to be healthy and play well.”

Jay Bruce

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

While much of the Mets' concern about injuries coming into the season focused on the rotation, lineup regulars Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring), Lucas Duda (elbow), Travis d’Arnaud (hand) and Wilmer Flores (knee) are day-to-day or on the disabled list. And David Wright (shoulder) has yet to play at all.

The saving grace is that it’s still very early. But after losing eight of their past nine games — and seemingly a player per game to injury — there is plenty of cause for concern.