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In April, the Mets lacked a more representative Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo. Pete Alonso’s play dipped in May and Francisco Lindor’s in June. During the second half the Mets have largely lacked dependable starting pitching amid a rash of injuries and underperformance.

There are real, tangible areas in which the Mets, who lost Wednesday night to the Padres 7-4, have lacked this season, which has put their playoff spot in jeopardy and has given the NL East crown to the Phillies.

Have the Mets also lacked, less tangibly, in the clubhouse?

“They’re missing a few presences, not just me,” Jose Iglesias said this week. “I think J.D. [Martinez] and … [Jose] Quintana and all those guys. Everybody along the team over there, we did a pretty good job last year connecting and supporting each other in good and bad moments.”