There seems to be no end to the Mets’ downward spiral. Just after surrendering the top spot in the division to the surging Phillies, the team continues to lose ground and direction. And the latest blow came at the hands of the low-ranked Pirates, who dealt New York a second straight defeat in the series, leaving fans stunned and the clubhouse in disbelief.
Moreover, to make matters worse, manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected from Saturday’s game too, a flashpoint in what has become a stretch of mounting frustration. In the aftermath, Mendoza didn’t hold back. He delivered what you may say a wake-up call, or perhaps even an ultimatum, to his struggling squad.
The Pirates, sitting at the bottom of the NL Central, absolutely crushed the Mets 9-1. Now, for a team like the Mets, who made big moves this offseason with their sights set on a deep postseason run, nearly getting swept by the division’s basement-dwellers is more than just a bad look. So yeah, it’s a serious cause for concern. And Mendoza was brutally honest about it!
“We’ve got to keep fighting. We’ve got to continue to fight through it, and nobody’s gonna feel sorry for us. Obviously, we’re not getting the results, but we also understand that every team will face adversity. It’s up to us to continue to work continued to fight. We got really good players, we got to continue to have each other’s back, in trash, trust each other. And we will same thing with the coaches with me as a manager,” he said.
The team is currently sitting second in the NL East with a 48-36 record, and they still have time to turn the tables. But they need to be up for it. For a star-stuffed lineup of the Mets to accept the series loss to the Pirates is a better pill to swallow.
Mendoza acknowledged that the team has got quality. Well, of course! With the likes of Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and others, the Mets have quality written all over them. But it’s time to get each other’s back and seize the crunch moments.
Quite rightly, as manager, Mendoza went for no blame game, yet reminded the clubhouse of the least expectation. Go and fight!
Mendoza didn’t hold back his frustration with umpire Roberto Ortiz either, during Saturday’s game against the Pirates. At the top of the fourth inning when a 3-0 pitch to Mark Vientos looked like a ball, but Ortiz called it a strike, Mendoza was off from the dugout. Furthermore, at the bottom of the inning, he was fired up again after Ortiz ruled one of Brandon Waddell’s sinkers a ball instead of a strike.
Again, a round of animated discussions, and Ortiz finally had enough as he tossed Mendoza from the game! But Mendoza showed when to go face-to-face, something he is expecting from the clubhouse.
But hey, the manager’s frustration aside, the players need to pull their socks up, because the Mets are not just facing a slump, but it’s a full-blown crisis.
The Mets’ offense is giving up
A team loaded with star power and preseason promise just doesn’t seem to deliver at the plate. And nothing illustrates that better than their current series against the Pirates.
For starters, through the first two games of the series, the difference is glaring. The Pirates are 12-for-29 with runners in scoring position. The Mets? Just 2-for-17! Now, that stat alone tells the story of the series.
The Pirates are capitalizing on their chances. The Mets, despite more talent, continue to come short in the clutch moments. The major blame here goes to their decorated offensive lineup.
For instance, Saturday’s loss was a perfect example. The Mets had more opportunities to take control, especially in what was a tight, one-run game for most of the afternoon. Moreover, Soto and Nimmo did their part, driving in runs with men on base. But errors like Brett Baty getting caught on the basepaths and the continued inability to get that one big hit kept the Mets from making any real impact.
Currently ranked 18th in terms of average (.245) and 13th in terms of total runs (365), the Mets have a lot to do to rejuvenate their offensive lineup. The only hope, though, is the return of Soto. Hitting .259, Soto is showing a glimpse of his prime. But rest? Not quite.
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