The New York Mets have lost their 10th consecutive game falling 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The Mets began the 2026 MLB season winning 7 of their first 11 games and actually had a ½ game lead in the NL East following an extra inning victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 7th. They are now 7 games back of the Atlanta Braves. During this 10-game skid, the Mets have been outscored 60-16 and shutout thrice.
Although we are scarcely into the second inning of the season, it is reasonable to wonder if Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza is nearing the end of the line.
For starters, the Mets have the second highest payroll in MLB. This means the Mets are expected to win and to win now.
Let us also consider Mendoza himself. Hired prior to the 2024 season on a three-year deal with a club option for 2027, the Mets would earn a NL Wild Card berth and reach the NLCS falling to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. But then there was last year. Things were looking very good for the Mets. In mid-June, the Mets had the best record in MLB with a 45-24 and had a 5½ game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. The Mets were not so amazin' going 38-55 the rest of the way. As Mets announcer Gary Cohen put it at the time, "And the Mets agonizing, three-and-a-half-month, slow-motion collapse, is complete."
Of course, the Mets underwent a significant overhaul during the offseason. Pete Alonso signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles with closer Edwin Diaz doing the same with the Dodgers while Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics. Brandon Nimmo was shipped to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien. The Mets did acquire the services of former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette but really wanted Kyle Tucker who signed with (who else?) the Dodgers as well as Luis Robert, Jr. from the Chisox not to mention Devin Williams from the crosstown Yankees. They also acquired Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.
Much of this is beyond the control of Mendoza. But Mendoza did lift Peralta in favor of Brooks Raley this afternoon who promptly gave up a pinch hit 3-run HR to Carson Kelly. Losing to the Cubs must add an extra sting when you consider that current Cubs skipper Craig Counsell was their top choice after they dismissed Buck Showalter following the 2023 season, but Counsell didn't want a bite of the Big Apple.
Bichette (.227 1 HR & 9 RBI) and Semien (.216 1 HR & 8 RBI) are struggling at the plate along with Francisco Lindor (.214 1 HR & 1 RBI) and Brett Baty (.190 0 HR & 7 RBI) who are hitting at or the below the Mendoza Line. That would be Mario, not Carlos. Still, Mario Mendoza isn't sitting on the hot seat.
Their pitching hasn't been much better. Although Peralta (1-2 4.05 ERA), Nolan McLean (1-1 2.28 ERA) and Clay Holmes (2-2 1.96 ERA) have pitched serviceably, both David Peterson (0-3 6.41 ERA) and Kodai Senga (0-3 8.83 ERA) have been getting hammered. Williams has been ineffective in the closer role with his 6.75 ERA, and the Mets are now relying on Craig Kimbrel. While Kimbrel is a future Hall of Famer, he has not saved a game since 2024.
As Jeff Passan noted, only four teams in MLB history have reached the post-season following a losing streak of 10 games or longer although one of those teams was the Cleveland Guardians from last season. Indeed, the Guardians were 15½ games back of the Detroit Tigers on Fourth of July weekend only to win the AL Central.
The Mets aren't that deep in the hole, and they are expected to get Juan Soto back off the injury list before the end of the month. Let us also consider that the rest of the NL East outside of the Braves isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. The Philadelphia Phillies, who are coming off four straight post-season appearances including back-to-back NL East titles and the NL pennant in 2022, have had an almost equally disappointing start. The Miami Marlins have lost 7 of their last 8 games following an 8-5 start. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals could be headed for their 7th straight losing season after winning the World Series in 2019.
So, with a scant 141 games to play, the Mets have time to turn the corner. However, there remains a question if that will happen with Carlos Mendoza in the dugout.
No comments:
Post a Comment