Mets’ Struggles Continue as Pressure Mounts on Manager Carlos Mendoza

Changes in the New York Mets’ clubhouse reflect a season of turmoil. Table tennis and shuffleboard have been replaced with a chessboard and cribbage table, but the team’s performance has spiraled from contender to cellar dweller without any sign of recovery.

After suffering a doubleheader sweep against the Colorado Rockies, a team that lost 119 games last year, the Mets have dropped 15 of their last 17 games. They now sit tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the worst record in the majors at 9-19. “It’s hard to explain,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza admitted. “It’s just not a good showing. Not good at-bats up and down.”

Once boasting a stellar 45-23 record as of June 13 last year, the Mets have since plummeted to 47-74. Major offseason changes, including the departures of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz, alongside the arrivals of Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Devin Williams, have not yielded the expected results.

Star outfielder Juan Soto remains hopeful, stating, “We all know what kind of talent we have in that lineup and what kind of hitters we have and how much damage they can do. So it’s a matter of time that they’re going to wake up and bring the best out of themselves.” However, the Mets are now 10.5 games behind NL East leaders Atlanta and seven games back from the final NL wild card spot.

With a lackluster start to the season, New York’s performance mirrors some of the worst in franchise history. They have scored only 92 runs—the fewest in the majors—while hitting just 20 home runs, which is only one more than the league low. Their .625 OPS also ranks last in the league, and they have been shut out five times already this season.

As the pressure mounts, Mendoza’s job security has come under scrutiny, especially following the dismissal of Boston’s Alex Cora. However, he insists that his focus remains on improving the team’s performance. “The only thing I’m worried about here is I’ve got to get the guys going,” Mendoza said. “I know the questions will continue to come up, but my job is to find a way to get those guys out of the funk.” He added that he had not received any assurances regarding his position from president of baseball operations David Stearns.

On the mound, Kodai Senga’s struggles continue as he fell to 0-4, enduring his third consecutive poor outing. The All-Star from 2023, who boasted a 2.98 ERA last season, now has a dismal 9.00 ERA this year. Mendoza acknowledged the need for a conversation with Senga, whose contract includes a clause preventing him from being sent to the minors without his consent. “Obviously not good enough,” Mendoza stated, emphasizing the need for discussions about Senga’s future role.

In a bid to bolster their offense, the Mets are expected to designate Tommy Pham for assignment and have reportedly agreed to a major league contract with Austin Slater. Pham, who is hitless in 13 at-bats since being called up, and Slater, who struggled with a .174 average in limited appearances for Miami, are part of the team’s effort to turn around a dismal season.

Despite starting the year with the highest payroll in the league at $358.4 million, the Mets find themselves in a precarious position. “At the end of the day, we got to go out and do it. That’s as simple as that,” Mendoza concluded, emphasizing the ongoing efforts behind the scenes to motivate and support players. The removal of table tennis, once a favorite of Alonso, symbolizes the drastic changes within the organization. Amidst this turmoil, the remaining pool table sits as a reminder of the fun that once was, with an 8-ball resting prominently in the corner pocket.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.