The Mets best players have to actually act like it
The Mets open a three-game series against the Twins at Citi Field tonight
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
Losers of 11 straight, the Mets limp back home to open a nine game homestand against the Twins tonight
Mets beat writer for the Athletic Tim Britton joined Foul Territory’s daily podcast to talk about what has gone wrong for the Mets over the last two weeks (Foul Territory)
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
After the Mets latest deflating loss on Sunday, Andrew and Rich commiserated about the miserable week for the club as they went winless on their road trip, and discussed the safety of the manager.
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Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates were off on Monday
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (7-15) vs Twins (11-11)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.28 ERA) vs. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3, 6.10 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The time is right now for the stars to step up for the Mets ✍️
The Mets are an absolute mess. But you didn’t need to hear that from me to know that was the case.
This has been the most disappointing and embarrassing stretch I can remember for this organization since August of 2002. They are the worst team in the National League and second worst baseball as play begins today.
They can’t hit, they look entirely lifeless, and every day seems to bring another hard-to-imagine feat of misery.
The other day, Andrew perfectly illustrated how this debacle falls squarely at the feet of David Stearns, the former prized executive who alienated scores of this fanbase with his questionable at best decision-making this winter. The fact that nearly every move he made has spectacularly blown up in his face is clearly the biggest reason for the Mets’ hardships.
Manager Carlos Mendoza has also found himself in the crosshairs of questions about his job security, and yes, his in-game maneuvering has certainly left room for second-guessing.
But you know what? At a certain point, the players have to show us that they care as much as the fans do.
The guys that Stearns exiled, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil, were passionate Mets who bled orange and blue. When they succeeded, we celebrated together. When they failed, you never had to question their passion and desire to fix it.
These new Mets don’t have that equity.
Marcus Semien doesn’t appear to have a pulse half the time. Jorge Polanco has (literally) been a no-show for most of the first month and is currently on the IL.
Luis Robert has had moments but has also been inconsistent.
Then there’s Bo Bichette, who I’ll use as the segue into the main point of today’s editorial.
There’s nothing Stearns, Mendoza, or anyone else can do to pull the club out of this disaster. There comes a point where the team’s players—especially its best players—simply have to play better.
Bichette was brought here to replace Alonso as the team’s most important right-handed bat. To say he’s struggled in his adjustment to both third base and New York in general is an understatement.
Bichette is currently slashing a paltry .217/.255/.283 through 22 games. For reference, that’s nearly .100 points lower than his batting average last season, over .100 points lower on base percentage, and his slugging percentage is down exactly .200 points.
In layman’s terms, this dramatic of a regression is simply hard to do.
Then there’s Francisco Lindor, who has been nothing short of an enigma this April. The veteran has been notorious for his slow starts since coming to Queens, and this year in particular, I think this was to be expected after he missed all of spring training with hamate surgery.
That said, his .205/.293/.307 slash line is simply hard to comprehend.
Even more alarming, however, is the several mental lapses he’s exhibited in the field and on the bases. That part of his game has never been called into question, and it’s become concerning to the level of worry over something going on behind the scenes to affect his focus and mindset.
Both Bichette and Lindor are the type of star players who can carry a team and theoretically prevent a losing streak of this magnitude.
The Mets were shut out in three out of four games during one stretch on this recently completed road trip. I understand they’re playing without Juan Soto at the moment, but that simply cannot happen.
The greeting this team is going to get from the Citi Field faithful tonight is deservingly not going to be kind. Can they actually show a shred of heart, emotion, spirit, and take the first step towards turning this debacle around?
Nolan McLean is certainly the right pitcher to have on the bump.
But from an offensive standpoint, a turnaround simply has to start with Lindor and Bichette.
Show us something. We’re begging you.
Around the League 🚩
Former Mets and current Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz is undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow. He’s expected to miss multiple months (Athletic)
RHP Sonny Gray left early due to injury, but seven Red Sox relievers combined to get through the remaining innings and help Boston to an 8-6 win over the Tigers