It was 7:31. The Mets had just been swept by the Colorado Rockies. In the dugout, Bo Bichette sat alone with catching coach J.P. Arencibia, both with their heads down. Just four runs all weekend against one of baseball’s worst staffs. An embarrassing showing in Queens.
$350 million invested into the roster — just to wave the white flag to a Rockies team that lost 117 games in 2025. The unaddressed elephant in the room: When will the Mets hold somebody accountable? This isn’t Little League; players can’t be disciplined — they’re multi-millionaires. Maybe a coach or two can go. Could blame finally be placed on the weightless shoulders of David Stearns, who has yet to receive any backlash for this questionable roster construction? No matter the decision that is made by Steve Cohen and the Mets front office, the world might have to just deal with the harsh truth. This Mets team simply isn’t good.
It’s only April. It’s still cold out in New York — the Mets are out of the NL East race by 10.5 games. For a team used to hot starts and epic collapses, something has to give.
The offensive woes
Eric Chavez was the most hated man in New York after the Mets’ historic collapse — not Mendoza, the manager, who consistently stated that it was “only a matter of time before the bats wake up,” just like he’s done during this embarrassing start. Offensively, the Mets are as cold as it gets, scoring just 92 runs, the fewest in baseball. As a team, they are batting .226 with a league-worst OPS of .625.
The Mets lead the league in losses where they’ve either been shut out or scored one run, with 10 such games. The 9-19 Mets are pitiful at the plate. Against the Rockies in Game 1 of their doubleheader, they stranded runners with one out twice — in the first and eighth innings. Juan Soto can’t do this all by himself, hitting .304 with an .831 OPS.
When asked about the offensive struggles, Mendoza bluntly said he’s never seen anything like this. He added that the bats simply aren’t executing. It’s like the team is stepping to the plate looking to walk, with Brett Baty being the perfect example — striking out looking three times in Game 1. The worst came in the first inning with the bases loaded, confidently trotting to first before a pitch way too close to take was overturned thanks to ABS.
Pitching isn’t scot-free
What does Stearns expect to happen when Nolan McLean gives the Mets a dominant six-inning performance with eight strikeouts while receiving zero run support? Just like the Jacob deGrom days, the Mets are once again failing to provide their starters with any offensive support, wasting away gems.
However, not every pitcher is innocent. The Mets have failed at any chance of competing by keeping Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea in the rotation. Senga was unplayable down the stretch in 2025, being optioned to Triple-A. His start to 2026 has been even worse — tossing 20 innings while allowing 20 earned runs, an absurd stat.
“These past few games, I haven’t been able to do my role as a starting pitcher,” said Senga. “I know what’s going on. I know why I’m not able to perform.”
The Mets have attempted to toy with their rotation, giving Christian Scott his first opportunity of 2026 on Thursday against the Twins, where he walked five batters in two innings. Scott was sent down a day later, putting to rest any chance of a new addition to the rotation. David Peterson was moved to a bullpen role, leaving the Mets with just three confirmed starters while they sit at 9-19. The team ERA stands at 4.01, the 13th-best in baseball, while ranking sixth in strikeouts with 254.
Does change even fix anything?
The move should’ve happened after losing to the Marlins 4-0 to miss the playoffs last season. Carlos Mendoza isn’t the key culprit, although he will be a scapegoat if let go; change is desperately needed in a divided clubhouse.
Following the sweep, the Mets cut ties with Tommy Pham, who had an abysmal 2026 tenure, going hitless in nine games (0-for-13). In turn, Stearns signed veteran outfielder Austin Slater — a player who will likely provide eerily similar production.
The clubhouse is dead. The Mets are producing lifeless at-bats and performances, and mental mistakes are stacking up play by play. Meanwhile, the same message has been delivered by every player:
“This is not Mendy’s fault or David’s fault,” said Juan Soto after the doubleheader sweep by the Rockies. “They put a great team together. We have to be the ones who go out there and perform. This is not Mendoza’s fault at all.”
The Red Sox fired Alex Cora after a slow start — their longtime leader with World Series experience. The team was furious, and fans were angered by the loss of Cora, but Craig Breslow had to make the hard decision. With blood on his hands, David Stearns must now make the decision — either drag Mendoza around to keep his name out of headlines, or own up to the disastrous roster he constructed in Queens.
