The New York Mets are in free fall as they leave LA, and manager Carlos Manager is in a tough spot right now.
Carlos Mendoza is being hung from the media yardarm on a near-daily basis back in New York, but Mendoza isn’t going gently into that long managerial good night. His players aren’t performing, and Mendoza is starting to drop the act when it comes to apologizing for his charges.
“It’s not a good showing right now,” he said in an article written by Will Sammon of the Athletic, and Mendoza declined to say if he’s said as much to his team.
He did say they’re upset, but that wasn’t the word he used. The rest of his comments read, “frustrated, obviously not happy about it,” and Sammon also outlined the latest mental mistake from shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Lindor failed to charge a ball hit by Teoscar Hernandez in the eighth inning last night, and it led to Hernandez hustling out an infield hit. The play helped the Dodgers rally to put the game away, but Mendoza’s ire was focused on the offense.
“We’re not dictating at-bats, getting beat by fastballs,” Mendoza said. “Even though there were some good fastballs from Ohtani today, we swung through a lot of them. But in general, we have gotta be able to put pressure. We have to be on the attack mode.”
Teh only people in attack mode these days are the New York media and their national associates, and Sammon outlined some of the problems with specific players and positions.
Brett Baty: The Mets wanted Baty to get lots of at-bats in the super utility role, and he’s fourth on the team with 64 plate appearances so far. Be careful what you wish for, though- - Baty’s OPS is down to .485, and he’s the only qualified hitter who hasn’t drawn a walk this season, so all the moving around could be affecting his offense. Just a thought, but maybe he’d be better off as a full-time third baseman?
Jorge Polanco: The Mets got Polanco to play first base, but he’s been hobbled by a foot issue related to his Achilles tendon. As a result he’s played just 20 innings at first, and a stint on the IL could be coming.
Right field: The Mets committed to giving Benge an extended tryout in right, but now the rookie is being moved around the outfield on an almost nightly basis. Benge has nudged his batting average up to .150, but the Mets could be ten games out by the time Benge makes it to the Mendoza line.
What’s especially sad about all this is that Mendoza continues to play the talent card.
“Guys have got to start playing better,” Mendoza said. “It’s as simple as that. They’re too talented. But right now, we’re not seeing anything on the field.”