A brutal 12-game losing streak has become the talk of the sports world, leaving manager Carlos Mendoza squarely in the crosshairs-though the New York Mets roster hasn’t escaped blame either. Despite boasting one of the highest MLB payrolls, the Mets have left fans and analysts baffled by an offense averaging a dismal 1.83 runs per game during this skid.
The lack of production has led to a chorus of voices calling for Mendoza’s job, headlined by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. Smith calls for Mendoza’s ouster
Managing in New York comes with immense pressure, especially under the spotlight of national media. On First Take, Smith didn’t hold back when addressing the state of the struggling franchise.
“Somebody needs to say it, so I’m going to say it,” Smith said. “12-game losing streak, can’t score on anybody. 11 of those 12 games, they’ve scored two runs or less. They have been awful, and you have the second-largest payroll in all of baseball. Now, in the age of data, analytics, etc., I’m not one that’s going to sit up there and throw all of the blame on the manager, Mendoza, but he must go.”
While many MLB analysts argue that the blame shouldn’t fall entirely on the manager, a 12-game slide often demands accountability. The pressure is now mounting on the Mets front office-specifically President of Baseball Operations David Stearns-to make a decisive move.
The Mets will try to snap their losing streak as they continue their series against the Minnesota Twins, boosted by the return of Juan Soto to the lineup, a key piece in reviving their MLB offense and playoff hopes.
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