The early-season struggles of the New York Mets have reached a boiling point, and now their biggest star is stepping in to address the growing criticism.
After being swept at home by the Colorado Rockies in a Sunday doubleheader, the Mets fell deeper into one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball. Sitting at 9-19, the team has been unable to generate momentum, even with the return of Juan Soto, who was expected to help stabilize the lineup.
The Mets have scored just 92 runs this season, the lowest total in the majors, and their issues were fully exposed against the Colorado Rockies, when they managed just one run across both games of the doubleheader. The lack of timely hitting and overall production has put pressure not only on the players, but also on manager Carlos Mendoza and the front office.
Mendoza’s job security is on the line
As losses have piled up, speculation around Mendoza‘s job security has grown louder. However, Soto made it clear that the clubhouse is not pointing fingers at the coaching staff. Speaking to SNY, Soto pushed back on the narrative that Mendoza or president of baseball operations David Stearns are to blame for the team’s struggles.
“As players, we have to perform,” Soto said. “This isn’t Mendy‘s or David‘s fault; they put together a great team, and in the end, it’s up to us to go out there and perform. This isn’t Mendoza’s fault at all.” The comments are significant, particularly given the mounting pressure surrounding the organization.
Soto‘s stance reflects support from the core group of players, signaling that responsibility for the poor start lies within the clubhouse rather than the dugout or front office. Mendoza, for his part, has not shied away from the situation. He acknowledged the severity of the team’s offensive issues and admitted that the level of inefficiency has been surprising.
A very concerning gap
The standings only add to the urgency. The Mets are currently tied for last place in the National League East with the Philadelphia Phillies, both sitting 10.5 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves. For a roster built with postseason expectations, the gap is already concerning this early in the year.
Despite the frustration, Soto‘s message was clear: the solution has to come from the players. The lineup, filled with talent on paper, has yet to translate that potential into consistent production on the field.
The Mets will have a brief reset with a scheduled day off before beginning a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals. Whether that pause leads to any meaningful turnaround remains to be seen. The spotlight remains on a team that was expected to contend but is instead searching for answers, and on a star player who is taking accountability as the pressure continues to build in Queens.
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