Disappointment has engulfed the Mets in recent weeks as the team endures one of the worst stretches of its season, putting its playoff hopes in jeopardy. What seemed like a sure-fire postseason berth earlier in the year has turned into a nightmare, marked by an eight-game losing streak that has left its fate out of its hands.
Despite the team’s debacle, star player Juan Soto has maintained his performance at a superlative level. Over the weekend, he hit his 40th home run of the season, a personal milestone that, along with his more than 30 stolen bases, puts him in an elite club in the league. However, instead of celebrating, the talented outfielder has been forced to take on a motivational role, trying to inject optimism into a dejected locker room.
Soto’s mentality
In the locker room, Soto delivered a passionate message to his teammates. “We are a 100 percent playoff-worthy team,” he told them, according to reports. Despite costly errors at crucial moments, the belief persists among the players and coach Carlos Mendoza that they can turn things around.
In a post-game press conference against the Rangers, Soto responded to the question about having a 40/30 season: “It’s great, you know? It’s all the hard work we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season. We have bigger things ahead of us that we have to go out and get.”
The Mets’ path
Time, however, is running out. With only 13 games remaining, the Mets’ losing streak has reduced their playoff odds. The team is now in a tight race with the San Francisco Giants, who are in great form, and the Cincinnati Reds, who hold the tiebreaker advantage.
Soto’s milestone goes more unnoticed by a team that has had many problems and whose future does not look as favorable as it did a couple of weeks ago.
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