Internal tensions at the New York Mets have come to light just as the team is going through its most unstable moment of the season. After a start that kept them among the leaders in the National League, a tough losing streak set off alarm bells not only for the sport, but also for morale. Several reports point to a fragmented locker room and a team that, beyond losing games, has begun to lose confidence.
In recent weeks, the situation has gone from uncomfortable to worrying. The team, which had a solid winning record just a few days ago, has accumulated losses and a tense atmosphere that is already being felt from the bench. On radio broadcasts, figures such as Gregg Giannotti and Boomer Esiason described an emotionally collapsed squad, with defeated faces from the first sign of adversity. Most worryingly, no one inside seems to know how to stop it.
Offensive gaps and drastic decisions
As the defeats pile up, individual weaknesses have begun to weigh heavily. Offensive performance has plummeted, especially in key positions. Players such as Tyrone Taylor, thrust into the starting lineup out of necessity, have put up below-average numbers, and young talents such as Mark Vientos have failed to settle in, adding errors and negative statistics that affect the group as a whole.
In an unexpected move, the club demoted Francisco Alvarez, one of the most promising catchers, to Triple-A after a considerable drop in performance. His replacement, more focused on defense, does not represent a threat at bat. This decision seems to send a clear message: management is willing to move pieces if the level is not sustained, regardless of name or reputation.
Pitching also crumbles
The crisis is not limited to hitting. The starting rotation has suffered a significant setback, recording one of its worst marks of the year. In the midst of this debacle, names that had been pillars are now showing inconsistency, and the bullpen, which had been one of the team’s strengths, has also given way. In this context, the margin for error has been reduced to zero.
Manager Carlos Mendoza has tried to keep control of the narrative, pointing to tactical details as an explanation. According to him, the bottom of the batting order is struggling to generate offense and that has forced the team to rely almost exclusively on its top hitters. “The last thing you want to see is quick outs. But that’s what happens when there’s anxiety,” he explained.
The string of defensive errors, hasty baserunning decisions and strategic failures has fueled the perception that the team has not only lost games, but its way. Most seriously, the fracture within the group is no longer a rumor, but a public talking point. The emotional downturn is reflected on the field and in the players’ faces.
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