Mike Francesa Critiques Mets’ Disappointing Season
The legendary New York radio personality Mike Francesa has certainly witnessed his fair share of Mets baseball over the years.
Recently, the Mets suffered a 4-0 defeat against the Marlins, prompting Francesa to express his thoughts on his podcast. He remarked, “And what did the Mets do with it? They did exactly what you knew they would do. This is a significant failure. One of the most gutless collapses we’ve seen from a talented team in quite a while.”
Despite having the highest payroll in baseball, totaling around $340 million, the Mets had the best record in MLB by mid-June but ultimately missed the playoffs.
“There are truly bad teams in the league. This isn’t one of them. They’ve got a collection of underachievers at their core; it’s pretty shameful,” he added.
Francesa continued, expressing surprise at the team’s lack of resolve. “I didn’t expect them to crumble like this. I thought their pitching would hold up better. Yet, they’ve had a top-heavy lineup all season and have turned into a poor defensive team.”
Since June 12, the Mets have had a dismal record of 38-55. Interestingly, on September 1, they were in a decent position, leading the Reds by six games for the final playoff spot. But they ultimately fell short.
Mike Waccaro from the Post commented on the Mets’ leadership, questioning the performance of David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza.
Francesa concluded with a somewhat pessimistic note, stating, “This isn’t just a momentary issue to figure out; it’s about why this group fell apart. It wasn’t just a sharp decline but a gradual decline starting from late June that never fixed itself.”
Now, they face an offseason filled with questions on how to move forward and avoid similar failures in the future.
One key concern is whether the Mets will re-sign Pete Alonso, who plans to opt out of his contract. Francesa had high praise for Alonso, saying, “He’s had an exceptional year. I’m not sure if he knows if he’s played his last game or not, but he consistently shows up ready to play.” He added, “Alonso fights until the end, and his passion is evident, even when he’s hurt.” It seems Alonso has weathered plenty of criticism but remains a strong presence on the team.
