A Challenging Week for the Mets
It’s safe to say things didn’t go well for the Mets this week.
Maybe the most telling moment happened during the team’s PIX 11 pregame show on Friday night, which felt a bit off.
Earlier in the week, the Mets swept the Cubs in their first four games. However, injuries continued to plague the team, with Marcus Semien going on injured reserve and Juan Soto dealing with back issues. The morning after that series wrapped up, news broke about the Cubs parting ways with manager Carlos Mendoza.
On Friday, the Mets faced the rival Phillies and lost 2-1, marking their seventh consecutive defeat. This happened despite a solid outing from rookie pitcher Zach Thornton, who took the mound in front of interim manager Andy Greene for the first time.
But it was that awkward moment with Mr. Met during the Steve Gelbs and Mr. Met broadcast leading up to the game that really caught attention.
As reporters were live on the field discussing Mendoza’s firing, Mr. Met made an unexpected entrance and started dancing.
Gelbs, maintaining his professionalism, tried to continue discussing the series while this somewhat unsettling scene unfolded behind him. Mr. Met didn’t exactly retreat.
When players, including Francisco Lindor, shared their thoughts about Mendoza’s dismissal, many took responsibility and reflected on their personal connection with the former manager.
David Stearns, the President of Baseball Operations, also seemed to feel the weight of the situation, but he expressed some hope for the future.
He commented on his decision not to resign, stating, “I believe we are building the foundation of an organization that can accomplish what everyone wants.” He added that while their on-field record this year isn’t reflective of all their progress, they clearly have room for improvement.
After Friday night’s game, the Mets found themselves at 34-48, which is 14 games under .500—an unfortunate low point for the season. There are only ten games left until the race for the National League wild card spot heats up.
