Centerfield

0-3. Three quarters of the way to fulfilling the saddest, easiest prediction of all time.

Back to the original question, I have no idea what you say to Major Leaguers to get them to play better. I'm not sure there is a right answer, and if there is, I don't see how a fan could ever know. I do know this. Mendoza's answers are infuriating to fans. Much like Pete's. The "we have to play better, we have to execute, we're too good" schtick gets old really quick. It's aggravating to hear the same thing, with no answers again and again. That's why so many people have re-written the Terry Collins story. Terry wasn't a great manager. I think there's plenty of evidence of that. But Terry had fire, and sometimes that came out at press conferences, and it made us feel better. Fans see losses. They feel angry. If a manager comes out angry, then fans relate to that. But was Terry a better motivator of the players than Mendoza? I have no idea. I guess if I were thrown into Mendoza's situation, the one thing I would tell the team is to try to win every inning. And immediately after that inning is over, forget about it and win the next inning. And maybe if you can get them to think in small chunks, they won't play like they feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. Cuz it certainly seems like they're playing with that weight every day.

Mets did a good job saving their bulllpen. Once they fail here they'll have avoided 4 ninth innings.

Fire everyone.

I really think this is worse than 2007.

This is shaping up to be the worst loss of the year.

And if you're going to start Acuna, the least you could do is bat him 9th. So in the off chance he actually reaches, he can steal a base and score on a Lindor hit. By batting Senger 9th, you put him behind the one guy in the lineup that doesn't need to be bunted over.

Mendoza learning nothing. Starting Acuna again. Whatever happens this season, I think I've seen enough to say Mendoza is not the right guy to lead the Mets in 2026.

If I were Carlos Mendoza, I would: 1. Play McNeil, Vientos and Baty every day. Regardless of what hand the pitcher throws with. 2. Stop wasting my pinch runner by batting him. 3. Stop asking my relievers to work multiple innings in games that are still in reach. 4. Stop playing Cedric Mullins. 5. Ask Stearns to call up Jett as a CF option. 6. Stop using Ryne Stanek in games that are within reach. Even if that means using Justin Hagenman. 7. When you pull your starter with men on base, don’t go to Soto.

We gotta keep fighting. Too much talent in this room. Gotta keep grinding and lose the same way tomorrow.

He should try batting Acuna tomorrow too. And putting bad relievers out for multiple innings. I'm sure it will work tomorrow

Mendoza leaving Soto out for another inning. Its the same thing over and over again.

Pathetic.

Top of the lineup. Let's see if this team has any sack. Feel like it's been a month since they had a lead.

Go get Clay. He's done.

Awful inning. I still don't understand why we're giving ABs to our pinch runner when McNeil has an .819 OPS against lefties.

Nice job to get back in the dugout. Ok let's take the lead!

Walking guys in front of Harper is a dangerous way to live.

I think Mauricio needed to be aware of the possibility that the ball could be caught, but not only did he pause too long, he paused too close to first. That's a young player trying not to make a mistake. Was it readable that Castellanos had no chance off the bat? Maybe, but we can't see it from Ronny's angle. His mistake was not getting closer to second and understanding that if Castellanos made the catch, it would be with all of his momentum taking him into the corner. Ronny could have been around second and had time to make it back. But let's go back to the 8th inning. The real mistake was Mendoza batting our pinch runner making him unavailable. This is a mistake he makes repeatedly. Luisangel Acuna cannot hit. He's here to run and play defense. And by batting him in the 8th, you make him unavailable for the role where he's elite. He's also an amazing defender. So maybe he reads Vientos ball differently and runs more aggressively. Baty has a .653 OPS against lefties. Acuna hits .659 against lefties. Is it better? Not really. And by burning him as a pinch hitter, you make him unavailable as a pinch runner. Now, maybe he also reads the ball poorly and holds up. Or maybe he tries stealing and gets caught. But the one thing Mendoza has to stop doing is burning Acuna by using him at the plate. He's not here for that.

It's sad and predictable. I don't see how we win before Saturday.

I just posted in the other threat that Mendoza is an idiot for batting our pinch runner. For reference. Acuna OPS vs. LHP: .659 McNeil OPS vs. LHP: .819

They’re gonna ****ing blow it.

Utterly predictable. Mets are in trouble.

Shameful.

Staring at a 3-2 fastball over the plate. These guys are back to being pussies.