The Carlos Mendoza era in Queens is over after just 81 games. The New York Mets fired their first-year manager Monday morning, a day after getting swept by the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. The team has lost six straight and sits at 34-47, buried in the NL East basement.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the decision came down Sunday night. Bench coach Andy Green will take over as interim manager. Green has managed before, leading the San Diego Padres from 2016 through 2019, so he’s not walking in blind. But this isn’t a rebuild. This is damage control on a season that went sideways fast.
What Went Wrong
Honestly, where do you start? The Mets spent big this winter. They brought in Mendoza specifically because he was a player’s coach, someone who could connect with a clubhouse full of veterans and young guys alike. Instead, the team has underperformed in almost every phase. The pitching staff has a 4.58 ERA, which is 20th in baseball. The offense is an adventure. They strike out too much and don’t drive in runs when it matters.
But Mendoza wasn’t throwing the pitches or swinging the bat. He was the guy in the dugout, and when a team loses 47 games before the All-Star break, the manager is usually the one who pays for it. The front office, led by David Stearns, clearly decided they needed to send a message — not just to the clubhouse, but to the fanbase that’s been fed a steady diet of “trust the process” since spring training.
The Cubs series was the final straw. Chicago came into Queens and took all three games, outscoring the Mets 18-7. The defense looked sloppy. The baserunning was worse. At one point Saturday, a Mets runner got picked off second base on a routine play that any high school team would make. That’s the kind of stuff that gets a manager fired.
What Comes Next
Andy Green takes over with 81 games left. That’s basically a half-season audition for everyone. The Mets haven’t said whether this is strictly an interim thing or if Green could get the job full-time, but the smart money says they’ll do a full search in the offseason.
As for the players? They’re on notice now. Firing the manager usually means the next moves are trades. Pete Alonso, who’s a free agent after this season, is going to hear his name in trade rumors constantly. The same goes for any veteran on an expiring deal. Stearns didn’t come to New York to preside over a tank job, but this team isn’t competing for anything right now. He might decide to tear it down a bit and reload for 2025.
Mendoza will land somewhere. He’s a sharp baseball guy, well-respected around the game. This doesn’t ruin his career. But it’s a reminder that in New York, patience runs out fast. The Mets aren’t going to wait around while a team this expensive plays this poorly. Andy Green’s first test comes Tuesday night in Washington against the Nationals. That’s as soft a landing as you can get in the majors. If they lose that one too, the questions about Green will start before he even finishes his first week on the job.
Leave a Comment