© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images + © Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Queens, NY) – As Francisco Lindor grounded into a double play, officially bringing the New York Mets miserable 2025 season to a merciful end, thoughts immediately turned to “now what?” Numerous blogs and local newspapers even wrote something to that effect, and they all centered on “baseball” things. Like who should be cut from the roster, what type of player needs to be added, and whether or not some coaches need to stay or go.
And by the way — for what it’s worth — manager Carlos Mendoza 100% needs to go. Baseball is the only sport where head coaches somehow escape accountability. Despite the fact the team never engineered any spirited comebacks all year long, played with a miserable malaise nearly constantly, constantly displayed horrific and unfocused defense, and generally played some of the worst baseball these eyes have ever seen.
Sure, other than that — Mendoza is a great manager! And one has to wonder if he ever bent the ear of team president David Stearns in June and July when games were being outright given away with sub-MLB level pitching. Did he talk to his players? Explain to them the way the franchise was attempting to avoid calling up prospects? Was there ever a moment where Mendoza demanded Nolan McLean be promoted, considering the guy was dominating at the Triple-A level while the major league team died on the vine?
This is a gutless bunch of “maybe next year merchants” on display at CitiField. Team owner Steve Cohen, who seemed like a reprieve years ago when he bought the club from the Wilpons, now comes off as a smug and uncaring jerk. The few messages he sent out on X this year more-or-less amounted to “how dare fans not bend down and kiss the ground the Mets walk on?” Although he did sheepishly admit one time in August that he appreciated how many tickets had been sold. “Thanks for your money” I guess was the message there.
Editor’s note: Cohen did address the team’s fans on X and admitted the season was a disaster. So credit where it’s due.
And in truth, is that what this was and is all about? Is Steven Cohen just in this whole Mets thing to secure the casino in Queens, near CitiField? One starts to wonder — and worry — that could be the case. Because when the report from Andy Martino of SNY came down Sunday night — that the Mets had no plan to fire Mendoza — it was as anger-inducing as it was mindless. How can you bring this guy back? Because of the 2024 NLCS appearance? Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez would like a word.
For Cohen, I’m sure the happiness lies in that his casino bid appears to be among the last ones standing — as New York officials will award three bids in the downstate region. Which is good for him. Throw down 100 on red for us Amazin’ backers. Because there’s no happiness among Mets fans.
