No chance the NY Mets fire Carlos Mendoza, but his seat should feel balmy next year

Prior to breaking their 8-game losing streak, New York Mets fans were actively stretching out their fingers, ready to point them in the direction of anyone they could to blame for the team’s late fall. Someone who received a large chunk of the criticism was Carlos Mendoza. The second-year manager has undoubtedly made some questionable calls with the team. Pitching, hitting, defense, baserunners, etc. have all been imperfect. No manager bats 1.000. It’s the timing of Mendoza’s perceived bad choices and the team’s ineffectiveness that has made firing him a talking point for fans, as unrealistic as it may be.

Mendoza received a vote of confidence from David Stearns recently, the other obvious candidate for Mets fans to wag their finger at. As Stearns’ chosen manager, he’s going to get a long leash. He should. The last thing the Mets need to do is lose stability.

A few Mets coaches are bound to join the unemployment line this offseason. There’s no chance Mendoza will be one of them, but his seat should feel a little balmy on Opening Day 2026.

We’re back to zero with Carlos Mendoza if things end poorly in year two with the Mets

A missed trip to the playoffs in 2025 cancels out our feelings for Mendoza after 2024. If they make it but exit early, we won’t feel all that much better. Each season is supposed to be about progress. From narrowly making it in and advancing to the NLCS to narrowly making it in and doing anything less would feel like a failed season.

Mets fans aren’t getting greedy by wanting more. It’s only natural to desire at least one more step forward from year to year. The bare minimum this season included either a NL East title or a NLCS win. Preferably, we all wanted to see a World Series trip given how unrewarding a division title actually is if you cannot escape your first playoff series. Ask Philadelphia Phillies fans how they felt about 2024.

Mendoza doesn’t deserve the blame for how individual players have performed. Even in certain situations where he might’ve pinch hit with the wrong guy or failed to make a lineup card that made the most logical sense, the responsibility falls on the players to execute. He is the conduit between Stearns and the players. Stearns gives him the players. He manages them. They perform. What level of involvement the front office has in every little decision he makes is the unknown. Regardless, it’s Mendoza whose job title has him taking the good and the bad with each choice.

One of the latest blunders to put Mendoza under the fans’ microscope was using Edwin Diaz for a 7-pitch inning and not allowing him to continue. He didn’t have much of a reason. Whether by design from the front office or not, he gets the blame.

Because of the way this season has gone, Mendoza’s reputation is on the line. There’s no easy solution in center field. The bullpen is a mix of misfits. Diaz ended up on the mound on Sunday, pitching in a loss with the team trailing. They could’ve used him far more on Saturday to keep the lead.

Just about everything about this Mets season has happened in reverse. Our feelings about Mendoza are on that same list. Fans will want someone to take the blame with the team currently out of playoff positioning. You can’t fire the players. 

For a team that has lacked an intangible fire to come from behind late or even follow the basic fundamentals of running, hitting, throwing, and catching lately, it’s the manager who’ll receive the brunt of the blame. Fair or not, it should make Mendoza feel like he’s sitting on a 1980’s playground slide to begin next year.