Why the NY Mets firing Carlos Mendoza mid-year would be unique times two

It's unbelievable that the idea of firing Carlos Mendoza is even a discussion in April, but here we are. The New York Mets have lost 11 games in a row, and a change must be made in some area. Does that mean firing Mendoza is in play? That wouldn't be the right move, but you best believe that plenty of passionate fans are calling for it in their blind rage, and who knows, maybe they'll influence Steve Cohen.

President of baseball operations David Stearns threw his full support behind Mendoza the other day, so unless that was disingenuous, politically-correct nonsense, it's clear where Stearns stands on the question of Mendoza's job status.

The Mets front office doesn't seem like its about to fire Carlos Mendoza

In Mendoza's defense, the players aren't performing. And this was the point that Stearns made. Can Mendoza do better? Surely. Any manager presiding over an 11-game drought is obviously doing some things wrong. But Mendoza can't hit for Francisco Lindor. Nor did he blow a save on Sunday at Wrigley Field. That was Devin Williams.

On the other hand, the Mets are now underachieving for the second year in a row under Mendoza. If New York were to surprisingly fire him in the middle of the season (like, tomorrow), it would be a harsh move, but it wouldn't be completely ludicrous.

Firing Carlos Mendoza in the middle of the season would be a somewhat unprecedented move for Mets

Firing Mendoza right now -- or even later in the season -- would be an unprecedented move for Stearns and the Mets, for two reasons. New York hasn't fired a manager in the middle of the season since Willie Randolph in 2008. Moreover, Stearns has never fired a manager as an acting PBO.

The Randolph case presents an eerie parallel to Mendoza's current plight. In the Mets' season before his firing, Randolph presided over an awful late-season collapse, as New York blew a 7-game division lead with 17 games to play in the regular season. They then started the following season (2008) terribly, which continued to warm up Randolph's seat. He was ultimately fired on June 17, despite the Mets boasting a not-horrendous 34-35 record.

All of the roster changes that Stearns made over the offseason may present a get-out-of-jail-free card for Mendoza, for now at least. He deserves some grace as the new roster acclimates itself in Queens. If Mendoza had just lost his 11th-straight game with a "run it back" roster, he'd probably be cooked.

The above excuse will soon lose its luster for Mendoza if this losing streak continues for much longer, or if the Mets don't do any work between now and the start of summer to rehabilitate their season. If the Mets have a completely disastrous season and never turn this around, there will be scapegoats needed, and Mendoza won't likely survive that process.

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