NY Mets scapegoats: 1 person to fire, 1 to scold, and 1 who gets a free pass

The Mets just wrapped a six-game homestand with all the warmth of a soggy boot. One win, five losses, and enough stranded runners to populate an expansion team if Manfred so chooses. The lineup was a no-show, and a few starters couldn’t put it together. This wasn’t just a bad stretch; it was a faceplant into the infield dirt. But not everyone’s equally guilty in this orange-and-blue crime scene. Some deserve the pink slip. Others just need a talking-to and a mirror. And one poor soul deserves nothing but sympathy for being trapped inside the mess. Let’s play favorites, point fingers, and hand out the appropriate judgment.

The one to fire: Eric Chavez

It’s rarely subtle when a baseball team forgets how to score, and right now the Mets aren’t even pretending to know how. They went 13 straight innings against Cleveland without recording a hit between the games on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Sunday, only three runners reached second base. Across the six-game homestand, they left 19 men in scoring position, an ugly number when four of the losses came by a combined six runs. For a team still trying to stay afloat in the playoff race, that kind of offensive blackout is hard to excuse.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said after Wednesday’s loss that the coaches have been working hard to help players make in-game adjustments, but ultimately, it’s on the hitters to execute. Fair enough. But when a team can’t even create chances, let alone cash them in, the blame always finds the hitting coach. Eric Chavez has had months to fix a lineup that can’t string together competitive at-bats with runners on. That’s not just a cold streak. That’s a pattern. And patterns like that usually end in a handshake and a press release.

The one to scold: Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo’s homestand numbers don’t inspire much confidence: 4 for 22 with two runs scored, three RBIs, four walks, and a frustrating 10 strikeouts. Monday night’s game against Cleveland ended with the kind of night no batter wants, a golden sombrero, striking out four times. It’s a reminder that even the most vocal leaders can struggle to translate words into results when the lineup is sputtering.

There are two ways to lead, and the Mets didn’t need a clubhouse cheerleader this week; they needed a veteran to lead by example. What they missed was a clutch hit to jolt the lineup awake or a hard-fought, 10-pitch at-bat that ends with a double off the wall. Nimmo’s role needs to go beyond pep talks down the stretch of the season. When the teams in a funk, leadership means showing it in the box first, setting the tone for the guys after you. Acknowledging postgame that the lineup is talented gets tiring for fans who already believe it but are growing frustrated because they need to see it.

The one who gets a free pass: Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso stood out as a rare source of offense during an otherwise bleak homestand. Over six games, he posted solid numbers, eight hits in 23 at-bats, including three homers, nine RBIs, and five runs scored, while keeping strikeouts relatively low. Although a key strikeout with the bases loaded and one out late in Monday’s extra-inning loss to Cleveland was a missed opportunity, it’s hard to overlook his overall impact.

Despite a prolonged stretch of struggles leading into this series, Alonso has remained a steady presence in the lineup, consistently providing the power and run production the Mets desperately need. In a lineup that largely failed to deliver, Alonso’s contributions served as a much-needed spark and a reminder that the team’s offensive potential is still very much alive.