After firing Buck Showalter, the New York Mets were left searching for their fifth manager (including Carlos Beltran) since Terry Collins. The popular pick was Craig Counsell, but he went to the Chicago Cubs. After being unable to get Counsell, the Mets hired former New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as manager.
A relative unknown, Mendoza would set a standard and a new culture for the Mets during the 2024 season. He led the team to 89 wins, a playoff berth, and all the way to Game 6 of the NLCS. That after starting 0-5, as well as 24-35 by June 2, and exceeding all expectations.
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His efforts were good enough to make him a finalist for National League Manager of the Year. He became the second Mets manager in the last three years to be up for the award. Showalter won it in 2022 and became the first Mets manager in team history to win it. However, unlike his predecessor, it was not to be for Mendoza, as Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers took home the award. (Showalter joked on MLB Network, “Be careful about winning this award.”
Murphy, who replaced Counsell in Milwaukee, led the Brewers to 93 wins and a National League Central division title. Mendoza and the Mets in the National League Wild-Card Series would defeat the Brewers in three games. After losing key pieces in the offseason, such as their former manager in Counsell and trading ace Corbin Burnes, Murphy impressed in his first managerial job since 2015. Mendoza finished third in the voting behind Murphy and Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres. Mendoza notched 12 third-place votes and one first-place vote.
The consensus was that Murphy was on his way to winning the award after the season the Brewers had as they continued their stretch of success since 2018. Mendoza finishing third will certainly leave some scratching their heads. After the 2023 trade deadline, some saw 2024 as a punt year for the Mets, and it began that way through the first two months. Mendoza turned it around, and the Mets became one of the best teams in baseball until their NLCS defeat.
His leadership, authenticity, and trust in his players were a big reason for the Mets’ memorable year. Regardless, finishing third doesn’t take away the kind of job Mendoza did for the Mets in 2024.
