Mets Outmatched On Opening Weekend

If there was a way to describe the past weekend of Mets baseball, it might be as someone taking a balloon and deflating it slowly. The Mets’ subpar performance has left fans underwhelmed just three games into the season. Over the weekend, they found themselves consistently outmatched by the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that still has the fingerprints of the Mets’ current GM, David Stearns.

The beginning of the David Stearns/Carlos Mendoza era for the Mets has been bumpy. The fact that the team was swept at home by a transitioning Brewers team does little to help the Mets cause a turnaround. Across the weekend series, the Brewers displayed dominance that underscored the Mets’ deficiencies, particularly in controlling the running game and defensive execution.

Despite standout performances from players like Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ offense struggled, resulting in a glaring lack of run production. Opening Day saw the team only muster up one hit, even though that was a Starling Marte home run.

During Saturday’s game, there were several pivotal moments where the Mets fell short defensively. Early in the first inning, Zack Short missed a crucial play on a ball that was ultimately ruled an infield hit for William Contreras, who later managed to cross the plate and score.

After that, Willy Adames struck a ball that ricocheted off starting pitcher Luis Severino‘s glove, resulting in a single and another run for the Brewers. Despite valiant efforts, diving attempts by Harrison Bader in center field and Alonso at first base failed to convert into outs.

Despite these missed opportunities, the Mets’ offense struggled throughout both the opener and the finale, and none of their starting pitchers managed to go beyond the fifth inning, with none displaying particularly sharp form.

The Mets faced another setback on Sunday, failing to secure a victory for the second time in three games, with their offensive struggles evident as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Jeff McNeil collectively went 0-for-12 at the plate. This added to the frustration and highlighted the challenges Mendoza now faces as a new major league manager.

The news of Mendoza’s one-game suspension was revealed just two hours before Sunday’s game, compounding the Mets’ troubles. This came after Yohan Ramirez‘s suspension for intentionally throwing at Rhys Hoskins during Saturday’s game. The tension between Hoskins and the Mets stemmed from a contentious slide into second base during Friday’s opener, instigated by McNeil. Despite the legality of the slide, as confirmed by both umpires and the Mets themselves.

The Mets’ offensive struggles persisted throughout the series, with a meager batting average of .202 and a .598 OPS over three games. Despite facing solid pitchers like Freddy Peralta and DL Hall, the Mets couldn’t compensate for their lackluster performance at the plate, ultimately contributing to their winless weekend.

While it’s important to maintain perspective, acknowledging that it’s still early in the season with many games ahead, the Mets’ cloudy start undoubtedly raises concerns about their 2024 campaign.