Grade: A

2024 Review

Persevering Through The Slow Start

Like everyone else on the 2024 Mets, Mendoza had hiccups and struggles to begin the year. During New York’s 0-5 start and being 24-35 by June 2, Mendoza looked like a rookie manager and had moments of overmanaging. He looked overmatched. He also had to manage his way through some tough spots, such as the DH before J.D. Martinez was ready, the injury to Kodai Senga, the competition at third base that carried over into the season, and the early season struggles of Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Díaz, and Jeff McNeil. 

Then, on June 2, Mendoza had a turning point. The Mets lost to the Dodgers, Jorge López threw his glove into the stands, and the Mets were close to selling off at the trade deadline. Lindor asked Mendoza if he could speak to the team privately, and Mendoza gave Lindor and the players the time they needed to air things out. The one aspect that Mendoza prioritized all year was trusting his players, and, at that moment, he did just that. From then on, the Mets became one of the best teams in baseball.

Mendoza Leads Turnaround 

One of the key things Mendoza did actually happened before the team meeting. In May, he decided to put Lindor in the leadoff spot. That decision jumpstarted Lindor’s season into an MVP campaign as Lindor carried the team the rest of the season. Mendoza also gave Vientos more playing time at third base and watched as he became one of the best sluggers in baseball. Mendoza also gave chances out of the bullpen to Dedniel Núñez and Danny Young when guys like Jake Diekman struggled, as well as injuries to players such as Brooks Raley and Drew Smith. As Jose Iglesias emerged and was hot off the bench, Mendoza gave him more playing time. Same for Tyrone Taylor when Harrison Bader cooled down in the second half. 

His trust in his players showed throughout the season. Like when Luis Severino pitched his complete game shutout against the Miami Marlins on August 17. After Diaz had rough back-to-back outings against the San Diego Padres and then the Arizona Diamondbacks during a west-coast road trip in late August, Mendoza trotted Diaz back out there the next day to get a save against the Diamondbacks. Diaz notched the save as the Mets took the series from Arizona. In game 161 against the Atlanta Braves, Diaz blew a 6-3 Mets lead in the 8th. After Lindor’s go-ahead two-run home run to retake the lead, not many would’ve sent Diaz back out there. However, Mendoza did. His trust paid off as Diaz got the final three outs to secure the Mets a trip to the postseason.

Even having trust in a slumping Francisco Álvarez to give him the green light to swing at 3-0 he rewarded his manager by hitting a walk-off home run against the Baltimore Orioles. He even continued to trust him in the postseason. From the NLDS to the NLCS, Álvarez batted .313. Mendoza’s belief in his players and culture-setting attitude paved the way for the Mets’ success in 2024. For him personally, he was named a finalist for National League Manager of the Year. As a rookie manager leading a team with little expectations, you couldn’t ask for any better. 

2025 Outlook

As Mendoza enters year two, the challenge will be to continue what was started in 2024 and not regress. That means avoiding another slow start because there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to turn it around next time. The Mets and Mendoza came out of nowhere last season, but now there will be expectations, and he will have to lead the ship with a bigger microscope placed on him. After the NLCS loss to the Dodgers, Mendoza said that the expectation going forward is to be in these spots, to expect to win, and to play deep into October. In year two, the challenge will be to back it up. 

Happy Birthday to Mendoza! 

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Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Jose Quintana Continues Rebound

For a while, Quintana looked like the weak link in the Mets’ starting rotation. However, Quintana had been solid lately over his last two outings heading into Saturday’s game. Pitching to a 0.79 ERA in his last two starts. Quintana continued that momentum on Saturday against the Reds. His changeup was as effective as it’s been all season (eight whiffs on the changeup), as he went 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball and striking out six. Quintana pitching well at this point of the season is key to the Mets. If he can keep this up, he’ll add another element to a rotation that is getting good production.

Lindor & Iglesias Show Off The Double Play Combo

With Jeff McNeil out for the regular season, the Mets will be seeing a lot more of José Iglesias at second base. Which means more of the combo of Iglesias and Francisco Lindor in the middle of the field. On Saturday, they showed off with not one but two defensive double-play gems. In the 2nd inning, with a man on first base and nobody out, Iglesias made a diving stop on a grounder hit by Ty France, threw it to Lindor, and doubled off France. In the 3rd inning, with a man on and nobody out, Lindor backhanded a ball hit by Jonathan India and relayed it to Iglesias for their second double play. Two defensive gems by two stellar defenders.

Player Of The Game: Jose Quintana

For the third consecutive outing, Quintana was effective and gave the Mets 6 2/3 shutout innings and six strikeouts in the win. It was Quintana’s 100th career victory.

On Deck

Luis Severino will pitch for the Mets on Sunday. The Reds starter has yet to be announced. The game will be telecast locally on SNY at 1:40 p.m. EDT and broadcast on WCBS 880.

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May 11, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after drawing a walk during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Offense Lifeless Again

The Mets’ offense was ice cold at home yet again and were no-hit for 26 out of 27 outs. New York managed just five walks and two hits this entire game. The lone highlight was the Martinez home run. Before Martinez’s home run, the offense put just a few barrels on the ball for loud outs. There was a lot of soft contact from the offense. Soft pop-outs and groundouts, with barely just a few good at-bats. The difference between the offense at home and on the road is staggering. They just hit better away from the confines of Citi Field. It was almost as low as it got for this 2024 Mets offense. Their struggles and inconsistencies continue. They also didn’t help their young phenom on the mound for the second consecutive time.

Scott Solid In Home Debut

One person who was actually good at Citi Field was Christian Scott. Scott went toe to toe with the powerful Braves offense in his home debut. It wasn’t perfect. He sometimes lost command and seemed to attack too much with his fastball. A two-run home run by Orlando Arcia and an RBI single by Michael Harris II hurt him. Overall, though, Scott went 6.0 innings, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks, 3 hits, and 3 runs scored. His sweeper and fastball looked impressive, and he showed the potential he can bring to the rotation going forward again.

Player Of The Game: Christian Scott

There was no other choice for this one. Scott was the only Met player who showed up on Saturday. He pitched well against one of the best lineups in MLB and really showed out. He got plenty more swings and misses on Saturday like in his first outing, and he currently has a 33.3% whiff rate on the year.

Game Note: Brandon Nimmo Exits With An Injury

The Mets did not come out of Saturday unscathed. Brandon Nimmo left the game with a right intercostal irritation. Nimmo felt tightness in his right side during an at-bat in the third inning and soon had to leave the game. Carlos Mendoza told the media after the game that Nimmo is day-to-day.

On Deck

The Mets will look to avoid the sweep against the Braves when they send Luis Severino out to the mound as he faces Bryce Elder. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

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Michael Tonkin

Tonkin started in the big leagues in 2013 and has been around the block. From the major leagues to Japan and Mexico. To two different stints on Long Island with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. Tonkin returned to the state of New York this season by signing a one-year. $1 million deal with the Mets for a chance to earn a bullpen spot. In five games during the preseason, Tonkin would impress Mets management. He didn’t give up a single run in 7.2 innings of work and struck out 7 hitters. He had a WHIP of 1.043.

Yohan Ramírez

Like Tonkin, Ramírez has had different teams to call home. He spent 2020-2022 on the Seattle Mariners before Seattle DFA’d him during the 2022 season. He was traded to the Cleveland Guardians and then traded again to the Pittsburgh Pirates. After spending 2023 on the Chicago White Sox, Chicago traded him to the Mets. In seven games and 10.2 innings pitched this Spring, Ramírez had an ERA of 1.80, 11 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.900, and saved two games.

Sean Reid-Foley To The IL

In addition to Tonkin and Ramírez making the roster, New York also placed reliever Sean Reid-Foley on the injured list for shoulder impingement. Foley battled discomfort in his biceps during spring training and struggled to a 4.50 ERA in five games. Over the last three years with the Mets, Foley has pitched to a 4.93 ERA, allowing 33 hits and 21 earned runs in 38.1 innings of work.

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Quintana & Ramos Struggle

Quintana’s day began with a nine-pitch battle against Houston’s leadoff man, José Altuve. Altuve won the battle with a walk. Yordan Álvarez popped a force out that landed right in front of shortstop Joey Wendle, who missed a chance at a double play. Following a single to Kyle Tucker, Quintana allowed a three-run home run to Alex Bregman, giving the Astros a 3-0 lead. After striking out José Abreu, Quintana was taken out for Wilkin Ramos, who finished the inning. Quintana threw a scoreless 2nd and 3rd innings but had to work out of a jam in the third.

Things got tough for Quintana again in the fourth inning. He walked the first two batters he faced, and after Jake Myers grounded into a force-out, he was taken out for Ramos again. Ramos walked Altuve and then hit Álvarez, which scored a run. Two batters later, Bregman notched his second home run of the day and gave Houston an 8-0 lead. Quintana finished his day going 3.0 innings, three hits, five earned runs, four walks, and six strikeouts. He wraps up his spring with a 6.19 ERA.

Ramírez Struggles

One of the pitchers still fighting for a roster spot in the bullpen was Yohan Ramírez. It wasn’t a pretty outing for him either. In the fifth inning, Ramírez hit the first batter he saw (Jake Myers) with no consequences. In the top of the sixth, however, Ramírez gave up a home run to Tucker to lead off the inning. He walked Abreu, and two batters later, he hit Yainer Diaz before giving up an RBI single to Jeremy Peña. The Astros led 10-1.

Trey McLoughlin took over for Ramírez, and after a scoreless seventh inning of work, he gave up three home runs in the eighth, giving the Astros a 13-5 lead.

Overall, Mets pitching gave up thirteen earned runs, eleven hits, eight walks, six home runs, one wild pitch, four hit-by pitches, and just six strikeouts.

Player Of The Game: Nick Lorusso

It was an ugly day for Mets pitching, and the offense had to play catch-up the entire afternoon. One Mets player who stood out today was Nick Lorusso. The 23-year-old ninth-round pick by the Mets last year registered two hits in his two at-bats, including a two-run double that cut the Astros lead to 10-5. Mark Vientos drove in the first run of the game for New York with an RBI single up the middle.

On Deck

It’s a split-squad Sunday for the Mets tomorrow. A group of Mets will play the Washington Nationals in Port St. Lucie at 1:10 p.m. ET. The game will be televised locally on WPIX as Luis Severino makes his final start of the Spring. Another pair of Mets will head to Jupiter, Florida to face the Miami Marlins at 1:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill will take the mound in this game for his last start before the regular season.

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Jon Heyman of MLB Network first reported the news of Red Sox’s outfielder, J.D. Martinez, choosing to not opt-out of his contract. Martinez signed a five year, 110  million dollar deal in 2018 with the ability to opt-out after the 2019 season and 2020 season. 

Martinez ended his 2019 season with a slash line of .304/.383/.557. The outfielder can earn 62.5 million dollars over the next three years should he decide to stay with the team throughout the entirety of his contract.  

Marinez’s contract takes up 10.56% of the team’s payroll and with him not opting out, the Red Sox are left in even more of a money crunch than they were before. With the highest payroll in MLB and the club commenting on wanting to shed numbers, there has become a question of who will be leaving in order to bring the final line down. 

Mookie Betts and David Price are the only other Red Sox players who take up a double-digit percentage of payroll.

Betts is currently under a one year 27 million dollar contract while Price is still locked up for another two seasons under his blockbuster 217 million dollar contract which has led many to speculate that Mookie Betts would be the first big player on the trading block for the Red Sox.

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