NEW YORK -- In many ways, the Mets’ sweep at the hands of the Rockies this weekend was more disheartening than the 12-game losing streak that preceded it. The streak was one thing -- a cavalcade of poor play, exacerbated by bad luck, that sunk the Mets down the standings but did not drive a wooden stake through the heart of their season.
Losing three in a row to the perennially bottom-dwelling Rockies was something altogether different, proving that their issues are very much for real.
The soundtrack to Sunday’s finale, a 3-0 loss in the second game of a doubleheader that followed a 3-1 defeat in the matinee at Citi Field, was a din of boos from those fans who bothered to stick around. They booed Kodai Senga, who allowed three runs over 2 2/3 innings to bloat his ERA to 17.28 in his last three starts. They booed manager Carlos Mendoza when he emerged from the dugout to remove Senga. They booed various Mets hitters as they scored one run over 18 innings and various Mets fielders as they committed more mistakes.
“We’ve got to continue to go through it and find ways to get the guys going,” Mendoza said. “There’s no other way to put it. I can sit here and tell you guys a lot, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to go out and do it. It’s as simple as that.”
If this is not rock bottom, it’s hard to imagine what is. The Mets are 9-19, putting them 10 1/2 games back in the NL East barely four weeks into the season. They are tied with the Phillies, another colossally disappointing team, for the worst record in baseball. The Mets sit at or near the bottom of the Major Leagues in almost every major offensive category, ranking last in on-base percentage, last in slugging percentage and dead last in the most important statistic of all: runs.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this, to be honest,” Mendoza said, “that it goes for so long when you’ve got so many guys struggling at the same time.”
What’s more, their star shortstop is on the injured list, likely for another month or more, while 40 percent of their rotation has become a rotating carousel. Calls for the jobs of Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns have grown only louder as the fan base’s ire has risen.
In Game 2 of the doubleheader, the Mets never seemed to have a chance, as Senga hit or walked four batters in the second and third innings. Hunter Goodman struck the most significant blow with a two-run homer off Senga, and the Mets barely threatened to score themselves. Afterward, Mendoza said he and other team officials will huddle to determine how to proceed with Senga. The right-hander, who accepted a Minor League option last season under similar circumstances, said he was not sure if he would do it again if asked.
“I think that warrants a lot of discussions with a lot of different people,” Senga said. “I can’t give you a yes or no right now.”
At this juncture, their problems are manifold. Outside of Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes, the pitching staff has been wildly ineffective. The offense is in even worse shape and does not appear easily fixable. Although Juan Soto is back from the injured list, he has little protection in the Mets’ lineup. Key free-agent signing Bo Bichette continues to perform well below his career levels. Luis Robert Jr. has cooled significantly following a hot start. Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio are still trying to prove themselves despite ample opportunities. So is Carson Benge, who’s had an underwhelming first act to his career.
The list of other disappointments is long, but the bottom line is this: despite the early hour of the season, the Mets must start winning, and fast, if they have any designs on changing their fate.
“We’ve tried everything,” Mendoza said. “They’ve got to go out and do it.”