Carlos Mendoza delivers strong ultimatum to David Peterson, Mets after continuous struggles amid challenging season

The New York Mets are experiencing a challenging stretch in the regular season, having lost 8 of their last 9 games. Amidst this downturn, head coach Carlos Mendoza candidly addressed the current state of affairs, offering a straightforward assessment of their struggles.

The Mets were swept in series against both the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays, conceding 58 runs over these nine games. The series opener against the Braves was particularly painful, with the Mets allowing 10 runs, highlighting significant issues in the bullpen. Mendoza acknowledged these challenges following the series finale defeat to the Braves.

“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned, but we dropped two quickly,” Mendoza told SNY. “The primary issue is the state of the bullpen and how often we’ve had to shuffle pitchers. We’ve got to find a solution and turn this around.”

Mendoza remained optimistic, stating, “We have some really talented arms in this room, and I believe they’ll get back on track, and in turn, help us regain our footing.” With this outlook, fans are hoping the Mets can implement changes necessary to climb the NL East standings, currently led by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pitching concerns: Analyzing Mets’ recent struggles

The Mets have encountered a challenging stretch over their last nine games, and a significant factor in their difficulties has been the performance of their pitching staff. An examination of the team’s recent pitching statistics reveals the underlying issues contributing to the Mets’ struggles, a situation some fans attribute to the grueling length of the MLB season.

Recent pitcher performances:

• David Peterson: During the Mets’ matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 22, Peterson struggled significantly. He lasted just four innings and surrendered five runs in a disastrous fourth inning.
• Paul Blackburn: On June 18, facing off against Atlanta, Blackburn managed 3.2 innings, conceding three earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out two. Unfortunately, his season ERA has ballooned to 6.92.
• Spencer Schwellenbach (Braves): Although not a Mets pitcher, Schwellenbach had a notable performance against them on June 17. He pitched seven innings, giving up four earned runs with six hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts.

Coach Mendoza on Peterson’s performance

In light of David Peterson’s recent outing against the Braves, Mets head coach shared his insights on the pitcher’s performance. While acknowledging the team’s struggles, Mendoza remains optimistic about their ability to recover from this setback.

“I wouldn’t say surprise. It’s part of the game. Obviously not happy with it. But I’ll go back and watch it and see what I did well and see what we need to work on, and we’ll move on to the next one,” Mendoza commented to the media.

Mendoza’s remarks reflect a pragmatic approach to the difficulties faced by his pitching staff. While he expresses dissatisfaction with current results, there is a determination to analyze and address these issues as the Mets aim to improve their standing in the league.