Inside the Mets’ clubhouse: Why Carlos Mendoza may not have been their biggest problem

NEW YORK — During a conversation this week in which a New York Mets player was granted anonymity in exchange for candor, one question resulted in an uncomfortable shift. Is the Mets’ clubhouse leadership lacking? The ensuing pause ticked away until, after about 15 seconds, it was clear that the silence spoke for itself. After losing both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday with a brutal season’s worst performance, not one player in the Mets’ clubhouse saw fit to call a team meeting. (In reporting this story, some sources were granted anonymity in exchange for candor.) There had been some talks among small groups earlier in the week, and continued reflection before Thursday’s game, multiple players said. But nothing stood out as particularly memorable. As one player put it, “Yeah, not much.” So what happened next was no surprise. “We went out and did the same thing again,” another player said of a 4-3 loss in which the Mets’ shoddy defense led to four unearned runs. Less than 12 hours later, on Friday morning, the Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza. The Mets’ troubles don’t solely belong to former manager Carlos Mendoza Though Mendoza deserves some blame for the Mets’ mess
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