Reasons Carlos Mendoza ought should be given a pass in 2024

Carlos Mendoza, the recently appointed manager of the New York Mets, faces a challenging season ahead of him in the National League East Division.

It’s reasonable to give Mendoza a free pass in 2024, a year that many supporters anticipate would be a transition year for the Mets following the off-loading of several important players at the trade deadline last year.

To the dismay of many fans, the Mets haven’t added any notable players to their roster thus far this offseason after losing out on Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The pitching of the Mets, which features a strong core of offensive players in Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil, will be a major area of concern for the team.

In his first season as manager of the New York Mets, Carlos Mendoza ought to have a one-year grace period.
It doesn’t give Mendoza much of a fair shot after one season with closer Edwin Diaz coming off severe knee surgery, a lot of questions hanging around in the bullpen behind him, and a dubious pitching staff behind Kodai Senga and José Quintana. Granted, there’s a good chance Mendoza can improve this club and surpass expectations with what he has, but it would be unjust to hold him exclusively responsible for any failures this season.

Regardless of what the front staff may be telling the media about this upcoming season, it appears that the entire organization is looking toward 2025 as the year with bigger aspirations. The Mets might have several of the elite prospects they acquired at the trade deadline the previous year up in the big leagues the following year. The organization might also enter the Juan Soto sweepstakes to try to sign another true superstar in the winter.

I think the Mets have enough offensive talent this year to contend for a postseason berth, but a lot will depend on how well the starting pitching performs throughout the season.

If the team can play meaningful baseball in September in a division that is loaded with elite players and develop some of the young talent they acquired last season at the Major League level, I think Carlos Mendoza will have a great first year with the club.

All things considered, I think Carlos Mendoza has a grace period for this season unless something disastrous happens, and I think his position should be thoroughly scrutinized by both the company and the fans beginning in 2025.