Lindor says Mets players 'failed' ousted Mendoza

NEW YORK -- Hours after the New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, prominent members of the organization took turns assuming responsibility for the team's dismal start to the season while lauding Mendoza's credentials, acumen and work ethic. "We failed Mendy," shortstop Francisco Lindor said. "I failed Mendy. I didn't play to my capability to help him win as many games as we could. And, yeah, this one's on us as well." But president of baseball operations David Stearns asserted dismissing Mendoza at the season's midway point after months of backing him was necessary to put the last-place club -- ravaged by injuries and underperformance -- in the best position to salvage its season with 81 games remaining. "I was steadfast in my support for Carlos because we believed in Carlos," Stearns said. "And we believed that collectively, with him helping us lead this, we were going to turn it around. And we haven't. And in some cases, it's gotten worse. And when that happens, at some point, we've got to make a change. So, there's not one moment or one thing or one observation. But it was time, and so we did this." Stearns said the decisions to fire Mendoza and name Andy Green, previously the organization's vice president of player development, the interim manager were made in concert with owner Steve Cohen, though Stearns declined to share whether he broached the topic with Cohen or the other way around. Stearns said he communicated the news to Mendoza, the team's manager since the 2024 season, in a meeting Friday morning. Cohen was at Citi Field on Friday but did not speak to the media. Lindor and third baseman Bo Bichette, two of the Mets' three highest-paid players, said the blame for the team's 34-47 record falls on the players. "It was unfortunate," Bichette said. "Mendy was good to me. I guess sometimes the manager has to take the fall for the team underperforming." The Mets lost the final six games of Mendoza's tenure to fall a season-worst 13 games under .500. They gave up 15 runs to the Phillies to start the six-game losing streak and committed six errors in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep against the Chicago Cubs. Plagued by starters with the third-highest rotation ERA in the majors, the Mets allowed 54 runs during the skid, which dropped them 14½ games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 9½ games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the final NL wild-card spot, entering Friday with the second-most expensive payroll in the majors. The Mets began their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5.2% chance of reaching the postseason, according to FanGraphs. Despite the long odds, Stearns insisted that the front office has not shifted its focus beyond this season. "I understand we have an uphill battle ahead of us this year, but we're not turning the page," Stearns said. "We all remain very focused on doing everything we can to win as many games this year, while recognizing where we are in the standings." Mendoza, after four seasons as the Yankees' bench coach, shepherded the Mets to an improbable turnaround as a rookie manager in 2024 that concluded two wins short of the World Series. They appeared to be World Series contenders again last season, compiling the best record in the majors through mid-June, before a glacial collapse over the final months of the season left them out of the postseason. Stearns then directed a wholesale overhaul, starting with Mendoza's coaching staff and including the team's veteran core. The changes have not produced better results. "For whatever reason, we haven't come together and found, I guess, what our identity is," Bichette said. On Friday, Stearns acknowledged the lack of continuity could be a factor in the team's struggles. "I think that evaluation is ongoing and will continue to be ongoing," Stearns said. "Clearly, we've fallen short. I still have confidence in the talent that's in our room. I believe in the talent that's in our room. But belief on its own does not lead to results. And I understand that. We need to play better." Stearns, whose five-year contract runs through 2028, said he has not considered stepping down. He emphatically insisted that Cohen has communicated his support. "I believe that we are building the foundation of an organization that can deliver what we all want," Stearns said. "I don't believe that our record on the field this year is indicative of some of the advancements that we've made as an organization. But, clearly, our record is nowhere good enough." Green insisted that he felt taking the interim job was "a responsibility more than an opportunity" because he was the only internal option with managerial experience, having managed the San Diego Padres for nearly four seasons. He will return to his VP role after the season. Green said the players must realize "this isn't about strategy, it's about freedom" for the team to succeed. "I think what it comes down to is the best thing we can do is recognize what keeps most people from performing is the burden they carry with them to work every day," Green said. "And that burden is usually from carrying too much and wanting to be great for a city, for a manager, for a team, and it comes from carrying the baggage of yesterday into today." Stearns and Lindor echoed that "execution," not talent or preparation, has been the Mets' problem this season and that the players ultimately need to execute to turn around their season. They maintained there's still enough time for the Mets. Mendoza's time, however, ran out Friday. "The season's not over," Lindor said. "We have a responsibility and that's to win as many games as we can. ... This sucks, but it's on us to turn it around."