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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Mets at San Diego Padres Jul 28, 2025 San Diego, California, USA New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor 12 walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. San Diego Petco Park California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDenisxPoroyx 20250728_pt6_ams_0137
Imago
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Mets at San Diego Padres Jul 28, 2025 San Diego, California, USA New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor 12 walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. San Diego Petco Park California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDenisxPoroyx 20250728_pt6_ams_0137
A ten-game losing streak, including their latest loss against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday (4-2), fueled by an offense that has produced just 14 runs across the last eight, has the New York Mets in a tailspin, and now a familiar voice from the team’s past is calling out the clubhouse leadership.
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In a recent show on PIX11 News, former Mets manager Terry Collins noted, “It starts with your top-notch players… you’ve gotta keep the attitude up… it has to come from the players.”
The Mets fell to the Cubs 12-4 on Friday. They sit at 7-13 record, last in the NL East. Their offense’s runs scored mark the worst skid since 2004, when the team lost eleven straight games in a season.
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But the reason for such a bad slump is not just falling into a singular section.
Francisco Lindor is hitting .200 with only one RBI through nineteen games. Bo Bichette is batting .226 with one home run and a .564 OPS. Kodai Senga has an ERA of 8.83, and David Peterson has an ERA of 6.41.
“You have to try to make it fun again, it’s hard to come to the ballpark when you’re losing…
It’s starts with your top notch players… you’ve gotta keep the attitude up. Players get tired of hearing the manager preach — it has to come from the players.”
Former #Mets manager… pic.twitter.com/xYeCo8Zoy6
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) April 18, 2026
The team’s batting average sits at .175 with a .471 OPS during this losing stretch. It looks like the change in batting order is also not able to spark the offense.
The Mets moved Carson Benge to leadoff, Bo Bichette second, and Lindor third against the Cubs. While Benge hit 1-for-4 on Friday at Wrigley Field, Lindor went 2-for-4. He was grounded into a double play in the third inning.
Talking about Bichette, on Saturday, he finished the loss with one hit and one run in four at-bats.
“We haven’t played good baseball,” David Stearns described the Mets’ recent struggles, while also showing confidence in roster construction.
“We believe in our players.”
Even if the team construction was good, the injuries have not helped.
Juan Soto’s injury and Jorge Polanco’s Achilles issue hurt the Mets’ lineup depth. Kodai Senga struggles, and bullpen inconsistency worsened the Mets’ pitching stability.
The front office is only facing questions after expensive roster construction, with the payroll going over $350 million.
But former manager Terry Collins says that the leadership must come from veterans like Lindor. And this criticism matters because Collins has been the longest-tenured manager for the club (2011-2017).
He led the team to a 2015 National League pennant and a World Series appearance, finishing his tenure with a 551-583 record. And he, himself, managed the team through their 2011-2014 tough rebuilding period.
Francisco Lindor’s season has been difficult so far. Reports highlight defensive misjudgements, like the ground ball against the Dodgers, where he stayed back for the ball rather than rushing to it, and that allowed Teoscar Hernandez to get on base.
After such a low start to the season, there are now major questions about the leadership of Francisco Lindor.
Francisco Lindor is a major problem for the Mets
Francisco Lindor is batting .200 with a .609 OPS across the first few weeks of the season. Fans have been frustrated with how the season has gone for Lindor, not only offensively but also defensively.
Against the Athletics, Lindor missed a double play after chasing a ground ball.
“I forgot the outs,” Lindor shared and called the mistake inexcusable after the game.
Carlos Mendoza said, “There are no excuses, and Lindor knows he must improve.”
He has made repeated mistakes in defense and base running across the season. These errors increased scrutiny on Lindor and his place in the team.
Against the Dodgers, Lindor hesitated on a routine ground ball in the 8 inning. This hesitation led to a grand slam and shifted momentum toward the Dodgers. The game turned into 8-1 after the Dodgers kept hitting following a defensive lapse. After that inning, the Mets were thrown out of the game.
Against the Cardinals, Lindor was picked off at first base before the Soto home run. These mistakes against the Cardinals added to ongoing concerns about Lindor’s defensive awareness issues.
Lindor’s leadership is now questioned as mistakes affect the Mets’ confidence. Lindor has said that he should have been better after multiple mistakes in recent games, but it means nothing if the improvements don’t show. Mendoza still trusts Lindor’s decision-making despite the errors.
Yet, his performance raises major questions about Lindor’s leadership and mental game in pressure situations.
Written by
Edited by
Ahana Chatterjee