The New York Mets started the season with high hopes, a renewed rotation and an impressive offensive core, with youth and experience. However, that and the fact that MLB expanded playoff teams for the 2020 season, wasn’t enough, and their year will end today with bitter disappointment.
They entered Saturday’s action with a slight chance to pull off the miracle, but they lost both games of the doubleheader to the Washington Nationals. And, to make matters worse, the Mets can finish in the last place of the division if they lose today.
New York Mets’ ace Jacob deGrom expressed his frustration for the team not being able to deliver on the preseason hype. “Where eight teams go and we didn’t make it, that’s pretty frustrating,†he said to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “The level of disappointment is very high.â€
The Mets’ manager spoke
After the Mets lost both games, manager Luis Rojas took the initiative and held a meeting. He talked “about how unfortunate it is right now, to find out today that we’re not going to be playing past tomorrow.â€
According to Dom Smith, who backed up his manager, “the guys are obviously a little bit upset. We know what we need to do in this offseason to come back stronger in 2021.â€
“I’m not happy,†added Smith, who broke out for the Mets this year with a .316/.377/.616 line and 10 homers. “We had a great team going into camp and we held each other to a high standard. The playoff picture is something that we all agreed on and wanted to accomplish. For us not to accomplish that … I’m not too happy. I probably won’t sleep too well over the offseason.â€
“To the Mets fans, I’m sorry that we couldn’t have done better for you.”
Injuries, underperformance and even opt-outs from key players certainly damaged the Mets’ season. But the players know they could have, and should have, done more with the talent in their roster.