Carlos Mendoza Wasn't the Problem. He Became the Fall Guy.

Just a few weeks ago on May 12th, David Stearns stood in front of the media and defended his manager, insisting the Mets' disappointing season wasn't on Carlos Mendoza.

On Thursday, that changed.

The Mets announced they had parted ways with Mendoza, with Andy Green taking over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.

So much for that vote of confidence.

Let's be clear about one thing. When you lose six straight games and commit eight errors over your last two contests, somebody is going to pay the price. That's baseball Susan. Fair or unfair, managers are almost always the first ones to clean out their office.

The problem is, I'm not convinced Carlos Mendoza was the biggest problem.

Steve Cohen released the following statement after the move:

Steve is absolutely right.

The fans deserve better.

But they deserve better from more than just the manager.

I respected Carlos Mendoza.

Over the last two and a half seasons, I had the opportunity to ask him questions before games on numerous occasions. He was always prepared, always respectful, and always willing to explain his thinking. More than that, I think Mendy is both a good man and a good baseball man.

As this season wore on, though, I could see it wearing on him. The losses. The injuries. The constant questions. The pressure. It showed on his face.

And maybe that's what bothers me the most.

I'm not convinced we ever really got to see Carlos Mendoza manage.

Carlos leaves with a 206-199 record, good for the seventh-best winning percentage among managers in Mets history, a tick ahead of Mickey Callaway.

That's hardly the resume of someone who forgot how to fill out a lineup card overnight.

Which brings me to a conversation I had with him back on May 26 before the Mets played Cincinnati.

At the time Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing were establishing themselves as major leaguers after tearing through the minor leagues.

Both were getting on base at remarkable rates.

Both could steal bases.

Both looked like the type of players you dream about hitting first and second in front of Juan Soto.

So I asked Carlos if he could envision a future where Benge and Ewing hit one-two in the lineup.

His answer fascinated me.

Not because I thought it was wrong.

Because it didn't sound like Carlos Mendoza talking.

It sounded like the organizational analytics departments philosophy talking.

He explained that with Soto batting third, they didn't like stacking three consecutive left-handed hitters.

Fine.

That's certainly one way to build a lineup.

Then the game started.

Standing in the opposite dugout was Terry Francona. (Three time Manager of the Year.)

This wasn't just another opposing manager.

This was the manager of the Reds team that beat the Mets out for the final National League Wild Card spot last season.

Francona's lineup looked like this

Blake Dunn Right.

Elly De La Cruz Switch

Sal Stewart Right.

Spencer Steer Right.

Eugenio Saurez Right.

Dane Myers Right.

JJ Bleday Left.

Tyler Stephenson Right.

Matt McLain Right.

Seven of the first eight hitters batted right-handed.

The Reds proceeded to score six runs against left-handed starter David Peterson.

Then what happened?

The Mets brought in Sean Manaea.

Another left-hander.

Then A.J. Minter.

Yet another left-hander.

Against essentially the exact same right-handed-heavy lineup.

So help me understand.

If stacking three left-handed hitters is considered such a competitive disadvantage that it dictates lineup construction months in advance...

Why is stacking left-handed pitchers against an overwhelmingly right-handed lineup acceptable?

Where's the consistency?

That exchange has stayed with me because the more I think about it, the more convinced I become that Carlos wasn't really answering my question.

He was explaining the organization's philosophy that he was to carry out.

That's why today's firing leaves me asking a much bigger question.

How much does a modern manager really manage anymore?

Think about it.

David Stearns assembled this roster.

Last year he replaced the coaching staff.

Has the offense dramatically improved under Troy Snitker?

Has Justin Willard suddenly turned Mets pitchers into consistent overachievers?

Has Kai Correa transformed the Mets into an elite defensive club?

Judging by eight errors in the last two games, probably not.

The roster is built by the front office.

The coaching staff is hired by the front office.

The organizational philosophy comes from the front office.

The analytics department heavily influences lineup construction, defensive positioning, bullpen matchups and platoon decisions.

At what point does accountability move upstairs?

Because if the manager is mostly carrying out the organization's philosophy, firing him doesn't change the philosophy.

It simply changes the messenger.

That brings me back to David Stearns.

Earlier today I starting writing an article that his offseason has been, through the first half, an unmitigated disaster.

Not because he let popular players leave.

That's a debate for another day.

The bigger issue is that he built a roster where everything had to go exactly right and as someone who grew up a Mets fan he knows that only happens in Queens every forty years.

Jorge Polanco had to stay healthy.

Marcus Semien had to keep Father Time on the bench.

Luis Robert Jr. had to finally enjoy a healthy season.

Bo Bichette had to bounce back.

The Mets never really got to see that team.

Those five key additions—Polanco, Semien, Robert Jr., Bichette, alongside Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor—started just five games together.

Five.

That's not enough to determine whether the plan would've worked.

But it is enough to expose the flaw in the plan.

Good organizations don't build for perfect health.

They build expecting injuries.

The Mets didn't.

Now Carlos Mendoza is gone.

Andy Green takes over.

Is he the answer ?

He's intelligent, accomplished, respected throughout baseball and has previous managerial experience with San Diego.

I genuinely hope he succeeds. I pray he does better than Dallas Green !

But unless Andy has discovered baseball's fountain of youth...

Unless he can erase injuries...

Unless he can suddenly make veterans younger...

Unless he has borrowed White Sox Mike Vasil's magic wand and can wave it over an offense that has underachieved and a defense that suddenly forgot how to catch the baseball...

I'm not sure what changes.

Maybe a new voice gives the clubhouse a spark.

Baseball has certainly seen stranger things.

I hope it happens.

Because Mets fans deserve that.

But I also hope something else changes.

I hope whoever occupies that manager's office is allowed to manage.

Not simply implement organizational philosophy.

Not simply follow percentages generated in a conference room.

Not simply become the face of decisions made elsewhere.

I believe Carlos Mendoza is a good baseball man.

If only the Mets had allowed him to be more of one.

Because changing the name on the manager's office door doesn't necessarily fix what's happening inside the front office.

Sometimes firing the manager isn't solving the problem.

Sometimes it's simply giving the problem a different office number.