Getty Image / Duane Burleson
The 2023 New York Mets were supposed to be one of the best teams in Major League Baseball. After all, they spent enough money on it.
The New York Mets set a payroll record in Major League Baseball at $380 Million. Now, that number is inflated some because they have very few young contributors on low salaries, so they’ve had to go out and sign a bunch of free agents since mega-rich owner Steve Cohen took over prior to the 2021 season.
Some of those big contracts have been handed out to superstars like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Francisco Lindor. Together, those three are making over $120 million this year. That’s more than the payroll of eleven teams this year.
But, the results have been less-than-impressive. After a 6-6 start, the Mets won 7 of their next 8 games to go to 14-7, and things were looking good. Since then, they’ve been downright terrible, going 2-8 including series losses to the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers.
Things hit rock bottom for the New York Mets against those same Detroit Tigers yesterday when the Mets got swept in a doubleheader at Comerica Park.
CLUTCH.
Make that five RBI for @ehaase3! pic.twitter.com/y6GNRXAXlB
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 3, 2023
Ace Max Scherzer got shelled in his first start after his sticky substance controversy, not getting out of the 4th inning.
(ahem) BATT Vierling pic.twitter.com/S2lJtaOtXd
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 3, 2023
New York Mets fans are notoriously negative people. As a lifelong Mets fan, I get it. The stuff that happens to us is mostly bad. Many of my fellow fans were straight-up melting down.
It’s obvious that the king of Mets meltdowns, Frank the Tank, would be melting down.
I hate this team @Mets pic.twitter.com/oA89qKIyEc
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) May 4, 2023
But, he wasn’t the only one.
My goodness. That was a pitiful display from the #Mets. A crap loss late this afternoon followed by an absolute dud tonight. The pitching is flat out terrible.
— Michael Baron (@michaelgbaron) May 4, 2023
Mets need to wake up a little bit. This kind of performance against the TIGERS is just straight up unacceptable
— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) May 4, 2023
I hate being this guy. But, until the Mets dump all these old hags, we r cooked. This team is not good. Everyone in our division got younger and better. We got older and slower. Pains me to type this. But it’s how I feel. Still love them. Still watching. #LGM
— Zey 🇵🇷 (@zey97) May 3, 2023
Thankfully for New York Mets (16-15) fans, Justin Verlander makes his team debut today. If they lose again today, however, it will be an even bigger meltdown.