Mets play-by-play announcer Howie Rose’s voice has called games since 1995. Through losing seasons and playoff appearances, he saw the franchise ebb and flow. Now, in the midst of a 9-19 season, one of their worst starts in franchise history. Rose explained his thoughts on the current season and what he believes lies ahead.
“You just have to wonder if some kind of move is coming, because there’s just nothing happening here right now for the New York Mets… Swept by the Rockies today & in the series & drop to 10 games under the .500 mark.”
The franchise owns the worst record in MLB. Nothing sugarcoats the fact that the team cannot find a way to play well.
Offseason 1B options:
Munetaka Murakami: .935 OPS
Ryan O’Hearn: .893 OPS
Wilson Contreras: .837 OPS
Kazuma Okamoto: .721 OPS
Pete Alonso: .637 OPS
Nathaniel Lowe: .938 OPS
Josh Bell: .713 OPS
Luis Arraez: .713 OPS
Ty France: .865 OPS
Rhys Hoskins: .691 OPSStearns idea:
Move…
— Unbiased Mets Fan (@TheMetsX) April 27, 2026
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Complete Collapse Hindering Offense
Rose discussed how good teams can withstand droughts, but that doesn’t seem to track for the Mets.
“As I said, it’s hard to explain because usually you get 3-4 guys that go through it. But you get 4-5 guys that can carry you. But right now it’s hard to describe.”
If you look at the Mets’ lineup, you see a menagerie of utter struggle. With the exception of Juan Soto, who is batting over .304, no other player currently hits over .243. Moreover, the team does not take walks. Instead, they continue to swing freely and miss the ball. To this point, New York has recorded just 81 bases on balls while striking out 224 times. To emphasize the ineptitude, the Mets hit into more double plays (21) than home runs (20).
Soto, even after retiring due to injury, appears to be the only player who looks comfortable at the plate. Bo Bichette, for example, cannot find consistency. Known for his bat-to-ball skills, he finds himself missing on swings. According to Baseball Savant, breaking pitches continue to be an issue, with 32.9% missing them.
GettyMets announcer Howie Rose
The Ace That No One Expected
Nolan McLean looks to occupy the No. 2 or No. 3 starter as he further acclimates to the majors. However, with a 2.55 earned run average and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, the Mets boast a frontline starter. Meanwhile, Freddy Peralta cannot pitch at least six innings. When the fifth stanza rolls around, Peralta will seemingly throw his last pitch. He taxes the bullpen with a combination of walks and hits. 3.6 walks per nine innings does not help matters.
On top of that, Kodai Senga’s performance serves as a cautionary tale of a pitcher who may need a new location. Senga takes the mound with an ERA of 9.00 and a league-leading four losses. On the other hand, McLean pitches in a vacuum, ignoring the struggles of the majority of the offense and most of his rotation teammates.
GettyMets righthanded pitcher Kodai Senga
The Heat Needs to Find the Manager
Carlos Mendoza is loved and respected by his players. However, the team’s production tells another story. 2026 appears as a carbon copy of last season. One of Rose’s broadcast colleagues, Gary Cohen, thinks Mendoza’s approach does not seem to be working.
The Mets were a surprising team in 2024 & a feel good story. Was very easy to trust Cohen, Stearns & Mendoza.
Last year was a disaster, but this year is an embarrassment & it’s not even May yet.
The identity of this team is missing fight/heart & that’s on Stearns. He’s been…
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) April 27, 2026
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“I know that managing is a much more delicate operation than it used to be, but at some point you have to call people out. Always. It’s a lot easier to fire the manager than to fire the people above him.”
This looks like a direct shot at the president of baseball operations, David Stearns. Stearns remodeled the team in the offseason, hoping to add defense and clutch hitting. If you watched the weekend against the Colorado Rockies, you would see both aspects fail. Brett Baty at first base feels like an adventure. At the same time, someone needs to be held accountable for the loss. How much of a leash does Mendoza receive from the Mets?
Mets Announcers Anticipate Massive Changes Ahead for Franchise