Baseball is often a game of inches, and for the Mets at Truist Park, it came down to that. It was a split-second decision that turned a 4-1 advantage into a 4-5 loss against the Atlanta Braves. When the stakes are highest, there is no room for error. And Juan Soto and Francisco Alvarez both learned this the hard way.

David Peterson had a solid outing, leaving after seven innings with the Mets up 4-1 and an ERA below 3.00, thanks to four of his five starts lasting over seven innings. Meanwhile, Soto’s night started off strong with a 412-foot home run in the first inning. It was his fifth homer, with a sizzling 1.146 OPS so far this month. Everything was looking good until an error in the eighth inning impacted the ninth.

In the ninth, what looked like another important moment turned heartbreaking. Pete Alonso hit a rocket to deep right with the game tied and a runner on. Ronald Acuna Jr. made an amazing catch near the wall. And then came the confusion. Soto hesitated between first and second base, waiting for the umpire’s signal. However, first-base umpire Edwin Jimenez delayed his call. By the time the signal came, Acuna’s throw was already on its way, resulting in Soto being tagged out.

Later, Soto didn’t hold back from talking about how upset he was, not with the play, but with the delay. He didn’t mince a word: “We rely on the umpires. We wait on them to make the call… The goal is look for the umpire and make sure he makes the right call. But I felt like he took way too long to make the decision and it just put me in a tough spot.” It was a costly error, especially when the momentum was already in favor of the Braves.

Let’s go back to the eighth inning and the crucial pitch call. With two strikes on Ozuna, Alvarez signaled for a splitter, which Garrett approved, but this went against the expectations set moments before, and Garrett countered with a fastball. Despite the catcher’s best efforts, the outcome was a game-losing double, rather than a swing-and-miss.

On the other side of the clubhouse, Francisco Alvarez faced the cameras and owned up to his own mistake. In the post-game interview, he said, “I think he was right. I think I made a mistake in that situation. I feel very bad for that.“ No excuses, just admission that he was wrong. A chaotic night for Queens.

The man in charge put it in the best way possible. Skipper Carlos Mendoza remarked, “It’s a tough loss.” For a club that wants to make the playoffs, this was a reminder that grit isn’t only about offense. It’s also about discipline, timing, field awareness, and making good decisions.

When talking about decisions, it’s high time Mendoza made a call regarding Alvarez. Well, many think so, including MLB insiders like Jon Heyman.

Catching a crisis? Jon Heyman advises Mets to go with Luis Torrens 

Francisco Alvarez’s 2025 campaign has shifted from high hopes to serious concerns. After hamate surgery in late April, he has struggled, posting a .235/.323/.313 batting line with just two home runs and a .636 OPS by mid-June. Once known for his power, including 25 home runs and a .721 OPS in 2023, he has faltered in high-pressure situations, highlighted by a recent slump of 2-for-25 over eight games.

His confidence on defense hasn’t completely carried over to the plate either. Alvarez is still doing well, but a bad splitter call in the eighth inning against the Braves changed the game’s momentum. Not only that, but a poorly executed pitch-spin in extra innings hasn’t gone unnoticed. Now the question is: If not him, then who?

Well, MLB insider Jon Heyman has an answer. Recently, he posted, “Luis Torrens should be the Mets’ starting catcher until someone figures out what happened to Alvarez.” Luis Torrens is on the rise as trust starts to fade. Torrens is hitting .231/.313/.350, with a .663 OPS.

There is skepticism about Alvarez’s once-promising path, unless he makes a big comeback. The Mets are definitely playing it safe: His poor offensive performance, mixed defensive calls, and Torrens’s rise have changed the order of things.

If he wants to stay in Flushing, he needs to find the power, discipline, and sharpness that made him who he is. If he doesn’t, his platoon partner could take his place. What do you guys think?