It started as just another media scrum — the usual pregame chatter, a few injury updates, a lineup note or two. But when reporters brought up the opposing starter, the tone shifted. The Mets’ skipper, Carlos Mendoza, didn’t hold back on sharing his thoughts about the White Sox’s 25-year-old arm – Shane Smith.

Discussing the change-up and how effective Smith can be in the game, Mendoza replied with a nod, “He’s a good arm.” Then, it was his comment on the fastball that stood out. “His fastball is up to 96, but the change looks real.” And then things got a little trickier when Mendoza identified the warning from Smith.

“You know he has got a lot of different pitches. He’s got the sliders. He’s got the sinker. So there are a lot of different ways for the lefties, alright, he got the weapons, you know! We got to be ready to go today.”

That wasn’t just praise — it was a subtle signal. A message not just about the pitcher, but directed squarely at his own clubhouse.

Be ready — or get embarrassed. Because what they saw wasn’t a one-off. 

And talking about Shane Smith, he didn’t just flash talent; he showed poise, pace, and power, all wrapped into one. And Mendoza, who rarely overhypes opponents, saw the writing on the wall. When a rookie from the Rule 5 Draft — not a first-round phenom — starts carving through veteran hitters with a 2.37 ERA over 10 starts, it forces reflection.

The takeaway was clear: The Mets can’t afford to sleep on anyone, especially not an underdog making a name in real time. Wake up, or fall behind.

Mets’ flat start adds weight to Mendoza’s words

After a groundout to start the game, Mike Tauchman walked, followed by Miguel Vargas ripping his 15th double of the year to put runners on second and third. That’s when Andrew Benintendi delivered the gut punch: A two-run single to right off Mets starter José Butto.

In the second inning, the Sox capitalized on two fielding miscues — a throwing error from Brett Baty and a bobble from Jeff McNeil — before Tauchman smacked a two-run double to right, extending the lead to 4–0. The Mets weren’t just losing; they were unraveling.

And things didn’t get prettier on the other side. The Mets’ bats fell flat, striking out three times in the first two innings. Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty went down swinging, and Mark Vientos followed suit. Even when they managed to load the bases in the second, through back-to-back walks to McNeil and Luis Torrens, Tyrone Taylor grounded into a force out, and Lindor popped out in the third, leaving the Mets with a big fat zero on the board.

The White Sox were playing clean, aggressive baseball. The Mets? Sloppy, hesitant, and very much asleep at the wheel. And that ended up with the Sox’s 9-4 win!

The warning signs were there, Mendoza made that clear. However, what unfolded at Citi Field was more than just a flat performance. And the Rule 5 rookie delivered like a pro, striking out 5 in 3 2/3 innings.

Shane Smith did not just beat the Mets, the star frustrated the players – remember how Brett Baty threw his bat after Smith struck him out at the end of the 1st? NYM’s lack of urgency, their defensive sloppiness, and their inability to match a team hungry to prove something were visible. So, the message is loud now: Talent alone will not carry you. Execution, energy, and attention to detail will.

`