Something is not going right for the New York Mets over the last two weeks or so. The Mets are 13-3 since June 18. After two sweeps and a series loss to the Phillies, the Mets did make a comeback when they hosted the Braves at CitiField for four games, but their recent trip to Pittsburgh exposed the Mets’ weakness once again.

After arriving in Pittsburgh with superstar expectations, the Mets’ big-money names shrank under pressure. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo combined for just two hits in fifteen at-bats in the finale. The Pirates—who entered the series with 32 wins—swept the Mets and outscored them 30-4 in a brutal statement. This loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates is going to be talked about for a long time in New York. Skipper Carlos Mendoza also expressed his frustration following the 12-1 defeat. “It’s frustrating, and we are all frustrated, obviously. Not gonna lie, we’re better than that, and they know that,” Mendoza said. 

After their forgettable trip to Pittsburgh, the Mets are set to host the Brewers on July 1, where skipper Mendoza is hoping his team to bring its best game. But the team’s recent slump has done little to silence critics, especially with a staggering $325 million payroll hanging over their heads. Post the loss, Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti of WFAN discussed how the Mets have failed to justify the name and the hype in the past few games:

“New York Mets have a payroll of $325 million. Just think about that for a second.. And the Pirates have a total of $90 million. The Mets have $68 million on the injured side… and the Pirates have about $8 million…” Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti discussed. “When you think about the difference in total payroll is $235 million, and the active differential on payroll is about $176 million. That is a disgrace what they just did in Pittsburgh.”

At the top of the order, Lindor’s bat has gone cold. The shortstop managed a .628 OPS in June and went hitless in the final game. As the leadoff catalyst, his inability to get on base has drained early momentum. To his credit, though, Lindor acknowledged this collapse plainly and didn’t deflect the blame. “I’ve just got to be better… my mechanics are not in the right spot,” he said, before further adding, “The coaches have done an excellent job preparing us; it’s our responsibility.”

He stressed that “everybody is pulling for each other,” reinforcing unity despite the wreckage. But honesty doesn’t change the standings. When a $325 million machine gets swept by a $90 million roster, it’s not just a bad series—it’s a referendum.

The Pirates didn’t just beat the Mets; they exposed them. So, an urgent team meeting was the need of the hour.

The Mets call a team meeting after the whole line fails to deliver

In the aftermath of yet another gut-punch loss, the Mets finally turned inward for answers. The players-only meeting wasn’t scheduled or scripted—it “just happened,” as Francisco Lindor put it, unfolding organically postgame. About six or seven players spoke up, including Lindor and Alonso, while Brandon Nimmo silently observed.

“That’s what good teams do,” Lindor added, describing the impromptu circle as a moment of shared accountability and unity. The tone of the meeting echoed last June’s pivotal reset, though the Mets are in a better spot numerically.

Still, the frustration is real, as Alonso admitted, “We’re not playing our cleanest baseball… we’re not playing to our maximum potential.” Lindor emphasized the emotional weight players feel, saying, “We’re professionals, but we’re human as well,” nodding to the mental grind. This wasn’t just venting—it was players trying to refocus before the season slips too far.

The themes were clear: urgency, consistency, and a return to fundamentals that once defined this team’s identity. Alonso pointed out the need to “finish” games and regain the edge that built early-season momentum.

Nimmo, no stranger to midseason slumps, said, “It’s not going to be fixed overnight,” but saw it as productive. Whether it changes the course or not, it showed a group that still cares deeply and collectively.

But for all the talk, the scoreboard still reads louder than any locker room speech. Team chemistry is nice, but it doesn’t drive in runners from second with two outs. If the Mets want to turn this into something fruitful, the bats need to start delivering.