Just last September, the Mets were solid with a 17-9 record. But, this September, they are sitting at just 3-8. What once looked like a team built for October is now falling apart in real time. And all the rivals, fans, and veterans across MLB are taking notice. Now, the Reds manager has stepped in with a sharp reminder: A message that looked like a warning directly aimed at the Mets.

Terry Francona did not hide the situation, highlighting that his team is still alive despite a turbulent stretch. “We’ve been through a really tough stretch,” Francona remarked. “We’re still alive. Until they make you go home, they keep playing,” he continued. That statement came as the Mets stumbled to a dreadful 14-26 record since late July, and this was the worst mark among MLB teams chasing the final NL Wild Card spot.

However, Carlos Mendoza took all the attention with a blunt assessment of his own team. “We put ourselves in this position,” the Mets manager said. “I’m responsible. I’m the manager.” While he framed his statement as accountability, the notion quickly spread that Mendoza had thrown his own roster under the bus.

Since June 13, when the Mets held the NL’s best record, they have collapsed to a 31-46 mark. The Mets’ rotation, once boasting MLB’s lowest ERA, has become one of the worst. At that time, injuries to Kodai Senga and Frankie Montas had compounded the issue. At the plate, the offense has gone missing, and the Mets have now trailed entering the ninth inning in 62 games this season—losing every single one.

All such situations have made the Mets vulnerable.

Now, the Diamondbacks, Giants, and the Reds—teams that performed very poorly at the trade deadline—are suddenly trying to control the division, all within striking distance of the final postseason berth. With just 15 games left, containing nine against contenders, Mendoza needs to answer Francona’s pointed challenge and his self-critique on the field. Otherwise, they will risk turning a $340 million roster into the latest cautionary tale of squandered power.

However, Francona’s pointed reminder was not the only thing stirring debate around the Mets. Whispers related to Carlos Mendoza’s job security have only enhanced the drama, fueled by a viral three-word message that quickly caught everyone’s attention.

Insider’s viral message sparks job security debate around Mets skipper

When the Mets’ spiral began, most assumed the blame would fall squarely on the stars. However, as the slump deepened, it has become harder to ignore the role of Carlos Mendoza. An insider post from Jon Heyman reignited the debate when he simply replied, “Just a reminder” to an old clip of David Stearns praising the manager. That three-word message has already gone viral, racking up over 150,000 views in just a few hours.

Just weeks earlier, David Stearns said that “Mendy’s doing a great job” and focused on his powerful communication and leadership skills. However, now, reportedly being the fourth-worst in MLB, a managerial vote of confidence looks shaky. If the team stumbles out of the postseason picture entirely, Jon Heyman’s subtle reminder could prove prophetic, turning this once-stable managerial seat into one of the hottest in MLB.

The Mets are now at a crossroads, with Terry Francona’s warning and Heyman’s viral reminder placing their manager under a brighter spotlight than ever. If the Mets can not reverse their collapse, tough questions related to managerial approaches will only intensify. For fans, the coming weeks are not just about wins and losses; they are related to the future direction of the entire team.