The rollercoaster of a baseball season comes with dizzying highs and stomach-churning lows, and fans ride every peak and valley. But sometimes, a reassuring word from the top can feel like a gentle pat or a major misread of the room. As the New York Mets navigate a rough patch, their owner’s recent message aimed for calm. However, it landed amidst a fanbase already simmering with frustration over the team’s sudden dip.

The Mets faithful began the 2025 season with high hopes. They had an impressive 8-4 record by April 9th. This hot start placed them favorably in the National League East.

Fast forwarding to late May paints a very different picture. As of May 21st, the team had lost three consecutive games. This was their first such streak all season. They lost five of their last six games, bringing their record to 29-20. The most recent blow was a frustrating 2-0 shutout loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Following that disappointing loss to Boston on May 21, 2025, Mets owner Steve Cohen took to social media. He aimed to offer perspective to a restless fan base. Cohen posted, “Welcome to the ups and downs of a baseball season. This too will pass. LGM.”

But the fans are having none of it. The frustration among fans stems from a dramatic offensive collapse. Over the week leading up to May 21st, the Mets had a .509 OPS. They scored just eight runs in that span. The struggles with runners in scoring position jumped off the screen. In one game, they went 0-for-7, and over a seven-game stretch, they were a paltry 5-for-44 in such crucial spots. The team even left a staggering 43 men on base during that tough seven-game period.

Even the manager Carlos Mendoza noticed the team’s inability to find success in recent games and, more specifically, the difficulty of their offense. “We had chances and hit balls hard — it didn’t go our way today,” Mendoza said after the defeat during the match on May 20, which saw the Mets 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor defended teammate Juan Soto amidst recent scrutiny, stating, “It’s Fenway. That wall can trick anyone.” Brandon Nimmo echoed a sentiment of resilience, commenting, “We’re all grinding… We just need to keep pushing.”

Owner Steve Cohen is of the same view, but his effort to calm a worried fanbase with his “ups and downs” message was not universally well received. The digital floodgates opened, and the responses painted a stark picture of a fanbase grappling with disappointment and historical baggage.

Fans react to Mets’ slump

Some fans, still clinging to the early-season promise, voiced their unease about the team’s current trajectory. One supporter pointed out the shift in their standing, commenting, “2nd place after an amazing start not ideal.” This sentiment perfectly captures the sting of slipping. After all, the Mets did roar to an 8-4 start by April 9th. However, the recent slump, including losing five of their last six games, saw them fall to a 29-20 record, now trailing the Phillies in the NL East. That “amazing start” feels like a distant memory for some.

For others, Cohen’s assurance that “this too will pass” dredged up decades of waiting. A fan bluntly retorted, “It hasn’t passed in 39 years, Steve.”

This isn’t just a couple of bad games; it’s a reference to the Mets’ last World Series championship in 1986. Despite significant investments and near misses, such as World Series berths in 2000 and 2015, that final prize has been out of reach. For this fanbase, patience wore thin a long, long time ago.

The massive financial commitments, especially to star players, also became a lightning rod for sarcastic frustration. One fan, perhaps with tongue firmly in cheek, lamented, “Steve this team has cost me my marriage what do I do.” This comment, tagged with a Juan Soto context, hints at the immense pressure following Soto’s record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract. While Soto’s numbers (.246 AVG, 8 HRs, 20 RBIs as of late May) are solid, they haven’t single-handedly lifted the team during this offensive power outage, perhaps leading to such exaggerated, humorous despair.

Direct criticism of the team’s on-field product, particularly the anemic offense, was also prevalent. A frustrated supporter didn’t mince words, stating, “You know this team is not good especially at hitting, get better players!” This outcry reflects the grim statistics. The Mets recently owned the worst OPS in baseball (.509) over a week. They averaged a paltry 1.5 runs in their last six games and struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, like going 0-for-7 in their 2-0 loss to Boston.

Finally, some reactions veered into deeply personal and aggressive territory, reflecting utter disgust. One particularly scathing comment read, “Your team is a total joke and a disaster. Stick to insider trading.” This harsh comment directly references Steve Cohen‘s past business dealings, where his former hedge fund, SAC Capital, faced significant penalties related to insider trading. For this fan, the team’s on-field disaster seemingly mirrored past off-field controversies, leading to a brutal, personal jab at the owner.

Well, Cohen is backing his team to bounce back regardless. The fans, however, need results. And rightly so!