Pete Alonso put it bluntly after another loss, “Winning solves everything at this point.” For the Mets, though, the equation is no longer that simple. Not only do they need to win all six of their remaining games after dropping a weekend series to the Nationals, but they also must scoreboard-watch every contest involving their NL rivals. Their fate is no longer in their own hands, and that harsh reality has sparked a wave of trolling from fans.

The Cincinnati Reds are making things difficult for the Queens. The $1.3 billion franchise beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Sunday. This win completed a sweep that shook up the NL wild-card race. Now, Cincinnati not only holds the keys for October, but it has also exposed the Mets’ crumbling position. The NYM was in the playoffs for 170 days, but now it’s all fading away.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan summed it up on X. “The Cincinnati Reds now control their destiny for the third wild card spot in the National League. They own the tiebreaker over the New York Mets, who previously had been in control of a playoff spot every day since April 5.” That tweet started a social media storm that transformed the Mets from playoff contenders into the internet’s favorite punching bag.

The arithmetic for the playoffs is tough. Even if the Mets win all six of their remaining games against Chicago and Miami, they might still miss October if Cincinnati keeps playing this way. The reason? The Reds have won the head-to-head tiebreaker earlier this season.

The Mets’ loss to Washington summed up everything that has gone wrong for them during this September slide.

Jake Irvin, a pitcher who had lost eight straight games and hadn’t won since late July, was able to shut down a Mets attack that has been both explosive and invisible this season. While Francisco Lindor’s home run gave fans some hope, his defensive mistake was a sign of how the team is doing right now: Moments of brilliance followed by expensive mistakes.

Cedric Mullins’ postgame thoughts showed how much the loss affected the team.

“In the stretch we’re in, where every win matters, to see plays made like that definitely deflates a little bit. We’ve got to take some tough losses on the chin.” For a ballclub that once became the first team to record 20 wins, looking perfect for October, the collapse was not on the list. And that shift in scenario just unlocked a roasting session for the Mets.

Trolling floods Mets’ September struggles

The first observation cut straight to the statistical oddity. “Oddly, the Mets have likely set a modern-day record for longest multiple losing streaks while holding onto a playoff spot.” The point stings because it shows how inconsistent Queens have been. They were able to hold on to a Wild Card place even though they lost eight games in a row in September, something that not many teams can do. But now that the cushion is gone, the problems are impossible to ignore.

Then came a sarcastic jab at the franchise pattern. “LOLMETS IS ETERNAL, IT NEVER DIES, ONLY MUTATES INTO A DIFFERENT FORM!” The “LOLMets” meme is one of baseball’s longest-lasting ones. It came from years of late-season collapses and losses that made no sense. This fan’s comment shows how the Mets always seem to disappoint. They have given their critics a seemingly infinite amount of fodder, from the September failures of 2007 and 2008 to Bobby Bonilla Day.

Another observer noted how unexpected September is going. “This has been the overall best September baseball we’ve had in years.” Earlier this season, just the thought of the Reds holding the Mets’ fate would have sounded unbelievable. But, now? The reality is that a club with some of the greatest hitters and a valuation of $3.2B will depend on a team that stands at a 3x lower point.

And the next comment just pointed that out! “What’s the Mets payroll again?” With owner Steve Cohen pouring billions into the team by signing $765M contract with Soto and having high-salaried players like Lindor ($341M), Pete Alonso ($54M), etc. But the Mets can’t turn money into postseason security. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s highest-paid player is Nick Martinez at about $21.05 million. The difference between money spent and results is even clearer.

For others, the frustration was towards the Mesties. “I love this so much. The Mets and their fans were so arrogant since Soto signed with them. The Mets will always met.” This comment shows season-long resentment about the Mets acquiring Juan Soto. The term “The Mets will always met” is a play on the team’s name and suggests that they will always find ways to fall short, no matter how talented or well-off they are.

The Mets head to Chicago, facing a mathematical reality their $3.2B payroll cannot solve. Six games remain to determine whether this becomes another September collapse or a redemption story. With Cincinnati controlling their destiny and social media mockery intensifying, the Mets must prove talent matters more than trolls.