"The Mets always had us believe there was more time. Another game, another inning, another out. At a cost of $341 million, their roster was too expensive to fail. Ultimately, Carlos Mendoza & Co. would figure things out, just as they did for last season's magical ride, and if it took until Game 162, well, the more amazing the story, right?"
"And by late Sunday afternoon, needing just one more victory to put this slow-motion car crash in the rearview mirror and start fresh in the playoffs - incredibly, a ticket that only required a measly 84th win - the Mets had to finally admit they weren't capable of finishing the task. Of course it was the Marlins who delivered the fatal blow, because what good is a franchise-shaking collapse if we can't dredge up some familiar demons to drop the hammer?"
The Mets relied on the belief that more time would fix struggles, backed by a $341 million roster and last season's momentum. Needing only one win for a playoff spot, the club lost 4-0 to the Marlins at loanDepot Park and failed to achieve the required 84th victory. The team collapsed after June 12, going 38-55 (.409) over 93 games, one of the worst stretches in MLB. Other low-cost teams had no playoff illusions and performed without pressure, while the Mets kept their core and added Juan Soto yet could not finish strong.
Read at Newsday
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