Amazingly calm manager Carlos Mendoza has carried Mets through storms

Carlos Mendoza’s first year as New York Mets manager was supposed to be a learning experience. Instead, he has taken the team to its first National League Championship Series since 2015, overcoming early struggles and guiding the Mets back to prominence. 

Mendoza’s calm leadership has been pivotal in a season that included stormy times.

After an up-and-down March and April in which the Mets went 15-14, the team hit a wall in May, going 9-19. Mendoza stayed composed, deflecting pressure from his players — a skill honed during his years as Aaron Boone’s bench coach. 

While fans and media clamored for answers, Mendoza kept the focus inward, never letting the panic seep into the clubhouse. It's a stark contrast to former manager Buck Showalter, whose analytical brilliance often came with an intense demeanor. 

Showalter’s approach felt like there was a wall between him and his players; Mendoza, however, brought a player’s touch to the dugout, creating a more tranquil environment.

Players have fed off Mendoza’s calm, especially during the rough stretches. 

Francisco Lindor was one of the key beneficiaries of this approach, turning his season around and leading the Mets’ charge back into contention. The shortstop is the anchor, posting a .900+ OPS in the second half and delivering when it mattered most.

None of Lindor’s moments were bigger than his go-ahead grand slam in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies. With Philadelphia clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, Lindor sent a packed Citi Field into pandemonium, crushing a pitch deep to right-center for the winning grand slam.