The New York Mets are the most disappointing team of the 2023 MLB season.
That’s quite a crown to wear considering the nightmare season’s both the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees have had.
The Mets entered the season with a loaded roster and baseball’s highest payroll ever.. So, what the hell went wrong???
According to Tommy Pham, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August as the team transitioned into selling mode, the root of the problem was the team’s laziness and lack of work-ethic.
Pham, who signed a one-year deal with the Mets at the start of the season, did not mince words when discussing his experiences within New York’s clubhouse.
Speaking to The Athletic, he revealed his concerns, saying: “Out of all the teams I’ve played on, this is the least-hardworking group of position players I’ve ever played with.”
Tommy Pham had some pretty tough words for the Mets position players pic.twitter.com/hKjrrJ4BA5
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 21, 2023
Pham also disclosed a candid conversation he had with star shortstop Francisco Lindor before departing for the Diamondbacks.
“I told Lindor that he needed to learn how to work hard again,” Pham stated, adding that Lindor expressed gratitude shortly before Pham’s departure.
Pham did make it clear that his comments did not apply to all Mets players, singling out Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso as exceptions.
Ironically, Pete Alonso’s name had been swirling in trade rumors for several months, casting potential doubt on his future with the team.
Nimmo, a product of the Mets farm system, signed an 8-year, $162 million deal in the offseason.
Unfortunately, the Lindor contract is looking pretty ugly right now. He’s in the middle of a crazy 10-year, $341 million deal that keeps him under contract with the team until 2031.
Ouch.
Rumors of discontent within the Mets clubhouse have been circulating throughout the season. One anonymous Met described pitcher Justin Verlander as a “diva” who appeared “detached” from the rest of the team.
Of course, Verlander was ultimately shipped back to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline.
For what it’s worth, manager Buck Showalter was asked about Pham’s comments and gave a predictable answer…
“Tommy is entitled to his opinion. What works for one player may not work for another. It’s fine. I see the work these guys put in each day,” he said.
Buck Showalter was asked about Tommy Pham's comments in The Athletic:
"Tommy is entitled to his opinion. What works for one player may not work for another. It's fine. I see the work these guys put in each day" pic.twitter.com/82aN8BZwkb
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 21, 2023
Nimmo was also asked about Pham’s comments, and his response was much more interesting…
“If this [game] was based on how hard people work there would probably be a lot more people here,” Nimmo said. “There’s definitely an amount I have done … a lot of guys. But ultimately, you have got to do whatever gets you ready for the season or for the game. And this year, the results didn’t match what we were expecting. Whether we put in a ton of hard work or we didn’t, that can all be speculated.”
“Tommy has a very valuable opinion because he has been around the league a long time. He’s seen a lot of different organizations, which a lot of us haven’t, so he definitely has a right to say his opinion on the season. But all I know is whatever you do as far as your work goes, it only matters as far as your results on the field.”
What are your thoughts on the Mets disastrous season?
What needs to be fixed in the offseason?