Nico Hoerner's Cubs' heroics adds fuel to growing Mets' Carlos Mendoza problem

Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly capped off the Chicago Cubs' sweep of the New York Mets over the weekend, but also added even more fuel to the speculation that Mets manager Carlos Mendoza may be on the hot seat. The Mets have lost 11 consecutive games, and while that doesn't all fall on Mendoza, his explanation of Sunday's loss confirms that he might be a part of the problem.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was the courtesy runner and advanced to third base after a wild pitch from Craig Kimbrel. After Carson Kelly struck out, conventional wisdom suggested that Hoerner should have been walked. He's boasting a 159 wRC+ on the season, and overall, has elite bat-to-ball skills. Most importantly, he's only striking out 9.3% of the time this season.

With Crow-Armstrong on third base with only one out, it was a near certainty that Hoerner would put the ball in play and drive in the winning run. The only one who wasn't aware of that probability was Mendoza, who had a confusing explanation for why Hoerner was not intentionally walked.

"In that situation, especially with Hoerner, you put him at first base, they're going to take second base there," Mendoza told reporters after the game.

Even if Hoerner took second base on a steal attempt, his run wouldn't have mattered. The game was tied and would have been over if Crow-Armstrong scored. Hoerner on the base paths, in that moment, would have been inconsequential for the Mets.

Before Sunday's game, there were questions about how secure Mendoza's job was. The Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball through the first month of the season, and speculation has suggested that Mendoza could soon be out of a job. His decision-making on Sunday will certainly add to that speculation, and Cole Wright of Marquee Sports Network had some advice for the Mets manager.

At least the Cubs are not the Mets

For as slow a start to the season as the Cubs have had, this weekend was a reminder that it could be worse. New York has been a disaster during the opening weeks of the season, and it's hard to envision a scenario where Mendoza escapes unscathed.

This is the type of weekend the Cubs needed. They had an impressive showing against the Philadelphia Phillies last week, and had they fallen flat against the Mets at Wrigley Field, there would have been questions. Instead, they added to the rising drama of a team that was expected to be a contender this season.

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