Yankees Skipper Sends Carlos Mendoza Message With Mets Job In Question

“Mendy and I keep in contact with one another,” Boone said, using his nickname for New York Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza, before the Red Sox game on Tuesday, per NJ.com’s Randy Miller. “I’ve talked to him this week.”

While the Yankees have endured a short rough stretch in the early season, the Mets have been mired in one all season. Following an offseason roster overhaul, Mendoza’s club has posted a National League worst record with issues in every unit.

With Juan Soto on the injured list, the team has struggled to score runs, including slow starts at the plate for new infielder Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette. Franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor has been caught in some surprising mental lapses. And the team has posted an MLB-low two total saves so far.

But Boone sent a message of confidence about Mendoza, who left for Queens after serving as Boone’s bench coach with the Yankees.

“He’s somebody that I think is really good at what he does and a great person,” Boone added, according to Miller. “It’s obviously tough and challenging, but he’s also cut out for it and equipped for it.”

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New York Mets’ Carlos Mendoza Could Be Fired Amid Team Struggles

But even as Boone shared his optimism, Mendoza’s job security seemed to hang in the balance. After the Mets missed the playoffs in his second season at the helm, then fired most of the coaches and swapped many of the players on its roster, there might not be anyone left in the organization to take the blame for the poor record.

“The Mets’ problems, which include $340 million shortstop Francisco Lindor playing as if he’s in an occasional daze, go far beyond Mendoza,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic. “But that’s almost always the case when a team fires its manager. And with Mendoza, the question might no longer be if but when.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com