Hour 2: Jeff Passan on the Mets Struggles

In this episode of the Bart & Carlin podcast, host Jeff Passan, ESPN senior baseball insider, joins to dissect the New York Mets' disastrous start to the 2026 season, marked by a 9-19 record and a complete offensive collapse. Passan argues that while the roster is still talented, the team lacks cohesion, leadership, and direction, with no player currently performing above replacement level. He attributes the failure to a combination of poor roster construction, mismanagement of player positions (especially defensive mismatches), and a lack of psychological resilience. The conversation turns to potential managerial changes, with Alex Cora emerging as a top candidate despite his recent firing from the Red Sox, which Passan frames as a misstep by Boston’s front office. The episode also explores the Mets’ financial constraints, the difficulty of trading star players like Francisco Lindor due to his no-trade clause, and the broader question of whether Steve Cohen will continue pouring money into a failing project. The hosts express frustration with the team’s lack of accountability and suggest that a bold move—like hiring Cora—could be the only way to rebuild morale and long-term success.