New York Mets supporters expressed profound frustration with manager Carlos Mendoza following his decision to largely bench the team’s recent trade deadline acquisitions during a critical game on Friday night.

Despite the Mets actively pursuing and acquiring significant talent at the recent action-packed trade deadline, the much-anticipated influx of new players was conspicuously absent from the field for the majority of the team’s contest against the Giants.

The Mets had strategically bolstered their roster, notably acquiring veteran closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for shortstop Jesus Baez and pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt. Additionally, they addressed a critical need in center field by trading for Baltimore Orioles veteran Cedric Mullins, signaling a clear intent to strengthen the team.

Given the abundance of newly acquired “weapons” at his disposal, manager Carlos Mendoza’s choice to not deploy any of these fresh talents for the bulk of Friday’s narrow 4-3 loss to the Giants bewildered many. This tactical decision quickly drew criticism from the fan base.

It wasn’t long before the repercussions of Mendoza’s conservative approach became evident, leading to widespread regret among the team’s loyal followers. The outcome of the game further fueled the growing discontent regarding the usage of the new players.

Disgruntled Mets fans quickly took to social media platforms, particularly X, to voice their profound disappointment and question the manager’s hesitancy. One user pointed out the irony, stating, “Starting Taylor and using Stanek in a close game in the 7th after your team just acquired Mullins, Rogers and Helsley is kinda funny,” highlighting the perceived missteps.

Eventually, Carlos Mendoza did integrate some of the trade deadline haul into the game, with Helsley making an appearance in the ninth inning after New York managed to tie the score at three runs apiece. However, this late introduction did little to quell the fan frustration that had already set in.

The evening culminated with Mendoza replacing Taylor with Mullins in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, offering a pinch-hitting opportunity. Unfortunately for Mets fans and the team, Mullins could only manage a weak infield pop-up, leaving many to wonder what might have been if the new players had been utilized earlier in the MLB game.

This incident has ignited a significant debate among the Baseball community regarding managerial strategy and player integration, putting Mendoza’s decisions under intense scrutiny.