06/11/2026
The Mets returned home to Citi Field and immediately got smacked around by the Cardinals, because apparently feeling decent about this team for more than 48 hours is illegal. They did manage to salvage the finale this afternoon with a 5-4 win, so congratulations, everybody — the parade route has been downgraded from “season is over” to “still annoying, but technically breathing.”
This week on The Put it in the Books Show – S9 E10, Farace, Rodriguez, and Producer Joe break down a Mets team that continues to scream one thing louder than anything else: the strategy needs a serious revamp.
Let’s start with David Peterson. He’s been bad. Not “maybe unlucky” bad. Not “let’s look at the peripherals” bad. Just bad. Farace is ready to DFA him yesterday, Rodriguez is probably going to try to explain why that’s extreme, and Producer Joe may just hit the soundboard until the segment ends. At some point, enough is enough. This team is trying to climb back into relevance, not host open auditions for batting practice pitchers.
The injury updates are a mixed bag, because of course they are. Kodai Senga had another setback, although it appears minor. Lindor seems close, but there’s still no clean finish line. Polanco and Luis Robert Jr.? Not close. Robert is just now starting to play catch, which is great if this were March. It is not March.
But hey, Francisco Alvarez is back way earlier than expected from a torn meniscus and already homered, because apparently catchers are now healing faster than Mets relievers can find the strike zone. That’s huge. This lineup needs attitude, power, and somebody who actually looks like he enjoys big moments.
And then there’s Carson Benge, who keeps showing off the full toolbox — power, glove, arm, speed, confidence, the whole thing. The kid looks like he belongs. So here’s a wild thought: play the rookies. Build the second-half team around the young guys who are actually healthy, hungry, and giving this team a pulse. Shut down the injured players who clearly aren’t right. Stop trying to force a broken roster to act like it’s whole.
This Mets team is built more like a small-ball, pressure, speed, defense, chaos team — so maybe stop pretending it’s a lineup full of monsters waiting to hit five-run homers. Play the game your roster is built for. Build a .500 team with the kids, then sprinkle in the big names like Lindor, Soto, and Bichette when they’re actually right and ready to help.
The Braves come to town next, which is always peaceful and relaxing and never triggers Mets fans at all. After that, the Mets hit the road for Cincinnati and Philadelphia, because apparently the schedule looked at this team and said, “You know what they need? More stress.” And yes, before anyone asks, Farace is still finding a way to squeeze in a Let’s Go Knicks because the Knicks are one win from a championship and he is absolutely not emotionally stable enough to separate sports right now.
And let’s not forget the Put it in the Books Show goal: get back to .500 by the All-Star break. Right now, the Mets are still 8 games under, so there’s work to do. A lot of work. Like “stop losing series to teams you should beat” work. The goal is still possible, but it’s getting harder every time this team plays like it’s allergic to momentum.
Baseball. Sarcasm. Roster rage. Rookie optimism. Peterson slander. Braves hate. A random Let’s Go Knicks. And one very simple message:
Play the kids. Get healthy. Get to .500. Stop making us insane.
LGM.
