Mets fall for the eleventh time in a row and internal pressure grows

CHICAGO — The New York Mets' crisis continues to deepen, and now reaches a point difficult to ignore. The New York team suffered its eleventh consecutive loss on Sunday, falling 2-1 to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, in a game that perfectly summarized their complicated present. You may be interested in: Schlittler dominates from the mound and guides the Yankees' victory over the Royals With a minimal lead in the ninth inning, closer Devin Williams couldn't secure the victory. A double by former Met Michael Conforto tied the score and sent the game into extra innings, where New York once again ran out of offensive answers. Finally, the Cubs sealed the victory with a sacrifice fly after a wild pitch by Craig Kimbrel. The 11-game losing streak equals the club's worst since 2004, and leaves the Mets on the verge of their longest losing streak in more than two decades. An unexpected scenario for a team loaded with talent and with one of the highest payrolls in Major League Baseball. "It's a difficult moment," admitted Venezuelan leader Carlos Mendoza. "When you play close games you have to be perfect, and that's very complicated. There's not much to say." During this streak, the pitching has had a high effectiveness, while the offense has also not responded. Sunday was a clear example: barely one run, the product of a solo home run by MJ Meléndez. In nine of the last 11 games, the team has not surpassed two runs. Frustration is evident within the clubhouse, although the players insist on taking responsibility. "This feeling sucks," Francisco Lindor expressed. "We are professionals and we have to find a way out of this. Nobody is hanging their head." For his part, Williams went straight to defend the coaching staff: "This is totally our responsibility. The manager doesn't bat or pitch. He puts us in a position to win, but we are not executing." The support for Mendoza was also reiterated by Lindor, who called him "our leader" and ruled out that the crisis was the product of decisions from the dugout. However, history doesn't favor the Mets. Only three teams in MLB history have managed to qualify for the postseason after an 11-game losing streak, and none have done so after losing 12 in a row. With a record of 7-15, New York shares the worst record in the league and faces an increasingly complicated scenario. Not even the eventual return of key players like Juan Soto, Jorge Polanco, and Jared Young guarantees an immediate solution. After an offseason in which the organization, led by David Stearns, made a strong bet with significant additions such as Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, and Luis Robert Jr., the contrast with the present is even more striking. "There's going to be noise here, a lot of noise," Lindor warned. "We have a great team, but that doesn't matter if we don't go out and prove it. It's a bad feeling, but we have to turn the page." April isn't over yet, but the urgency is already real in New York.