Season ends in big disappointment for Mets

Like so many things in everyday life this year, little went according to plan for the New York Mets.

And with a change in ownership pending, more upheaval could be coming soon.

After starting 2020 with such high hopes, the Mets finished 26-34 under rookie manager Luis Rojas in a rocky season cut short by the coronavirus. They tied Washington for last in the NL East and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year — even with the field expanded to eight teams per league.

“That’s pretty frustrating,” said ace Jacob deGrom, who delivered another stellar performance on the mound. “There’s a lot of disappointment.”

With slugger Pete Alonso powering a young corps of rising hitters, a second-half surge last year propelled New York to an 86-76 record and generated optimism. Former star Carlos Beltrán was hired as manager to replace Mickey Callaway, and the Mets set about beefing up their pitching staff in free agency.

That’s when everything went haywire.

Beltrán was let go after 2 ½ months without managing a single game because he got implicated in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal from his time as an As

tros player.

New York quickly turned to Rojas and went to spring training in February with six established starters — six All-Star selections and three Cy Young Awards between them — for five spots in what appeared to be a deep rotation.

Then the pandemic hit, and No. 2 starter Noah Syndergaard had season-ending

Tommy John surgery. Marcus Stroman was supposed to slide into that role, but he got injured in summer camp and later opted out of the season because of COVID-19 concerns. Veteran newcomers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha went a combined 2-11 in just 93 innings, and the rotation ended up in shambles.

A mediocre bullpen got taxed as the Mets compiled a 4.98 ERA that ranked 22nd in the majors and 12th in the National League.

“We let some games get

away,” deGrom lamented.

Coming off a long injury layoff, Yoenis Céspedes seemed to be a perfect fit for the new designated hitter slot in the National League. The enigmatic Céspedes played eight games, then abruptly left the team unannounced in Atlanta and opted out of the remainder of the season, also citing coronavirus concerns, according to his agent.

And that was just the beginning in a somber season marked by the death of franchise icon Tom Seaver.

In the end, the Mets stumbled backward to their ninth losing season in 12 years despite bounceback campaigns from Robinson Canó and closer Edwin Díaz.

“Our defense compromised a couple of games,” Rojas said.

New York still had a chance to sneak into the playoffs on the final weekend, but lost its last three to the Nationals.

“Not the season that we anticipated,” Rojas said. “This is a talented team.”