The second half of the season was supposed to bring a reset. Instead, it brought a reality check. The Mets opened the post-All-Star slate with an 8-4 loss to the Reds, and though the numbers stung, it was the series of roster moves afterward that had fans fuming. Things had actually begun effectively with Sean Manaea striking out the side in the first inning in his Citi Field return; however, the early momentum crumbled. By the end of the night, so did the fans’ patience.
That’s when the management broke the news: “RHP Kevin Herget has been selected to the Major League roster. LHP Brandon Waddell has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.”
This declaration dropped like a lead balloon. At 34, Kevin Herget is not a powerful force in MLB call-ups; however, his return sparked quick backlash. Some fans did not see it as a tactical approach—they saw it as a recycled move from the team that is short on answers. The viral “Stop the circus” statement was not just about Herget. It was about the chaos that has come to define this team’s depth chart.
To be fair, Herget’s story is not one without merit. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, he is the definition of a grinder. From setting records at Kean University to getting the number retired and making it to five MLB teams since 2022—including the Rays, Reds, Brewers, Mets, and Braves—he has worked for every shot he has gotten. Most recently, Herget made two relief appearances this year between the Mets and the Braves, bringing a career 4.63 ERA into this stint. So yeah, Herget has earned respect. However, at this moment, fans needed something more exciting than reliable.
We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/GcBbaYoRwZ
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 19, 2025
Then, Brandon Waddell, who was optioned to Triple-A, had just pitched 76 pitches over 3.2 innings in Friday’s loss. Despite providing a good 4.00 ERA over 10 appearances, he was the odd man out. For fans, it looked like yet another knee-jerk approach in a long line of inconsistent bullpen decisions. Herget could be a steady hand; however, the Mets fans are desperate for a spark, not just stability. With every conservative approach, the force on the management builds.
However, while the front office could see Herget’s call-up as a good call, fans? The fans see it as gasoline on a growing fire.
Mets fans erupt online as familiar frustration boils over
When the Mets declared Herget’s call-up, it did not take long for the fans to hit social media. One fan concluded the collective mood perfectly: “Bro, what are we doing here? Stop the circus.” After another bullpen shuffle, such a move looked more like chaos than strategy. The Mets are not just losing games—the team is losing trust. For the team under a microscope, the optics of calling up a 34-year-old journeyman during a second-half spiral could not have landed worse.
The frustration runs deeper than just one star. Fans are sick of seeing inexperienced pitchers thrown into high-leverage positions. One fan said, “Stop with these minor leaguers on the big league club. They throw batting practice and lose us games.” The data back it up: the team has relied largely on their farm system, with prospects like Jett Williams, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean ready to make the leap. Even Zach Pop, currently added to the team, carries a troubling 13.50 ERA in his current MLB stint. Such approaches are not depth reinforcements. They are lottery tickets.
However, the revolving door does not stop there. For instance, take Brandon Waddell. Once a hopeful call-up, the star has had flashes, like his 4.1 scoreless innings in his Mets return. However, those sparks have faded quickly. In another outing, he surrendered 4 runs on 7 hits, losing the trust of fans. One fan said: “Waddell on down to the minors and never come back, please.” It is not just the losses; the fans are sick of watching the same underwhelming cycle repeat.
Then there is the Carrillo disaster. Asked to eat innings during a thin stretch, Yohansei Carrillo imploded on the Citi Field mound—three home runs, two walks, and just four outs recorded. “Get Carrillo off the team,” one fan demanded. No sugarcoating this one. A former independent league star with promise, Carrillo admitted he was “trying to do too much.” However, for fans watching from home, it looked like he was not ready at all.
Even Herget himself has not escaped the microscope. While he has earned his shot through persistence, the Mets fans pointed to his 7 walks in 15 innings in Syracuse as a red flag. One fan said: “High walk ratio is a big red flag going to MLB baseball. Also unproven as an MLB pitcher.” Sure, he has bounced around and worn five distinctive jerseys since 2022. However, at the MLB level, consistency matters more than the grind.
Credit: JEFFEREE WOO | Tampa Bay Times
The Mets’ decision to lean on journeymen and unproven stars has clearly struck a nerve with fans craving consistency and outcomes. While the management moves could look like necessary Band-Aids, the fans are asking for a real fix, not another patch.
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