The New York Mets are in a tough spot, but there's no panic button being pushed just yet. As injuries pile up and key offseason additions struggle to find their rhythm, the team's leadership is sticking to the playbook—literally.

On Tuesday afternoon, infielder Jorge Polanco was taking batting practice at Citi Field, launching line drives toward the 408-foot mark in center field. It was a promising sight, but it came with a catch: Polanco hasn't been in the starting lineup since April 14 due to bursitis in his left Achilles tendon. Some days, the pain subsides enough for him to show off his swing. Other days, it doesn't. And until he's fully healthy, the Mets are following the medical protocol to the letter.

"Right now, we're following the protocols laid out by the physicians who are experts in that, and they have not recommended a complete shutdown," president of baseball operations David Stearns said. "So we're still following the protocol."

That cautious approach mirrors the Mets' overall strategy as they navigate a disappointing start to the 2026 season. Nearly a quarter of the way through the schedule, New York finds itself in last place, but Stearns isn't ready to hit the reset button. On good days, when the top of the rotation delivers and the lineup clicks, you can almost see the makings of a contender—especially with injured players like Polanco potentially returning. On bad days, though, the lineup looks thin, and an unconventional bullpen turns small deficits into insurmountable leads.

For now, the Mets are choosing patience over panic. "I don't think sitting here in the middle of May, I'm going to do a post-mortem on our season," Stearns said. "We still have confidence in our team and we're still going to support this group and do everything we can to have a successful season."

Stearns also confirmed that manager Carlos Mendoza's job is safe for the time being, praising him for doing "a really good job" without committing to a long-term guarantee. It's a delicate balance—staying the course while the season hangs in the balance. But for a team that's betting on health and consistency to turn things around, there's only one option: follow the plan and hope the pieces eventually fall into place.