Steve Cohen urges fans to 'hang in there' after seeing positives in Mets' seventh straight loss

Mets owner Steve Cohen addressed the team's collapse during an active losing streak, attempting to stabilize fan sentiment amid a seven-game skid. During the streak, Cohen publicly encouraged supporters to maintain faith, stating that "the fans have been through worse" and "we will turn this around," positioning the losses as a temporary setback rather than systemic failure. His messaging emphasized patience, with quotes such as "this too will pass," suggesting management confidence in mid-season recovery despite deteriorating performance on the field.

However, Cohen's optimistic public messaging during the losing streak contrasted sharply with his assessment following the season's conclusion. The 2025 campaign ended in organizational disappointment, with the Mets finishing 83-79 after a precipitous two-month collapse. The severity of the decline becomes evident when examining the trajectory: as of July 27, just days before the trade deadline, the Mets carried a 62-44 record and had won seven consecutive games, positioning them favorably for postseason contention. Over the subsequent two months, the team deteriorated sufficiently to finish as the last team to miss the National League Wild Card, ultimately losing a tiebreaker on the final day of the regular season to the Cincinnati Reds.

In response to the season's failure, Cohen posted a formal apology to fans on social media dated September 29, 2025, taking direct responsibility for the outcome. "I owe you an apology," Cohen stated. "You did your part by showing up and supporting the team. We didn't do our part." He committed to conducting a comprehensive post-mortem analysis to identify "obvious and less obvious reasons" for the underperformance. The apology underscored the magnitude of the disappointment given the franchise's investment level: Cohen has deployed $1.13 billion in cumulative payroll since acquiring the team in November 2020, including $228.7 million in luxury tax, with a record $765 million, 15-year contract signed by outfielder Juan Soto preceding the 2025 season.

The collapse was further compounded by organizational losses heading into free agency. Franchise cornerstone Pete Alonso, the first baseman and one of the greatest players in team history, exercised his contract opt-out and entered the free agency market, representing a significant talent departure following the failed season. Cohen's dual messaging—initial fan reassurance during the losing streak followed by post-season accountability—reflects the tension between managing stakeholder expectations in real-time and confronting organizational reality once the final outcome became irreversible.