The New York Mets are off to a historically rough start in 2026, sitting at an MLB-worst 10-21 record despite boasting the second-highest payroll in the league. It's been a frustrating stretch for a team with sky-high expectations, and the tension boiled over during Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

In the top of the fourth inning, with the Angels leading 3-0, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez struck out swinging. Frustrated, he slammed his bat over his knee—but instead of snapping cleanly like you'd see in a highlight reel, the bat held firm. Alvarez then accidentally smacked himself in the helmet with it as he trudged back to the dugout, a moment that perfectly captured the Mets' season so far.

Mets color commentator Todd Zeile, filling in for a recovering Keith Hernandez alongside Gary Cohen, couldn't resist a wry observation. "You see him trying to break that over his knee," Zeile said. "That's not going to feel too good. Can't even break the bat correctly right now. Jeez."

It's a telling sign of the team's struggles when even the broadcast booth is getting in on the commentary. The Mets have looked out of sync in every phase of the game, and a moment like Alvarez's botched bat break feels like a metaphor for the entire season to this point.

But in a surprising twist, the Mets managed to rally back from that 3-0 deficit and secure a 4-3 road win over the Angels. That said, the Angels are tied with the Houston Astros for the second-worst record in MLB at 12-21, just half a game ahead of the Mets (11-21 after the win). For a team desperate to turn things around, any victory is a welcome one—even if it comes against an equally struggling opponent.