No matter how bad matters got last season — and the final 3 ¹/₂ months were a slow-motion car crash — Carlos Mendoza enjoyed the certainty of writing four names atop his lineup day after relentless day.

It was the headache-free portion of what was a 14-week migraine — Francisco Lindor at short, Juan Soto in right, Pete Alonso at first and Brandon Nimmo in left. Death, taxes and those four on the field. From 2022-25, Alonso, Lindor and Soto ranked 2-3-4 in games played and Nimmo was 16th — and each played at least 155 games last season.

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Nimmo was traded and Alonso exited in free agency, but at least the Mets still had two pillars left, twin tentpoles for David Stearns to refurbish a roster around and Mendoza to create a daily lineup.

Except, no.