Carlos Mendoza already looks like a winner early in Mets tenure

MIAMI — These are the times that test a manager, especially a rookie manager like the Mets’ Carlos Mendoza.

Mendoza’s team is hitting a crossroads (though not much else), and he staged his first team meeting late Wednesday. The timing was sound, as it occurred before the Mets’ initial series against a Marlins team that’s barely trying.

What wasn’t so great is what followed — the season’s most lackluster, even lethargic performances to date. The worst-in-the-majors Marlins whipped the Mets start to finish. The final score Friday was as ugly as the game. Rebuilding (read: tanking) Marlins 8, transitioning Mets 0.

Whatever message Mendoza imparted didn’t get through, at least not immediately. But even as a career-long Yankee, he understands there will be days, and times, like these.

Mendoza’s Mets aren’t off to his hoped-for start at 20-24 entering Saturday, and the rookie skipper oft cited for his presence and patience instigated a big switch when he moved $341M man Francisco Lindor to the leadoff spot . Mendoza professed faith in Lindor (he takes a page out of his former Yankees boss Aaron Boone’s commitment to compliments) but admitted he needed to try “something different.” The timing seemed right again.

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By virtue of National League mediocrity beyond the big three (Dodgers, Phillies and Braves), the Mets stood only 1 ½ games out of playoff position. But it’s time to make a move, strategically and in the standings. The last-place Marlins are an opportunity that can’t be wasted.

It’s too early to make a strategy judgment on Mendoza (more on one questionable call later), but he’s proving adept at handling baseball’s ups and downs. Mendoza, according to those around the team, kept his cool when the Mets started 0-5. And he is now that they’ve lost six of eight.

“I learned a lot on the other side of town. When things get tough, you have to be consistent and stay the course and stay positive with the guys,” Mendoza told The Post. “… You have to be because the players are going to feed off you as the manager.”

He suggested his Yankees tenure prepared him; there’s no pretending the organizations are similar beyond their common area codes. The Yankees are historically star-studded and the Mets genetically star-crossed. Mendoza gets that.

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“That’s what we’re trying to change here — the culture,” he said. “Obviously, it’s going to take time. You’ve got to be patient. Because it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Mendoza’s own star seemed to rise overnight — he had three managerial interviews off the Yankees’ “disaster” of a 2023 season — and while I initially questioned the call, he appears to have the right personality and demeanor to handle what comes his way. And by the way: as Mets manager, plenty will.

One rival NL exec in a recent interview noted Mendoza’s striking presence. He commands unusual respect for a neophyte manager from a very veteran group in the big city.

“He’s been part of the grind in the fire in New York and internationally,” his former Yankees colleague Willie Randolph says. “He’s prepared, patient and a winner.”

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“Smart, tough and great people skills,” Boone added by text.

Even so, it seemed surprising that Mendoza, a guy who never sought the spotlight, was such a hot candidate that he was also considered by the Padres (who were always going in-house) and Guardians (who liked Mendoza but slightly preferred the even less experienced Stephen Vogt, who’s working out nicely).

Mendoza hasn’t made a ton of glaring tactical errors but some wondered why he pitched to Marcell Ozuna (who trails only superhuman Shohei Ohtani in most offensive categories) with the go-ahead run on second, first base open and struggling lefty hitter Michael Harris on deck, and Ozuna singled up the middle in the 4-3 Mets win last Sunday.

“You flat out can’t let Ozuna beat you there,” one NL scout said. (Mendoza said he recalls discussing it in the dugout but decided to show faith in Adam Ottavino, who’d never allowed a hit to Ozuna.)

I will admit I had questions about new Mets baseball president David Stearns’ big call to fall back on the bench coach of the underachieving 2023 Yankees — remember, it was an 82-80 “disaster” — after his old Milwaukee friend and first choice Craig Counsell probably predictably left him at the altar .

It was worth trying for the excellent Counsell even if the odds are long. Word was getting around that Counsell wanted to set a new standard for what he saw as underpaid MLB managers, and some said he and his wife liked New York even though he was managing his hometown team, which also happens to be the smallest market in the bigs. So that was worth a try.

I also get why Counsell chose the Cubs, who are 90 miles down I-94 and gave him the record $40M, five-year deal. And I get, too, why the Mets were never going to that dollar figure. Even ultra-generous Steve Cohen has his limits. It’s just as well. It turns out their second choice also looks like a winner.

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