Stephen A. Smith has figured out the crux of the New York Mets’ issues.
The Mets are batting .238 as a team and have a 4.16 ERA as a pitching staff and the team, with one of the biggest payrolls in baseball at $344 million, has already been eliminated from the postseason.
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A fan holds up a sign during the 11th inning of a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Where the problem lies is anyone’s guess. It definitely didn’t help that the team let Pete Alonso walk to the Baltimore Orioles and he turned around and burned them on Tuesday night.
Smith gave his take on ESPN’s “First Take” on Wednesday morning and put the onus on president of baseball operations David Stearns for his roster construction. But, Smith added that the team isn’t listening to one key person – former Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Well, you’re probably asking what Christie has to do with the Mets.
Christie is on the Mets’ Board of Directors. He said in a press release at the time he’s been a Mets fan for 53 years and has close ties with team owner Steve Cohen.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on from the field before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Oct. 17, 2024, in New York City. (Getty Images)
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“You’ve been a baseball abomination. (David) Stearns needs to be gone. (Steve) Cohen – he should be ashamed for the job that he’s done,” he said. “And former Gov. Chris Christie, who consults for the New York Mets, I really, really think you should strongly consider disassociating yourself with the New York Mets because they’re horrible. 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’s unclear if Christie would be using a different formula than Stearns to make the critical decisions. Nonetheless, Stearns was touted as a great baseball mind for helping turn the Milwaukee Brewers around.
He has not found the same success with the Mets so far. New York made the playoffs in 2024 but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. The last two seasons, the Mets have missed the playoffs.
“… They stink. Period. Shut up. Play better baseball,” Smith added. “And Steve Cohen, fire your director of baseball operations and pay attention to the hard-working New York Mets fan base that spends their money patronizing their product. You have robbed them the last year and a half of a product. You stink, period!”
New York Mets’ Carson Benge gestures while rounding the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
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Whatever the formula is, the Mets haven’t found it in quite some time. They made the high-profile moves to capture the audience but the product hasn’t resonated on the field.