FAILED

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Tuesday was another night at the office for the New York Mets, who lost 9-6 to the Chicago Cubs. For the Mets this is their third consecutive defeat after dropping the final two games in Philly over the weekend. In those three games the Mets have been outscored 30-11 and now sit 10 games under .500. 

Prior to the game Mets President David Stearns spoke to the media, as he does prior to every homestand. The most telling thing Stearns said was on the trade deadline and he said “I think we’re going to continue to give this team time to prove we can get back in this.” With Francisco Lindor on the way back, Stearns wants to give the team he put together a chance to fight back in the Wild Card race (they’re not catching the Braves). I know a lot of people have discussed the thought of letting Stearns go with what has transpired. How many of David Stearns moves since he took over have worked? The answer might just be Juan Soto and let’s be honest here, that was more about Steve Cohen’s checkbook. 

Two years ago the Mets were two wins away from going to the World Series, and now they have the third worst record in the National League and yet are only seven out in the Wild Card. Now, if you’re a fool like myself you say there’s a lot of baseball left, only to have these guys break your heart. 

I’m an optimist at heart and wanted to believe in this team. But David Stearns failed in one particular area, I’m not sure he realizes: there’s no connection with the fans. Look at what the Knick parade looked like, and you saw what they did over the course of the playoffs. Now, you look at the Mets and it’s just such a difference between watching a team and watching a collection of individuals. I’m not going to yell about Ewing, Benge, McLean and the young guys. Stearns gambled and thought a contact lineup was the way to go and that’s why he let Pete Alonso walk away, and he wanted to go Moneyball and play Polanco, Vientos and Bichette to basically combine to have Alonso’s numbers. Well, outside of this recent hot stretch for Bichette, that’s been a failure. Vientos is an absolute change of scenery candidate and Polanco has been as productive as me in the Met lineup. 

David Stearns better hope that Lindor can get hot like he did in 2024, or if the Mets continue to freefall what happens? Or has Stearns been given a heads up that he’s safe? Either way if the Mets are at home in October and right now there’s a good chance of that and Alonso is raking for the Orioles, David Stearns gamble will have failed. And even if he’s back next season, his clock is ticking.