Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Mets, Suggests They Should Listen to Chris Christie
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith called the New York Mets 'trash' and suggested that their struggles stem from not heeding advice from board member Chris Christie.
Stephen A. Smith, the ESPN analyst, has voiced strong criticism regarding the New York Mets' performance, attributing their struggles to a failure to listen to advice from board member Chris Christie. Smith stated on ESPN's "First Take" that the team is a "baseball abomination" and suggested that President of Baseball Operations David Stearns should be removed.
"Steve Cohen – he should be ashamed for the job that he’s done," Smith 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."
Christie, a long-time Mets fan and a friend of team owner Steve Cohen, joined the Mets' Board of Directors. Despite Stearns' prior success with the Milwaukee Brewers, his tenure with the Mets has not yielded the desired results. The team, which possesses one of the highest payrolls in baseball at $344 million, has already been eliminated from postseason contention. As of the current season, the Mets are batting .238 as a team with a 4.16 ERA for their pitching staff.
Smith further elaborated on his frustration, stating, "They stink. Period. Shut up. Play better baseball. 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!"
The Mets' performance has been a significant disappointment, particularly after reaching the playoffs in 2024 and losing in the National League Championship Series. The subsequent two seasons have seen the team miss the playoffs entirely. The team's struggles have continued despite high-profile moves, with the on-field product failing to meet expectations.
