The Mets’ latest wave of criticism has produced plenty of noise, but Stephen A. Smith managed to stand out for all the wrong reasons.
On First Take, Smith took aim at the Mets and argued they’re “trash” because they’re not listening to Chris Christie enough. As the clip circulated, the reaction was immediate, and the premise was simple enough to mock: if Christie is the answer, the question is pretty hard to take seriously.
Christie joined the Mets’ Board of Directors in 2021, and the source material notes that the role is “the most political position there probably is within the organization.” But even with that connection, the idea that he should be guiding the team more than anyone else is presented here as a wild reach.
Smith, who is not exactly known for deep baseball expertise, has built a reputation on loud opinions, and this one fits that mold. The question raised in the reporting is whether he actually believes the Mets would be better off listening to the former Governor of New Jersey, or whether it was just another example of him hyping up a friend with something absurd.
There is one area where Smith has stayed steady: Pete Alonso. When Alonso departed for the Orioles, Smith was critical of that move too.
The broader split among Mets fans is also part of the picture. Some will bend over backward to defend David Stearns, while others - Smith, Joe Benigno, and others mentioned in the source - are loud about being angry, even if they couldn’t name more than a few relievers from that season while claiming to watch every game.
Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the Mets will begin a search for a new general manager this winter. And if you want to stretch the joke all the way out, the source material says the next presidential election isn’t until 2028, with Christie as GM in 2027 leading to a Mets World Series as one way to win votes.
In Other News...
Sean Manaea Had A Brutally Awkward Reaction To Mets Fans
Pete Alonsos return to Citi Field came with the kind of built-in drama that only baseball can provide, and the crowd played its part. On a night when he launched his 300th career home run against the Mets, the former franchise centerpiece took a curtain call and was met with cheers from the home fans, who still seemed happy to salute one of the most recognizable hitters in recent team history.
Sean Manaea, though, didnt exactly hide how he felt about the moment. The Mets starter said the reaction was crazy, making clear he respects Alonso but wasnt comfortable with how warmly the ballpark embraced the celebration. Alonso, meanwhile, kept working the room after the blast, trading memorabilia with the fans who caught the ball and even offering tickets to games in Baltimore, another reminder that his bond with Mets supporters remains complicated in all the familiar ways. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Manager Search Just Became A Huge Offseason Gamble
The Mets managerial search has already turned into one of the more revealing decisions of the offseason, and not just because the job opened earlier than anyone in Queens expected. After the team was eliminated from postseason contention and moved on from Carlos Mendoza in June, Andy Green stepped in as the interim manager and is expected to slide back into a front office role, leaving Steve Cohen and David Stearns to sort through a search that carries real weight for how the organization wants to move forward.
The list of names being considered underscores how wide open this process may be, with reports pointing to Carlos Beltran and Albert Pujols, two prominent former players who have no Major League Baseball managerial experience. Cohen will have the final say, with Stearns involved in the decision, and the choice now feels less like a routine hire than a test of how much the Mets are willing to bet on reputation, leadership traits and projection over a conventional track record. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Players Just Weighed In On Citi Fields Pete Alonso Problem
Pete Alonsos milestone 300th career home run at Citi Field brought out a reaction few around the Mets expected. Sean Manaea and Francisco Lindor both said they were surprised, and a little frustrated, to hear a portion of the crowd cheer for the former Met in a moment that should have belonged to the visiting slugger and the home ballpark he once called his own.
Andy Green acknowledged the oddity of it, but cast the response in a broader light, saying it reflected respect for players who do something special. Still, the scene fit into a series that has already felt charged in the stands, with fans sending mixed signals throughout and even breaking into chants aimed at president David Stearns, another reminder that the mood around the club can shift fast depending on who is at the plate and whats at stake. [Read more 🡒]