Mets President Acknowledges Team’s Struggles After Disappointing Season
The president of the Mets, David Stearns, has taken responsibility for the team’s poor performance after they failed to make the playoffs. He spoke candidly, stating, “I’m the architect of the team,” during a recent press interaction.
This season, the Mets had a hefty payroll of $340 million, yet fell short, particularly highlighted by their loss to the Marlins. It’s a familiar theme, as the franchise has had only a couple of playoff bursts over the last few decades.
After an impressive start earlier this season, with a record of 38-55 by June 13th, the team has seen one of the most significant collapses in MLB. Last year, they reached Game 6 of the NLCS, but this year’s challenges highlight the difficulties faced by the franchise, especially in maintaining consistency.
Stearns, who is in the second year of his tenure, remarked that he shares the frustration of the fans and aims to improve in the future. He pointed to issues in roster construction, particularly in pitching and defense, which contributed to the team finishing 83-79 overall.
This season, their pitching staff recorded a 4.03 ERA, ranking 18th in the majors—a stark contrast to last year’s performance and expectations.
After the All-Star break, the team struggled on the mound, especially players like Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. Stearns reflected, saying, “We didn’t do enough to strengthen our team when we were injured. Our defense wasn’t sufficient and played a role in our pitching dilemmas.”
The Mets had a few standout players, with three hitting 30 home runs. Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor combined for 122 homers, yet it wasn’t enough to fill gaps, particularly at the season’s start. Despite strong individual performances, scoring remained a challenge.
“We had a lot of players who had really good years, yet we didn’t manage to score enough,” he noted, adding that changes are needed to achieve better outcomes moving forward.
Stearns addressed recent trades and acquisitions, noting that while some moves didn’t pan out, others provided valuable contributions. However, he also expressed that he wouldn’t regret not making more aggressive moves during the trade deadline, indicating that the fanbase might have been upset had those trades occurred.
Looking ahead, he mentioned promising prospects like Nolan McLean and Jonah Tann, indicating a focus on future growth.
In closing, Stearns conveyed confidence in the team’s potential, emphasizing that they are developing good pitchers and will continue to focus on improving the roster as they advance into the offseason.
