Overview
- On Wednesday Stephen A. Smith delivered a blistering segment on ESPN’s First Take in which he called the New York Mets “trash,” urged the firing of president of baseball operations David Stearns, said the team was not listening to consultant Chris Christie, and walked off the set.
- The rant followed an emotional scene at Citi Field when former Met Pete Alonso, now with the Baltimore Orioles, hit the 300th home run of his career and received a curtain call that many fans used to register displeasure with the front office.
- The Mets have underperformed relative to resources this season, batting .238 as a team with a 4.16 ERA and carrying a reported payroll of about $344 million while being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
- Commentators across outlets framed the Alonso curtain call and Smith’s theatrics as visible signs of fan backlash and concentrated criticism of roster construction and Stearns’s decision not to retain Alonso long-term.
- The public spectacle increases pressure on owner Steve Cohen to respond to calls for leadership change and could shape offseason personnel reviews or front-office decisions before the 2027 season.