“We’ll piece it together.” It is very optimistic of Carlos Mendoza to feel so, especially after Wednesday’s 3-10 loss to the Chicago Cubs. In allowing at least five runs for the second time in the last three starts, Jonah Tong has made the idea of trusting him again this season a risky one. On the other hand, the Mets already hesitate to rely on Kodai Senga, and Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea aren’t expected to be available until Saturday. Rather than strengthening their starting rotation last offseason, David Stearns went for Juan Soto. Given the cavalcade of physical and mental mistakes, the Mets probably know they are unfit for October.

Wednesday’s 3-10 loss to the Chicago Cubs would’ve stung more. However, the Cincinnati Reds also surrendered to the Pirates. For the Mets, that meant no worse than a tie for the last NL berth. You already know by now that they don’t retain control of their density anymore. It all depends on whether the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers or not.

Neither the $340 million roster nor Mendoza nor the training staff is the one being held responsible. It’s David Stearns. He recently admitted, “If I had known how our season would develop, I absolutely would have made different decisions.” Rightfully so. Because not just fans, but analysts like Josue De Jesus also called out Stearns for his poor roster decisions.

De Jesus believes this late-season slump is apparently a consequence of Stearns’ “flawed roster construction.” Delivering him a wake-up call, De Jesus also noted in the Rising Apple column, “As the Mets stumble towards the finish line, this painful collapse must serve as a glaring wake-up call for President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.” These same sentiments are also echoed by fans. They are increasingly demanding Stearns’ firing from the Mets’ organization.

After all, his $765 million acquisition cost the Mets two runs with a misplay in right field, among other errors. Although both Soto and Francisco Alvarez homered on Wednesday, the team still fell for the seventh time after allowing 10 or more runs this season. Be it offense or their pitching staff, all have been inconsistent, and the blame has swiftly landed on Stearns.

Fans blast David Stearns for Mets’ woes

After another disastrous outing that left the team looking more vulnerable than ever, the target of Metsies’ frustration is none other than David Stearns. A lot of fans highlighted how a young pitcher is being forced to carry the weight of a poorly managed roster by David Stearns. “Can’t even be mad at Jonah Tong; he’s just not ready. He was put in this position because David Stearns completely fucked this team over in the offseason,” a fan noted. Apparently, Tong, who is only 22 and new to the big leagues, isn’t entirely ready for postseason. The team had already parted ways with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer during the 2023 season. Now, when they had a chance in 2024, they overlooked strengthening their starting rotation.

Another fan was even more blunt, but at the same time, it was called out by many. “I know it’s not going to happen and I’m not sure I’d want it to happen but what David Stearns did to the pitching is a 100% fireable offense. This is absolutely brutal,” the fan stated. Metsies blindly believed in David Stearns, especially for his work with the Milwaukee Brewers. When he signed a five-year $50 million deal with the Mets after the 2023 season, nobody could’ve imagined the roster would dismantle while we’re 4 games away from the regular season ending.

That’s why fans are calling for his firing. However, Stearns deal doesn’t come with an opt out so it’s unlikely that he’ll be gone after this season. “David Stearns has literally whiffed on every single move he made other than Soto since the end of last season. I am infuriated that Jonah Tong is being forced into this situation. Peterson, Manaea, Senga, and Holmes. None of them could show up?” contended a concerned Mets fan. At the expense of strengthening the rest of the roster, particularly the pitching rotation, the Mets were battling against the Yankees for Juan Soto. This decision of Stearns has drawn mixed reviews since Soto moved to Queens.

And right now, the load is heavy on Tong. Largely because Holmes and Manaea pitched on two days’ rest and will not be back until Saturday. On the other hand, starter David Peterson is expected to join the bullpen after struggling mightily in the second half. So naturally, it leaves Tong alone to carry the rotation.

Another one took a shot straight at the Mets organization. “Your rotation sucks. So does the bottom of your lineup. Thanks to the boy genius David Stearns. You’re not ‘better than that’; this is the team. And it’s not good enough,” the fan declared. Calls for Stearns’ axing appear unstoppable until the Mets can turn things around.

Even after 2025, the Mets are likely to stick with Steaens for the 2026 MLB season as well. “The day that David Stearns gets fired will be the greatest day in Mets history,” another fan noted. Even if the Mets miss the playoffs, he will be expected to work on a better roster in the next season. But his firing is very unlikely given that there is no opt-out option on his contract.