OT: Mets 2026 Season Thread

Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
30,513
22,416
113
Read the Bill Madden article on the Mets!

It is damning about Stearns !

Key points:

1)- Stearns needs to be fired asap !
2) - Clubhouse is a disaster !
3)- Stearns doesn’t consult wjth scouts / minor league managers.
4)- Thinks he’s a Know it all.
5)- Team has only 1 minor league potential productive player : AJ Ewing.
6)- Stearns only relies on analytics.
7)- Stearns Has no feel for the game.
8)- Team has no gamers. All were traded away / not resigned a la Pete / Nimmo / McNeil for injured players ( Robert / Polanco) and a finished player ( Semien)
9)- All of baseball is laughing at Stearns.

Basically organization is a disaster !

All what’s been discussed by mostly everyone on this thread !
I take away one point from all this. A combination of 3, 4, 6, and 7. IF IT IS TRUE that Stearns is not using all the sources of information available to him, that's a problem.

My thoughts on his other key points:

1) I need to win the Powerball ASAP. There's a better chance of that happening than of Stearns being fired anytime soon.

2) After losing 17 of 20, I would not expect the clubhouse to be all sweetness and light. In fact I would be concerned if it were! Perhaps Madden thinks good clubhouse chemistry leads to winning. I think it's the other way around.

5) A whole lot of baseball experts disagree with Madden on that one. Maybe HE thinks he's a know it all?

8) I hate the "gamer" cliche. I have no idea what it means in the context of baseball. (In other sports, it's often a euphemism for a lazy practice player.) Is he saying that Juan Soto is not a gamer?

9) Unless you are a member of the Stearns family, why would you care?
 
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Zak57

Heisman
Jul 5, 2011
11,169
11,272
113
I take away one point from all this. A combination of 3, 4, 6, and 7. IF IT IS TRUE that Stearns is not using all the sources of information available to him, that's a problem.

My thoughts on his other key points:

1) I need to win the Powerball ASAP. There's a better chance of that happening than of Stearns being fired anytime soon.

2) After losing 17 of 20, I would not expect the clubhouse to be all sweetness and light. In fact I would be concerned if it were! Perhaps Madden thinks good clubhouse chemistry leads to winning. I think it's the other way around.

5) A whole lot of baseball experts disagree with Madden on that one. Maybe HE thinks he's a know it all?

8) I hate the "gamer" cliche. I have no idea what it means in the context of baseball. (In other sports, it's often a euphemism for a lazy practice player.) Is he saying that Juan Soto is not a gamer?

9) Unless you are a member of the Stearns family, why would you care?
They're not true because Stearns has said otherwise publicly many times.
 

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
44,205
14,212
93
You know this how?
Geee… I know there’s a lot of you board police out there who tips on anyone who has a different opinion. But I thought I was safe if I talking about the Mets instead of your Saint I’d figure since most of you clown on the Mets.

Go figure.
 

RUBob75

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
1,006
1,196
113
Geee… I know there’s a lot of you board police out there who tips on anyone who has a different opinion. But I thought I was safe if I talking about the Mets instead of your Saint I’d figure since most of you clown on the Mets.

Go figure.
You stated something as if it were fact! I guess it was just an opinion. You are certainly entitled to it!
 

Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
30,513
22,416
113
Game time 5:40 tonight. Brazoban will be the opener, Peterson to follow. Soto will lead off, Bichette hitting second.
 

rurahrah000

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2010
3,313
2,260
88
This team is flat out horrendous. A guy that no one has ever heard of is no-hitting the Mets and has thrown only 48 pitches through 5 innings.
 

RuBird

Heisman
Jun 28, 2001
18,801
24,043
113
Season may be over but still rooting for certain players. Love what we are seeing from Benge and Scott
 
Jan 10, 2026
360
313
63
Benge 💣
The numerous injuries let him to hang around and maybe just long enough to get him going. playing some great defense may have relaxed him at the plate

9 INCHES OF SNOW forecasted for Tuesday into Wednesday 😳
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,921
86,925
113
Season may be over but still rooting for certain players. Love what we are seeing from Benge and Scott
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,921
86,925
113
OK… 3 out of last 4 over teams they should beat.

Baby steps.
History is not on their side, but Mets are 3-1 in May:

2024Houston Astros7-18 through 2588-73Won AL West
2001Oakland Athletics8-17 through 25102-60AL Wild Card
2015Texas Rangers9-16 through 2588-74Won AL West
2006Minnesota Twins9-16 through 2596-66Won AL Central
2006San Diego Padres10-15 through 2588-74Won NL West
2007Colorado Rockies10-15 through 2590-73NL Wild Card (Rocktober)
2009Colorado Rockies10-15 through 2592-70NL Wild Card
2014Pittsburgh Pirates10-15 through 2588-74NL Wild Card

Two patterns jump out here. Almost every team on this list had an established veteran core that everyone in the league knew was good.

Ya gotta Believe!
Or is that Bereave? :confused:

 
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yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
History is not on their side, but Mets are 3-1 in May:

2024Houston Astros7-18 through 2588-73Won AL West
2001Oakland Athletics8-17 through 25102-60AL Wild Card
2015Texas Rangers9-16 through 2588-74Won AL West
2006Minnesota Twins9-16 through 2596-66Won AL Central
2006San Diego Padres10-15 through 2588-74Won NL West
2007Colorado Rockies10-15 through 2590-73NL Wild Card (Rocktober)
2009Colorado Rockies10-15 through 2592-70NL Wild Card
2014Pittsburgh Pirates10-15 through 2588-74NL Wild Card

Two patterns jump out here. Almost every team on this list had an established veteran core that everyone in the league knew was good.

Ya gotta Believe!
Or is that Bereave? :confused:

So- you are saying it hasn't happened in a decade
 

Zak57

Heisman
Jul 5, 2011
11,169
11,272
113
Plenty of time left for a turn around. Getting some of the players back from injury will help but still need to close some ground while they're out. Heck we just saw it 2 years ago and that was I believe 10+ games under .500 in June.
 
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RUforJERSEY

Heisman
Jul 29, 2001
24,868
10,069
113
Still just casually following from a distance. Meaning I will check the scores periodically and view highlights of wins. I would start watching again should they climb their way back to .500. But for now the NBA playoffs are my sports viewing.
 
Last edited:

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
So- back to this Met's disaster...
Bichette is the one guy who I think will catch on fire over the warmer weather- he will end up around .290 with maybe 20 HR and 85 RBI. But he will get clutch hits. But, that is not worth $42 million
Robert Jr - started hot, got cold, got injured. Defense is not gold glove. But, we gave up nothing for him
Polanco - Paid a sh - load of money , wasn't hitting and does not have a position and injured - complete disaster
Semien- paying him more than Nimmo per year and he just sucks. Disaster
Peralta- Solid signing but not an Ace.
Williams and Weaver have been very bad

I guess it may be a good thing most of these guys will not be here in 2027 so Stearns can have another year to continue his magic.

Didn't do anything with Peterson or Senga while they had even a little trade value.

Still stuck paying Manaea and Montas

Paying a big chunk of McNeil's salary to hit .300 somewhere else
Paying a good chunk of cash for Nimmo to be a star in Texas
Didn't want Alonso because he couldn't field. And we didn't get a 1B to replace him- he has made some spectacular plays in Balt and his bat is starting to pick up
Diaz- who knows with his injury but over the next few years- he will be worth the money to LA
And then- when trying to find a backup OF/Leader type/bat - he doesn't give Marte a look. Everyone on the team last year said Marte was the true captain of the team. And he is playing well in this type of role in KC

Mendoza sucks and I bet the right offer could be made to Cora...or, do what is right and bring in Beltran

The minor leagues- Stearns strong point- He is lucky McLean was already here. But we have no idea how any of the other pitchers are going to do at the major league level.
Benge is a great fielder and finally starting to hit. But what else do we really have left now- Ewing and Pena?

But the cockiness of the owner and President of the Met's saw their 3 million attendance and decided not to offer later season game single tickets to be sold as they expected their brilliance to be so successful- they could go to dynamic pricing and gouge their fans into the summer and fall- now, they are playing to empty seats.

We are no longer 10% into this season- we are pushing 1/4 of the way done.

And there is no clear path to rebuilding this. As I have said before- Stearns is Ash part 2.
 

Toddwills00

Senior
Nov 14, 2013
779
773
93
So- back to this Met's disaster...
Bichette is the one guy who I think will catch on fire over the warmer weather- he will end up around .290 with maybe 20 HR and 85 RBI. But he will get clutch hits. But, that is not worth $42 million
Robert Jr - started hot, got cold, got injured. Defense is not gold glove. But, we gave up nothing for him
Polanco - Paid a sh - load of money , wasn't hitting and does not have a position and injured - complete disaster
Semien- paying him more than Nimmo per year and he just sucks. Disaster
Peralta- Solid signing but not an Ace.
Williams and Weaver have been very bad

I guess it may be a good thing most of these guys will not be here in 2027 so Stearns can have another year to continue his magic.

Didn't do anything with Peterson or Senga while they had even a little trade value.

Still stuck paying Manaea and Montas

Paying a big chunk of McNeil's salary to hit .300 somewhere else
Paying a good chunk of cash for Nimmo to be a star in Texas
Didn't want Alonso because he couldn't field. And we didn't get a 1B to replace him- he has made some spectacular plays in Balt and his bat is starting to pick up
Diaz- who knows with his injury but over the next few years- he will be worth the money to LA
And then- when trying to find a backup OF/Leader type/bat - he doesn't give Marte a look. Everyone on the team last year said Marte was the true captain of the team. And he is playing well in this type of role in KC

Mendoza sucks and I bet the right offer could be made to Cora...or, do what is right and bring in Beltran

The minor leagues- Stearns strong point- He is lucky McLean was already here. But we have no idea how any of the other pitchers are going to do at the major league level.
Benge is a great fielder and finally starting to hit. But what else do we really have left now- Ewing and Pena?

But the cockiness of the owner and President of the Met's saw their 3 million attendance and decided not to offer later season game single tickets to be sold as they expected their brilliance to be so successful- they could go to dynamic pricing and gouge their fans into the summer and fall- now, they are playing to empty seats.

We are no longer 10% into this season- we are pushing 1/4 of the way done.

And there is no clear path to rebuilding this. As I have said before- Stearns is Ash part 2.
You must be fun at parties.
 

Kbe4

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
580
553
93
I did some research on this, and have confirmed that you are correct! Thanks for this valuable information. Not sure why people say you are a troll. ;)
Thanks. Not sure why you would think I'd care what some posters here think about me. Especially Mets fans.
I've been going at it with fans of the Amazins since 1962. There are some who are actually okay, but most are either incredibly dumb or their perspective on baseball has been warped by a huge inferiority complex in regards to the Bronx Bombers.
The start to this season must be particularly rough for them. :cool:
 
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yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
Thanks. Not sure why you would think I'd care what some posters here think about me. Especially Mets fans.
I've been going at it with fans of the Amazins since 1962. There are some who are actually okay, but most are either incredibly dumb or their perspective on baseball has been warped by a huge inferiority complex in regards to the Bronx Bombers.
The start to this season must be particularly rough for them. :cool:
not sure most know that you bust the balls of both Met and Yankee fans equally. The only problem is that you tend to hide when either team is doing well. which is why you aren't busting the Yankee fans yet.
 

Kbe4

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
580
553
93
not sure most know that you bust the balls of both Met and Yankee fans equally. The only problem is that you tend to hide when either team is doing well. which is why you aren't busting the Yankee fans yet.
Why would I bust the balls of Yankees fans ? I have been a diehard Yankees fan since I was a kid and Mantle and Maris were chasing Babe Ruth's home run record in 1961.
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
Why would I bust the balls of Yankees fans ? I have been a diehard Yankees fan since I was a kid and Mantle and Maris were chasing Babe Ruth's home run record in 1961.
at times when they were playing poorly over the past couple of years- you just couldnt help yourself...lol But I think over there- you were really just trying to get under the feathers of just a couple of posters.
 

Toddwills00

Senior
Nov 14, 2013
779
773
93
very fun at parties- just not at 2026 Met's watch parties with people that still think Stearns is brilliantI
very fun at parties- just not at 2026 Met's watch parties with people that still think Stearns is brilliant
Hey look at this time your points are valid but you have been pounding this drum since January I understand you don't like Stearns and think he has done an awful job. But there is a faint sign of a pulse here; Benge, Vientos and Baty have all been better we have a won a few games enjoy it for however short lived it may last. It sounds like nothing will change until atleast the offseason.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,921
86,925
113
Bring in Wally, lol

Rough count, 32 F-bombs in 106 seconds-that's about 1 F-bomb every 3 seconds.
Have been around prolific F-bombers in my time, but Wally is next level.

Not sure if this is the same season, from Wikipedia:
The Peanuts won their league with a 59–28 record and went on to win the league championship that season.

Backman went on to lead the Cyclones to a league-best 51–24 record, winning the McNamara Division of the New York–Penn League by 12 games. The Cyclones were ultimately swept by the Tri-City ValleyCats in the league championship series.

In Backman's first season in Binghamton, the club had a 65–76 record.

In 2013, Backman managed the Mets' new Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s, leading the team to an 81–63 record and winning the Pacific Coast League's Pacific South Division title.

In 2017, Backman signed on as manager of the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[20] On May 19, 2017, 42 games into the season, Backman was fired

On November 28, 2018, Backman was announced as the new manager of the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks for the 2019 season. He mutually agreed with the Ducks to part ways at the completion of the 2023 season.


This bio reads like Jake Taylor in the movie Major League.
 
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yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
Hey look at this time your points are valid but you have been pounding this drum since January I understand you don't like Stearns and think he has done an awful job. But there is a faint sign of a pulse here; Benge, Vientos and Baty have all been better we have a won a few games enjoy it for however short lived it may last. It sounds like nothing will change until atleast the offseason.
Yes- I have beating the drum for a while- mostly to hear how he has a plan and he has proven himself at Milwaukee. Then, we are barely 10% into the season, dont worry.

I kept repeating that I will give him some time and hope he proves me wrong...at this point, a heart beat from a couple of players is not something to hang a hat on.

I could, if I saw a path to right this. But the man did not put together a team to be a team. He just grabbed whatever pieces he could find regardless of the real team needs.

And the fact he is just sticking with Mendoza smells like he just isn't willing to admit he made a mistake.
 

LeapinLou

All-American
Jul 24, 2001
13,235
6,972
113
I prefer YouTubeTV to Hulu for live television. But YouTubeTV doesn't have SNY. So I usually do 6 months of YouTubeTV and then switch to Hulu for baseball season.

So far, I haven't switched over yet. Barring a swift climb to .500, it's probably not happening this year.

Between NIL ruining college sports and what's happened to the Mets, my interest in sports as a form of entertainment has taken a hit.
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,983
6,939
113
Rough count, 32 F-bombs in 106 seconds-that's about 1 F-bomb every 3 seconds.
Have been around prolific F-bombers in my time, but Wally is next level.

Not sure if this is the same season, from Wikipedia:
The Peanuts won their league with a 59–28 record and went on to win the league championship that season.

Backman went on to lead the Cyclones to a league-best 51–24 record, winning the McNamara Division of the New York–Penn League by 12 games. The Cyclones were ultimately swept by the Tri-City ValleyCats in the league championship series.

In Backman's first season in Binghamton, the club had a 65–76 record.

In 2013, Backman managed the Mets' new Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s, leading the team to an 81–63 record and winning the Pacific Coast League's Pacific South Division title.

In 2017, Backman signed on as manager of the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[20] On May 19, 2017, 42 games into the season, Backman was fired

On November 28, 2018, Backman was announced as the new manager of the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks for the 2019 season. He mutually agreed with the Ducks to part ways at the completion of the 2023 season.


This bio reads like Jake Taylor in the movie Major League.
Yeah, but he won most everywhere he went, including with the Ducks. I'd take that guy in a second just for the pure enterntainment value, though that is also the reason he'd never got a big league job (well, that and the thing with his wife).

By the way, I loved that video. After that speech, I'd run through a wall.

This video is even better. There's so much awesomeness in it. The best may be, "Let's go have a beer doc," at the end:

 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,921
86,925
113
Yeah, but he won most everywhere he went, including with the Ducks. I'd take that guy in a second just for the pure enterntainment value, though that is also the reason he'd never got a big league job (well, that and the thing with his wife).

By the way, I loved that video. After that speech, I'd run through a wall.

This video is even better. There's so much awesomeness in it. The best may be, "Let's go have a beer doc," at the end:


Love the kicking dirt over home plate move.
 

Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
30,513
22,416
113
Yeah, but he won most everywhere he went, including with the Ducks. I'd take that guy in a second just for the pure enterntainment value, though that is also the reason he'd never got a big league job (well, that and the thing with his wife).

By the way, I loved that video. After that speech, I'd run through a wall.

This video is even better. There's so much awesomeness in it. The best may be, "Let's go have a beer doc," at the end:


I prefer that the players provide the entertainment, not a has-been (or should I say never-was) like Backman.

Yeah, his act would play really well with the likes of Soto, Lindor, and Manaea.
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,447
38,192
113
I prefer that the players provide the entertainment, not a has-been (or should I say never-was) like Backman.

Yeah, his act would play really well with the likes of Soto, Lindor, and Manaea.
Never was? Interesting - and you are a Met's fan? .275 ave .345 OBP consistent 30 SB and just played baseball hard and fundamental. Obvious personal issues but this is the type of player that usually does great as a manager. I would take him any day at 2B as a player.