Stephen A. Smith criticizes New York Mets after another disappointing season

Stephen A. Smith publicly lambasted the New York Mets during ESPN's First Take on September 16, 2026. His criticism follows the Mets' confirmation of yet another season without postseason baseball and comes shortly after former star Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run against them at Citi Field. Smith claimed the team's struggles stem from not heeding advice from board member and consultant Chris Christie. He expressed frustration over the Mets' significant payroll and subpar performance, describing the team as ‘trash’. The rant concluded with Smith calling for changes in the Mets' leadership structure to better address the concerns of their fanbase.

• 4:54 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Baseball abomination’ – Stephen A. Smith names key reason the New York Mets ‘stink’