Mets' David Stearns expresses belief in hitting coaches Eric Chavez, Jeremy Barnes
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaks to the media before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on April 21. Credit: Jim McIsaac
MILWAUKEE — David Stearns didn’t hesitate when he was asked on Friday night if blame for the Mets’ recent offensive malaise should be laid at the feet of the team’s two hitting coaches, Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes.
“No,” the team’s president of baseball operations said before the Mets opened a three-game series against the Brewers. “I have confidence in our hitting coaches. I think we have good hitting coaches. They have track records of helping to lead and put together really quality offenses. This is, at times, baseball, and it will drive you crazy.
“We have talented players who go through stretches like this. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve really had a lineup that’s gone through stretches like this, where we haven’t performed up to our capabilities, and it is frustrating, and everyone is working as hard as they possibly can to get this turned around, and I think we will.”
The Mets, who headed into Milwaukee losers of eight of their previous nine and 28 of their previous 46 games, were coming off what they hope was the low point of their current drought: getting no-hit for 8 1⁄3 innings by Cleveland’s Gavin Williams on Wednesday before Juan Soto homered in a 4-1 loss at Citi Field.
On Friday, as they returned to the scene of their amazin’ Pete Alonso-fueled NL Wild Card Series victory from last season, the Mets didn’t feel the need to shake up anything.
No coaches were fired during the day off Thursday. No roster changes were announced on Friday. The lineup was pretty similar to any other, with the exception of Starling Marte instead of Mark Vientos as the designated hitter and Ronny Mauricio instead of Brett Baty at third against righthander Brandon Woodruff.
Why stay the course? Because Stearns thinks these players eventually will right the ship (before it sinks completely).
“I believe in our guys, and clearly everyone’s frustrated,” he said. “Players are frustrated. At times I’ve been frustrated, but I believe that this is a good offensive team. I believe in the process we have in place, and I’m confident we’re going to see that going forward.”
The hitting process starts with the players, of course. But teams have hitting coaches for a reason, and they are easy to point a finger at when their pupils’ bats turn into wet noodles.
Stearns said he has faith in “the track record and the quality of preparation” when it comes to Chavez and Barnes.
“I think you go through our clubhouse, my guess is you sense frustration, but you’re probably not sensing panic,” Stearns said. “And you’re probably also seeing a level of preparation and focus that’s real good. So when I see those things, it gives me confidence that we’re going to snap out of this.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza, who also expressed confidence in Chavez and Barnes, said after the near no-hitter that his players were not making good enough in-game adjustments. Stearns agreed.
“I think that’s a reasonable observation,” he said. “I think it’s something that we’ve been discussing. There have been times where starting pitchers attacked us with particular game plans, and there are probably times where we could have made quicker adjustments. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, sitting where I sit, watching the game. Maybe that’s easier said than done sometimes, but I know we also have really talented players and veteran players who have the ability to do that, and I think we will.”
The Mets were greeted by a lot of memories when they walked into American Family Field. The most recent, of course, was Alonso’s go-ahead three-run home run off Devin Williams in the ninth inning that helped send the Mets past the Brewers and into the NLDS.
Said Mendoza: “Definitely good memories.”
For Stearns, it was a chance to return to the place where he had his first general manager’s job. Milwaukee went into the game with the best record in baseball at 70-44 and had won 45 of the previous 61 games. Some of the players are left over from Stearns’ regime.
“I think everyone in baseball is looking at them and recognizing they’re having a great season,” Stearns said. “They’ve put together a really talented team. It’s a really good run prevention unit. Offensively, one through nine, they have a complete lineup that can beat you in a variety of different ways. Clearly an elite baserunning team. I admire what they’ve done, and they’re doing a great job. It’s going to be a good test for us this weekend.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
