The mood around Citi Field is turning sour, and for a New York Mets franchise with a history of heartbreak, that’s saying something. The loudest criticisms have centered on David Stearns’ performance at the trade deadline. Fans were clamoring for a starting pitcher to solidify the rotation, and when the deadline passed with nothing on this side, the anger was palpable. Stearns's reputation, once seen as the savior who could build a sustainable winner, is now facing its first major backlash.
But while the frustration over the starting pitching situation is understandable, it’s a distraction from a different, and far more critical, move Stearns made this past offseason.