“David Stearns will only hire his puppet” – Fans react to Mets ruling out Kevin Long for hitting department position

The New York Mets will not hire veteran hitting coach Kevin Long after talks failed to produce an agreement. Long met with the team regarding a role in its hitting department, but he is no longer under consideration. The decision sparked frustration among Mets supporters on social media, with some fans criticizing president of baseball operations David Stearns for his management style.

Long previously served as the Mets' hitting coach from 2015 to 2017 and recently spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, Chicago Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee also withdrew from consideration for the role, while senior adviser Derek Falvey expressed support for the club's direction under manager Andy Green.