NY Mets coaching update shows they only half-listened to Eric Chavez's fair critique

The New York Mets have made a significant and forward-looking change to their coaching staff, appointing Jeff Albert, Director of Hitting Development, to lead the major league team's hitting program in 2026. This decision is not just a promotion; it's a clear endorsement from President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, who has a long history with Albert dating back to their time together in the Houston Astros organization, where Albert served as a minor league hitting instructor and coordinator.

The appointment comes after the dismissals of hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez, with Albert expected to provide a new voice for an offense that has struggled with consistency. The plan, according to sources, is for Albert to lead the hitting program at the major league level while being complemented by another hitting coach.

Mets double down on controversial hitting coach strategy with Jeff Albert appointment

This strategy directly contradicts the recent public statements of his predecessor, Eric Chavez. In a candid post-firing interview, Chavez vehemently criticized the two-hitting-coach model, a structure he was a part of during his tenure with the Mets. His critique raises serious questions about the direction the team is taking with its coaching staff and whether they are repeating a mistake that may have contributed to their offensive struggles in 2025.

Chavez's criticism of the co-hitting coach system was pointed and direct. He argued that having two voices in charge of the hitters' development creates a confusing and ultimately detrimental environment. When two coaches are tasked with the same role, it can lead to conflicting messages and a lack of clarity. What makes this decision even more intriguing is that Albert himself has experience in a secondary role. He served as a co-hitting coach for the Houston Astros in 2018, the season after the departure of Alonzo Powell, who had been the hitting coach for their infamous 2017 championship team. One would assume Albert understands the potential pitfalls of such a structure, yet the Mets are willingly re-creating it.

The offensive inconsistency that characterized the Mets throughout 2025 could very well be a symptom of this flawed coaching dynamic. Players like Mark Vientos, who was coming off a stellar season, saw a noticeable dip in performance. It's not a stretch to suggest that the mixed messages from the hitting coaches could have played a role in his struggles. When a player is trying to make adjustments at the plate, the last thing they need is a divided message from their coaching staff. A single, authoritative voice provides a clear and consistent path for improvement, while a dual-coach system can create a muddled and frustrating experience.

The Mets' decision to stick with this model is a significant gamble, one seemingly rooted in Stearns' faith in Albert. By entrusting a key lieutenant from his past, Stearns is betting that Albert and his future counterpart can create a more harmonious and effective partnership than Chavez and Barnes did. However, Chavez's warning, born from firsthand experience, should not be taken lightly. The success of the Mets' offense, and the development of their young hitters, could hinge on whether they can avoid the pitfalls that their former hitting coach so clearly identified.

Ultimately, the organization's commitment to this strategy will be a major storyline to watch. The development of the team's promising young bats is paramount to their future success, and the coaching structure they have chosen will be under intense scrutiny. If the offense sputters again, the front office will have to answer for their decision to ignore the advice of a coach who had a front-row seat to the potential chaos of a two-headed hitting instruction monster. The hope is that Albert's past experience makes him uniquely qualified to navigate this dynamic, but the risk of history repeating itself is a very real and present danger for the New York Mets.