David Stearns tried to find a silver lining no NY Mets fan wants to hear right now

There’s nothing quite like losing 9 of 10 to make a fanbase reevaluate everything, especially its patience. So, when David Stearns suggested the New York Mets’ recent stretch at least gave the top relievers some rest, it landed with the warmth of a rain delay during a fireworks show. Sure, they’re fresh. So are most of our TVs, since we’ve been turning them off by the fifth inning.

This isn’t some unlucky stretch of tight losses. It’s been a mess, top to bottom. It's the kind of baseball where even the bright spots flicker like they’re on a timer. And while Stearns tried to find something positive, most Mets fans would gladly trade rested arms for just one save situation worth sweating over. No one is asking for perfection. But silver linings only shine when the cloud eventually passes.

For NY Mets fans, the frustration runs deeper than just a losing streak, it’s the uneasy feeling that the team’s struggles are starting to define the season.

When David Stearns noted the Mets’ top relievers haven’t been used much recently (at 27:15 in the interview), he was technically correct, but it reads more like a consolation prize than a plan. Reed Garrett has made four appearances in the last 13 games, Edwin Díaz only three. That’s not a sign the bullpen is finely managed; it’s a byproduct of games slipping away before the ninth inning even arrives.

In their place, pitchers like Ty Adcock, Justin Garza, Tyler Zuber, and Justin Hagenman have been called on more frequently as the Mets fall behind early. Over the last 10 games heading into tonight, the bullpen has posted a 5.71 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, and allowed opponents to hit .285. The offense has offered little relief, scoring 30 runs with a .215 batting average and a 26 percent strikeout rate in that stretch. Even Tuesday night’s brief fireworks, three runs in the fourth inning against Atlanta, were quickly doused by five runs allowed in the sixth and two more in the eighth.

Stearns’ point about rested top relievers feels like admiring a clean kitchen while the whole house is on fire. Sure, Garrett and Díaz are fresh, but that only highlights how badly the rest of the team has struggled. The bullpen overall hasn’t had a light workload; it’s been taxed while the Amazins' fall behind early. It’s hard to celebrate rested arms when the team can’t generate enough offense. Fans don’t want to hear about rest when it comes to the cost of competitiveness. This isn’t a silver lining, it’s a glaring sign the Mets have a long way to go before this stretch looks positive.

The reality is clear. No amount of bullpen rest can hide a team struggling to compete. The Mets need more than fresh arms. They need timely hitting, consistent pitching, and a return to fundamentals to turn the season around. Until that happens, any silver linings will fall flat for fans eager to see real progress and more wins on the field.