Two things can be true about the NY Mets losing Antoan Richardson to the Braves

When was the last time a New York Mets coach had the kind of noticeable impact as Antoan Richardson in a positive way? Typically it’s the coaching staff who gets the blame for the bad with a fraction of the discussion being the credit.

The Mets lost Richardson to the Atlanta Braves last week. And however you feel about the circumstances around it, fans have a strong opinion as to the impact his loss will have.

On both sides of the ledger, we can find some truth. Things can be bad without being apocalyptic. And even though none of the four horsemen are riding by, a sense of despair is present.

It’s true, Juan Soto isn’t going to suddenly lose his ability to steal bases at a high level

The good (and shameful) part of social media is you get to see every opinion possible. Plenty of rational-thinking Mets fans were quick to point out how silly it was for anyone to be upset about the Mets losing Richardson. Indeed, Juan Soto isn’t about to completely forget how to steal bases at such a high level.

It’d be like a pitcher getting the yips after his dad stops coaching him in little league. He only stopped coaching him because he’s out for a pack of cigarettes. He’ll be back. Just you wait!

All of the things Richardson taught the Mets base runners can remain. But there’s a problem. How much of those stolen bases were in the moment and how many more players could have benefitted moving forward?

It’s true, Juan Soto and the rest of his teammates could be stifled in improving their base stealing abilities

Making an adjustment with where your foot is placed on the rubber or how you place your elbows in the batter’s box can continue without any new guidance. Stealing bases just feels different. You can have a book written on a pitcher’s tells and not benefit from the knowledge.

Soto and his teammates are absolutely losing a weapon. One year is enough to get better. Richardson’s presence, and now loss of it, will prevent the Mets from having more players breaking free between first base and second base. In particular, it’s disappointing to see players like Carson Benge and Jett Williams never have the opportunity to experience what Richardson can teach them specifically.

Richardson going from the Mets to the Braves became a complicated situation with a lack of pension at the final deal seeming to be one of the breaking points. The blurriest line in it all is whether it’s more outrage or embarrassment. Joining any other team (other than maybe the New York Yankees) would’ve made this easy to ignore. At least 13 times in 2026, we’ll get a reminder.