NEW YORK, NY — The New York Mets, sitting at 37-53, the bottom of the National League with the Rockies, have made headlines throughout the first half of the 2026 regular season for all the wrong reasons.
Former Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez received attention last week with his comments knocking the Mets on his “EC3″ podcast. The biggest headlines were that Juan Soto gets special treatment, and that he was critical of Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Frankly, neither of these takes were surprising.
Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Superstar players always get perks not afforded to their teammates, especially on losing clubs. It is not a big deal to me if Soto likes to relax on the clubhouse sofa instead of sitting in the dugout between innings.
Stearns fired Chavez at the end of the 2025 season and tried to get him to take a pay cut at the end of 2024. Of course, he is disgruntled with Stearns.
Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
The one thing Chavez said which was troubling was his criticism of the organizational hitting philosophy which begins in the lowest rungs of the minor leagues. According to him, Mets hitters are taught to always swing for the fences, instead of making contact, and putting the ball in play to get on base via a hit, or an error committed by an opponent.
He places the blame on the Mets’ analytics experts who downplay situational hitting. Although Chavez did not mention specific players, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos, and Francisco Álvarez, always appear to be swinging out of their shoes on every pitch trying to go for the fences. Yes, they do occasionally get a hold of a pitch and drive it over the fence. The problem is their inordinate number of strikeouts do not atone for the quantity of home runs they hit.
Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Mets hitters are especially inept when they have runners in scoring when just a productive out would drive in a run. They never are adjusting to these situations, and that failure is often the unspoken reason for losses.
When I was growing up, hitters routinely adjusted when they had two strikes on them. Striking out was considered a humiliation. That is no longer the case. Vientos is almost certain to head to the bench once a pitcher gets two strikes on him. Álvarez and Baty are not much better. Even worse, they futilely flail at balls way out of the strike zone.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Chavez blames the Mets instructors for telling players that striking out is no different than making any other type of out. Sadly, this type of thinking is pervasive throughout Major League Baseball. Former Mets catcher, and current Kansas City Royals third base coach, Vance Wilson, complained to me about this when I saw him at Yankee Stadium in May.
“You have people making decisions who never played the game. They also do not seem to understand it,” he told me.
St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor selected by Hawks in first round of 2026 NBA Draft
Former St. John’s University star big man, Zuby Ejiofor, proved doubters wrong when he was drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks with the 23rd pick. He also showed up NBA officials who did not invite him to participate in the media availability sessions the day before the draft. Ejiofor was selected before many of the invitees were.
Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
ESPN college hoops analyst, and former Red Storm men’s basketball coach, Fran Fraschilla was a panelist at the annual NBA draft preview session held in midtown Manhattan. I asked him if NBA teams were undervaluing college players who attend class and graduate. Ejiofor was an academic All-American.
“I don’t think that is the case. There are only 25 superstars in the NBA in my opinion, which means there are 425 role players. Zuby is the ideal player team general managers are searching for when putting together a roster. They know he is a hard worker with a high basketball IQ since he is coming from a Rick Pitino program. He can rebound, pass, and hit a jump shot when needed,” Fraschilla said.
Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
He added he thought Ejiofor would be a late first-round selection.
The Hawks took Ejiofor one slot before it was the Knicks turn to choose. One of the “what if” questions will be “Would the Knicks have selected him had he been available?” There were rumors that the Knicks were interested in him.
St. John’s Dillon Mitchell drafted by Celtics as Bryce Hopkins goes to Denver
It was the most productive NBA Draft in years for St. John’s. Dillon Mitchell was chosen in the second round by the Boston Celtics, while Bryce Hopkins went a few picks later by the Denver Nuggets.
Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
It marked the first time in the modern NBA Draft era where three Johnnies heard their names called in the same year’s draft.
Yaxel Lendeborg becomes first Dominican NBA lottery pick since Karl-Anthony Towns & Al Horford
The funniest player I spoke with was University of Michigan Dominican-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg who grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Pennsauken, New Jersey.
The pre-draft buzz was that the Golden State Warriors were interested in taking him with the eleventh pick, which is exactly how things turned out.
Lendeborg was well-aware of how expensive living in San Francisco is compared to the Philadelphia area. “I may have to take a second job!” he told me with a laugh.
Mitchell Robinson signs three-year/$47.4 million deal with Boston
Knicks fans appreciated the rebounding and solid defense Mitchell Robinson provided even though he contributed next to nothing on offense. The harsh realities of the NBA salary cap prevented the Knicks from re-signing him to a new long-term contract. Robinson will be going north on I-95 to play for the Boston Celtics.
He should get a nice ovation from the MSG crowd when he returns even though he will be wearing Kelly green.
Professional Volleyball returning to Central Park
Professional volleyball will be returning to Central Park’s Wollman Rink the weekend of July 18-19. Veterans Phil Dalhausser, and Chase Budiger, who played in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons, are among those who will take part in the AVP’s annual stop here.
All the Goods from the Annual Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center
The Annual Fancy Food Show for the trade was held last week at Javits Center. Queens was represented by Burlap & Barrel, a spice purveyor from Jackson Heights, Long Island City’s Primis Imports which distributes various Greek pastries and olive oils, and Alle Processing, which is one of the largest distributors of kosher foods and vegan products, and is based in Maspeth.
Image Credit: Specialty Food Association
Trends come and go quickly in the delicacy business. Last year, Dubai Chocolates were the rage. You could hardly find them at the 2026 show. Taking Dubai’s place was Saudi Arabia which was promoting its dates and teas.
The Fancy Food Show did live up to its name thanks to the samples of caviar and sturgeon put out by the Bay Area’s Tsar Nicoulai Company, and the Wagyu beef served at the Japan pavilion.
Desserts & Confections: A Fun Feature in the Annual Fancy Food Show
Heritage Kulfi’s rosewater ice cream, a particular favorite of the South Asian community, attracted long lines, as did CinnaMom’s cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon rolls are more time consuming to bake than most cakes and pies, and that is why they are a lot harder to find on grocery shelves these days.
Image Credit: Specialty Food Association
Vermont Nut Free Chocolates have long been a favorite of those suffering from nut allergies. The company introduced its new line of Skippers (think of M&Ms), chocolate cups (think Reese’s), and chocolate covered pretzels. The cleverly named Go a Little Nuts introduced its strawberry yogurt walnuts. It should be noted that walnuts are beneficial for digestive health. Manischewitz debuted its line of babkas and rugelach which are meant to be stored frozen, so you do not have to consume them in a brief period.
The cultured yogurt beverage, kefir, also promotes digestive order. Local companies like Biolife and Five Acres Farms were competing with the industry leader, Lifeway, as they all had booths at Javits.
Java Factory, which makes coffee in pods, is attempting to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by introducing 52 different coffee “K-cup” flavors within 52 weeks. Its dark bold coffee is cleverly called “Hello Darkness” in honor of the first two words from “The Sounds of Silence,” which was the first hit from that duo from Forest Hills High School, Simon & Garfunkel.
Health Benefits: A Key Part All Around the Javits Center
Tahini, a paste made from grounded sesame seeds, is a healthier alternative to salad dressing because it has many nutrients. The Philadelphia-based, kosher, Soom Foods displayed its various spreads which can even be used for snacking right out of the jar.
Image Credit: Specialty Food Association
Seasons Brand is expanding its omega-3 rich line of sardines and tuna to now include smoked trout and grilled salmon cans. The company hopes to have them ready for the September back-to-school season. Seasons Brand was also touting its line of extra virgin olive oils.
Everyone loves good pasta sauce, but it is forbidden food for anyone with ulcers or many other stomach issues. Ascoli has created a line of low-acid tomato sauces which have far less acid, salts, and sugars. For those who can enjoy the classic pasta sauces, Carmine’s, the famous New York restaurant, was displaying its marinara, spicy vodka, and tomato & basil flavors.
A Chicago-based company, Jindilli, is trying to make macadamia oil as popular as its olive and avocado oil cousins. Macadamia nuts are the tastiest of legumes, and they possess benefits for healing and for skin protection. Macadamia nuts are grown in Australia, and those folks look young at any age!
Annual Fancy Food Show: Companies from all over hit the mark
Geneva, New York’s Red Jacket Orchards, is renowned for its lines of vitamin-rich cold-pressed juices and lemonades with no added sugars or any other additives. Trainers from many professional sports teams encourage their athletes to drink Red Jacket juices for both hydrations, and for recovery.
Image Credit: Specialty Food Association
Strawberry milk has never quite achieved the popularity chocolate milk has. New England’s Moozy Milk is attempting to remedy this with their delicious cans of strawberry milk which puts its national competitor, Nestle’s Quik, to shame. Strawberry milk is another favorite of athletic trainers for its recovery and energy benefits.
Similarly, Elmhurst Milked, which specializes in non-dairy milks, has created a line of low-sugar smoothies called Clean Protein. There are only 190 calories in each container.
Pickle juice may be the ultimate sports drink for the reasons I have outlined above, but it’s not a lot of fun to consume. A new company from Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Pickles Delicious Lemonade, is trying to correct that by producing a beverage which makes it easier to get the benefits of pickles.
The Soft Drink Industry Changing It Up?
I have been complaining for years about why the soft drink industry has not been able to create low sugar sodas. That is finally being remedied by new soft drink companies such as Pura, Fizz Pop, Lady Bird, as well as by one of the originals in this market, GuS (Grown-up Soda).
Image Credit: Specialty Food Association
Water should be neutral when it comes to acidity, but that is not always the case. A startup from Norwalk, CT, PH Plus Alkaline Water, provides needed hydration, a clean taste, and helps neutralize stomach acidity.
Open Water uses recycled aluminum for its bottles which help provide a cleaner taste than the traditional plastic. Its sparkling water is easier on the stomach than most seltzers and contains much needed electrolytes.
Bon Appetit!
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
