NEW YORK -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson had to hear the booing at Citi Field throughout a miserable homestand. Devin McCourty Jersey . He took steps to begin fixing the problems Monday after a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, firing hitting coach Dave Hudgens and cutting reliever Jose Valverde. "This is a very difficult decision to make. Ive known Dave for many years, decades," Alderson said. "Our situational hitting is not where we want it to be." Minor league hitting co-ordinator Lamar Johnson will take over for Hudgens. The 63-year-old Johnson has been in this role with the Mets for 10 of his 11 years in the organization and is responsible for helping teach the organizations hitting philosophy throughout the minors. The Mets have tried to implement a plan of patience at the plate but the results have not shown. "Our hitting approach will not change appreciably," Alderson said. "Any time theres a new person, theres a new voice, a new take, a different interpretation both from a mechanical and an approach point of view." The 57-year-old Hudgens was in his fourth season as the Mets hitting coach. The Mets began the day with a .237 batting average, ranking among the worst in the majors. They have scored just 32 runs in losing nine of 12. "This is by no means Dave Hudgens fault. Not whatsoever," manager Terry Collins said. "Its about trying to get the execution better. Well see if change helps." The problems are more glaring with runners in scoring position: New York is 13 for 66 (.197) in that situation in the first seven games of a nine-game homestand after getting one hit in eight tries Monday. The Mets hit into five double plays Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Arizona in the first-game of a doubleheader. Daniel Murphy hit into one of the teams two double plays Monday, wiping out another hit by Jacob deGrom. "Theres frustration at the way were playing. Theres frustration with the way the offence is going and that Dave unfortunately bears the brunt of that," Murphy said. "It stinks." David Wright was unhappy that the popular coach lost his job over what he thinks is the players fault. "When you struggle the way weve struggled offensively, a finger, obviously, gets pointed. A lot of times that finger gets pointed unfairly," Wright said. Alderson said this was not to read as a warning to Collins. "I think this is in response to a specific situation," Alderson said. "Nothing else should be read into it by any means." The Mets have been revamping their bullpen, and Valverdes dismissal after allowing four runs while getting only two outs in the eighth and ninth innings is the next step. With new closer Jenrry Mejia unavailable after pitching both games of the doubleheader Sunday, Collins turned to Valverde. Valverde (1-1) was booed off the field after allowing pinch-hitter Jose Tabatas tying single in the eighth. He returned for the ninth and was even worse, yielding four runs overall. "Dont think for one second that theres not a guy in there that realizes that this is part of it. We just released one of the best professionals I ever been around in Jose Valverde," a fired-up Collins said. "You deal with it, and if you cant you dont belong in the game." With one out in the ninth, Valverde gave up a single to Neil Walker and walked Andrew McCutchen. Gary Sanchez, who homered off Scott Rice to open the eighth, then singled to left, scoring Walker. Juan Centeno couldnt handle Curtis Grandersons throw that bounced to the right of the plate and skittered past Valverde, who was backing up but way too close to the catcher. McCutchen scored on Grandersons error for a two-run lead. Valverde gave up four runs as the Pirates took the lead. The 36-year-old righty was 1-1 with a 5.66 ERA. Valverde joined the Mets this year after pitching for Detroit last season. He briefly was New Yorks closer before losing the job. Reporters were told Valverde had left the ballpark even though his street clothes remained in his locker. Right-hander Vic Black is being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill Valverdes spot. "Our bullpen will get better when our young pitchers emerge at the major league level," Alderson said. "Not only will we have better arms, but well have more flexibility." In the minors, top prospect Noah Syndergaard was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to May 22, because of a mild flexor-pronator strain in his right elbow. The flexor-pronator muscle is on the inside of the elbow, forearm area. The Mets said the Triple-A Las Vegas ace will be brought to New York for an exam. Syndergaard was acquired in a trade that sent 2012 Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto. He is Baseball Americas No. 6 righty pitching prospect and is expected to make his big league debut this year. "Were very concerned about it, obviously, I dont know too many guys -- I shouldnt say that, I know a lot of guys who go to the doctor and its nothing. But I know some go to the doctor and its an issue," Collins said. "Anytime you go in and the word elbow shows up, especially when you throw as hard as he does, its a concern. NOTES: The Mets placed OF Eric Young Jr. on the DL because of a right hamstring strain. They recalled OF Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Las Vegas to take his place. ... Up Next: Pirates RHP Edinson Volquez (2-4) faces Mets LHP Jonathon Niese (3-3) on Tuesday night. Scott Chandler Jersey . The visitors failed to create any chances of note until Nuri Sahin tested Braunschweig keeper Daniel Davari with a well-placed free kick in the 28th minute. Aubameyang opened the scoring three minutes later, when Robert Lewandowski played a one-two with Marco Reus and lifted the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper for him to head into the unguarded net. John Hannah Womens Jersey . On Tuesday, they did it again. Roy Hibbert scored 22 points and Lance Stephenson fell just short of his fourth triple double this season, helping the Pacers hold off Torontos late charge for an 86-79 victory that allowed them to keep the NBAs best record.The Canadian national junior team was shut out of a medal for the first time in 15 years in Ufa, Russia last year and have gone without gold since 2009 in Ottawa. Its a different approach for Hockey Canada this year, with 25 players invited to the World Junior Selection Camp and 22 making the team. With the roster virtually set, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button was on TSN Radio 1050 and Off The Record on Tuesday to dissect the strengths and weakness of the team. "Depth and wealth of winning experience, not just internationally but within their own leagues," Button said of this years teams strengths. "You have players who have won Memorial Cups, participated in Memorials Cups, as well as winning gold medals at the international level. When you go into this type of tournament, you need players who will not capsize when you get into the rough patches. They have too many players who have been through it and succeeded." Asked how much can we expect from youngster Conner McDavid and how he will look away from his OHL club, the Erie Otters, and play with the elite players, Button said he wouldnt underestimate the 16-year-old. "Last April at the Under-18 tournament, he was two years younger than everybody else and was probably two times better than everybody there," said Button. "He was the best player by far. You are talking about a young man who is 16-years-old that understands a couple of things that go beyond the obvious skill. He understands the situations he is in and understands how to play them, given his capabilities and understanding that he is a little bit younger and that this is an elite level of hockey. "Connor McDavid can play defence, he can play two-ways, he can score, and he can set up plays. I dont want to start saying expect the earth, the moon, and the stars from him, but I can tell you this; Connor McDavid is more than capable at this level and is playing very well." McDavid is considered an OHL phenom, who was drafted first overall in the 2012 OHL entry draft and scored 66 points for the Otters in 63 games during his rookie season. The Richmond Hill, ON, native already has 45 points in 27 games with the Otters this season. Notable players who were not named to the selection camp include Max Domi, who was selected 112th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, and Darnell Nurse, selected seventh overall by the Edmonton Oilers in this years draft. Dominique Easley Patriots Jersey. Button pointed out that neither are the first to not get invited to a team or make the team as 18-year-olds, and that its not the end of the world for them. "I am still high on (Domi) and if there were 38 players invited, we would not be having this discussion. The next discussion would be; can he make the team?" said Button. "Head coach Brent Sutter really understands what he wants and who he feels fits his team. When they hired Sutter, everybody knew the deal. I dont want to suggest he is black and white because that is not the right way to put it, but he is very clear about where he wants players to play, how he wants them to play, and the types of players that fit. "There are a lot of really good players who did not get invited and when you have only 25 players invited that is what is going to happen," continued Button. "For Sutter, Canada has not won a gold medal in a number of years, so with a lack of success, so to speak, some changes come and certainly Sutter has instituted that." On the teams weakness, Button said there are few. He said the defence needs to learn how to play as a group and as pairs. "You have to defend on the big ice and you have to be able to transition quickly on the big ice. Sutter is perfectly suited to doing that. He has always had success with a group of defenceman and they are going to be key to this teams success." Sutter will need to release two forwards and one defenceman from the selection camp roster before the tournament begins. TSNs World Junior coverage continues on Wednesday with the World Junior Countdown Show at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt. James Duthie hosts the 30-minute special alongside Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, as they set the table for Team Canadas selection camp, which kicks off on Dec. 12. Duthie and McKenzie will break down, position by position, how the team might look. TSN has complete live coverage of the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, with pre-competition games beginning Friday, Dec. 20. Follow the World Juniors tournament with multi-platform coverage on TSN, TSN.ca, and TSN Radio. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '