In the infield for Team Shea will be Edgardo Alfonzo, Todd Zeile, José Reyes, Rey Ordóñez, and Carlos Delgado. Team Citi Field will trot out Asdrúbal Cabrera, Josh Satin, Rubén Tejada, Ike Davis, and Kelly Johnson.

Out of this group, Alfonzo, now 51, was notably selected to the Mets’ Latin American Hall of Fame on Saturday. He spent eight years in the Mets organization, slashing .292/.367/.445 while collecting 212 doubles and 120 homers.

Reyes, 42, has a personal reason to suit up.

“My youngest daughter has never seen me play,” Reyes told the Mets’ Jay Horwitz. “I want to do well in front of her and the rest of my family. I think I will have 10 close relatives there on Saturday.”

In the outfield for Team Shea are Endy Chávez, Carlos Beltrán, Benny Agbayani, and Jay Payton. For Team Citi, fans will get to see Juan Lagares, Mike Baxter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Curtis Granderson. Notably, Team Citi’s outfield includes three members of the 2015 pennant-winning club in Lagares, Nieuwenhuis, and Granderson.

Catchers for Team Shea include Mike Piazza and Paul Lo Duca, while Team Citi will feature Kevin Plawecki and Josh Thole.

Piazza has reportedly been taking batting practice to shake off some rust.

“I don’t expect to hit homers,” Piazza told Horwitz. “I just want to make contact and drive some balls to the outfield.”

On the pitching side, Team Shea boasts names such as John Franco, Mike Hampton, Al Leiter, John Maine, Rick Reed, Turk Wendell, and, in a late addition, Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez. Team Citi counters with Bartolo Colón, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey, and Johan Santana.

“I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see my Mets family again,” Martínez said to Horwitz. “It will be great to see the fans again.”

Dickey, speaking to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, expressed his excitement to return.

“I’m ecstatic to get to do something like this,” Dickey said. “I can’t wait to get back and just reconnect with guys and see guys I haven’t seen in a while. Players, yes. But even clubhouse guys, the film guy, the security people underneath the stadium. … Getting to go back and see those guys, give them a hug, just talk to them for a minute, it’s going to be awesome.”

Asked whether he’ll throw his trademark knuckleball, Dickey laughed and said he hopes to “throw a few knuckleballs up there for people to see, if I can still get it to the plate.”

The Alumni Classic could also potentially showcase some special connections off the field. Darryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson will appear as special guests and ambassadors, while Al Leiter could share the day with his son Jack, who might be in the Rangers’ dugout or bullpen for the regular game. Together, they help make the event a celebration of Mets history and a fun reunion for fans and players alike.

The post Former Mets Greats Set to Take the Field in Alumni Classic appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Scott posted a 2.57 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched over three levels and was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Scott’s prospect status was elevated, particularly with his ability to induce swings and misses (16.8 SwStr%; tied for the sixth-highest mark) while limiting walks (3.6% walk rate; tied for third lowest).

Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the 2024 season, Scott was listed as the club’s best pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline (and the fifth-best prospect in the system), after not making the Top-30 list a year prior. Scott, selected in the fifth round in the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, was an arm many evaluators thought would get a chance to make his major league debut this year.

After five April starts with Triple-A Syracuse, in which Scott struck out 36 batters while allowing only six walks over 25.1 innings pitched, the Florida native was promoted to the majors and debuted against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road on May 4 in front of dozens of family and friends.

Following three straight hits in the first inning to Yandy Díaz, Richie Palacios and Isaac Paredes, Scott worked out of trouble by striking out Randy Arozarena and getting Harold Ramírez to ground into an inning-ending double play. He allowed just one run on five hits with six strikeouts over 6.2 innings pitched in the Mets’ 3-1 loss. Scott became the first Met to toss at least 6.2 innings while allowing no more than one run in his major league debut since Jacob deGrom on May 15, 2014. His 18 swings and misses were tied with David Peterson (Sept. 15) and Tylor Megill (Sept. 30) for the most by a Mets pitcher in a road game in 2024.

Scott made nine major league starts in 2024, posting a 4.56 ERA over 47.1 innings. Scott’s best work came against right-handed hitters, as he limited them to a .236 weighted on-base average while posting a 0.83 walks plus hits per inning pitched and a 22 percent strikeout rate.

May 11, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (45) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Following his July 21 start against the Miami Marlins on the road, Scott was placed on the IL as he was diagnosed with a right UCL sprain. The Mets were hopeful Scott would make a late-season return, going with a rest-and-rehab approach.

Unfortunately, Scott had difficulty making some of his pitches during his rehab, specifically his offspeed stuff. The 25-year-old underwent a hybrid elbow surgery in late September, combining traditional Tommy John surgery with a stabilizing internal brace for extra support.

Post-surgery, Scott has been rehabbing at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, along with the BARWIS Performance Center.

I had the privilege of interviewing Scott in late November, where we discussed adding pitches to his arsenal, the Mets’ pitching lab and his 2024 season.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players when you were younger?

Scott: My mom’s from the Northeast, so I watched a lot of Red Sox games growing up. I’d say Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester. I went to a couple of games in the 2004 and 2007 World Series. I got to see them win some games, which was a lot of fun.

MMO: At what point during your development did you start to primarily focus on pitching?

Scott: I started to really [focus on pitching] in high school, but I still hit a little bit. Going to college, I knew hitting wasn’t a possibility. Once they started throwing over 90 miles per hour, I was like, This whole hitting thing is not what they make it out to be. [Laughs.]

In college, I was a starting pitcher only. But in high school I started figuring out that I was trending in that direction.

MMO: Is it true that you played with Pedro Martínez’s son in high school? And if so, did you ever get any advice from him?

Scott: I actually played with Pedro Martínez’s son and Joe Girardi’s son, Dante. I got to talk to those guys a lot, which was really cool. I remember Pedro sitting in on one of my bullpens, and I asked him about his changeup grip. He has these really long fingers, and I tried his grip and threw the first one and sailed it. He was like, “Just stick with yours.”

Pedro is a really good guy. He would go to a lot of those games and sit down and talk with us. I’m really grateful for that as well.

MMO: What are your memories from the 2021 Major League Draft? Were the Mets on your radar?

Scott: Yeah, for sure. Before the Draft, you talk to some teams, and you get a game plan of where you could go. I knew the Mets were one of the teams that were interested. They reached out right around the fourth and fifth rounds, and took me. I talked to a lot of their staff beforehand, including the area scout (Jon Updike) about what they wanted to do.

I knew that when I got drafted, they were going to try me as a starter first. I’m grateful for that opportunity to be able to go out there and compete and be able to go long leverage innings.

MMO: You mentioned the Mets drafted you with the intention of having you start. What were those conversations early on? How was the transition going from the pen in college to the rotation professionally?

Scott: Our first conversation that we had, they told me they were going to try me as a starter. In college, I really only had two pitches: a two-seam fastball and a slider. Really early in my tenure with the Mets, they wanted to add pitches. In order to start, you need to be able to go through a lineup two, three, or four times; it’s not just one time through the lineup. Being able to have multiple weapons to put hitters away, I knew we needed to revamp my repertoire.

We banged my two-seam fastball for a four-seamer and then added a changeup that year. I added a sweeper this year as well. So just continuing to refine my repertoire and finding different ways to get both right- and left-handed hitters out. I’m very grateful for them being able to help me gain in my stuff, have confidence throwing the ball over the middle of the plate and not pitching around guys, especially not just wanting strikeouts but being able to be okay with contact.

MMO: What was the process like of adding those pitches to your arsenal?

Scott: We started with the four-seam fastball right away. The metrics were better on it, and it played better from my release angle and saw an approach angle to the plate. We knew that was the direction that I wanted to go. It was pretty easy because I threw one in high school. It was more about knowing where to locate it and throw it at the top of the zone and get above that. The location part was what we really worked on.

With the changeup, I struggled in college with a change. I never got a feel for one. I used multiple fingers on one and tried different grips with a circle change. We went to a split-change, just utilizing two fingers when I got here. I felt comfortable with that grip. It took a little bit to get used to, but it’s definitely been a huge piece for me to be able to keep hitters off balance. I’ve never really had that as a reliever, but being able to go through the lineup multiple times was important.

Last offseason, I added the sweeper. I was talking to Grayson Crawford, [Eric] Jagers, Kyle Rogers, guys like that who have been huge in my development. How to attack right-handed hitters and lefty hitters with a sweeper and build a movement profile that we want on it so that it’ll play as a fourth weapon.

MMO: Fans notice the player development hires, such as Kyle Rogers and Eric Jagers that you’ve mentioned. However, I believe many don’t grasp the extensive contributions they make across the organization. Could you share your experiences with both of them and how they’ve supported your growth?

Scott: Rogers, for example, has helped me so much with my delivery. I was looking at a side-by-side video the other day from college and pro ball, and just the night-and-day difference being able to repeat my delivery over and over again and being able to go long in games and hold velo. I’m super grateful, and he’s a really smart guy. He really helps a lot with pitch types, deliveries, sequencing and different things that we need.

Jagers has done an unbelievable job since taking over in so many facets of the game. Whether that’s going over an at-bat, reading the hitter, reading the swing, pitch types and deliveries. He’s a Swiss army knife. Having him in the organization is great.

These guys are great at what they do, and we’re grateful for them.

Eric Jagers, Vice-President of Pitching for the New York Mets Source: The Enquirer

MMO: Can you talk a bit about the Mets’ pitching lab at Clover Park? What were some of the benefits you found from going there?

Scott: Yeah, I’ve been there a couple of times. There are things you can see on video, and there are things you may not be able to see. You can take a side angle of your delivery and see what’s going on. You’re able to really slow it down and use the high-speed cameras and the stuff we have to be able to slow down the delivery and see where you’re applying force. Maybe your force isn’t as strong in your core, or you’re able to rotate faster. Maybe you’re a rotational athlete or a linear athlete. You’re able to really find your strengths and weaknesses in your delivery that way and be able to capitalize on your strengths and maybe raise the floor on some of your weaknesses.

Being able to slow it down and take it inch by inch rather than being one still frame in your delivery. Find bits and pieces to tinker with and see what you need help with, whether it’s going on the ball of your foot when you’re driving down the mound or sitting on the heel. Little things like that to really slow it down.

MMO: Before beginning your professional career, were you familiar with the data and technology in the game?

Scott: I wasn’t too familiar with it. We went over it a little bit in college, some of the Trackman numbers and things like that. But I was never too familiar with it. I just got the ball and went out there and ripped it, and hopefully I got some swings and misses.

I didn’t have a whole lot of numbers to put my stuff behind. It’s hard to get a hold of that and be able to understand just how to pitch; to be able to go up and down and east to west. I think that is what has really helped me and my confidence in going on to compete at a high level every time I get the ball.

MMO: Command is one of your calling cards, and you do a terrific job of limiting walks. Was that something you were adept at early on, or did that develop throughout your tenure professionally?

Scott: I feel like I’ve always had a feel for throwing strikes. In college, if you walked two guys, you’re getting taken out of the game right away. You’re immediately of the mindset to throw strikes and make them beat you.

Being a starter, when you go multiple times through an order, you want to have the hitters not see as many of your pitches as you have. Let’s say you face a right-handed hitter three times, and he sees six or seven sweepers from you, then he’s going to be on time for one of those sweepers and be able to hit that. Same thing with the fastball.

The quicker that you’re able to get outs and turn the lineup over, I feel like it gives us the most success as a team to get a win. I’d rather you get a hit off me than walk somebody because it’s deeper in counts and deeper in games, and it’s not being efficient. It’s just about having confidence in zone and trust my stuff.

MMO: What are your memories from your major league debut on May 4, 2024?

Christian Scott. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Scott: It was really cool to have my family there and go out to do what I love to do and compete. It was really cool to have a bunch of family and friends there, and I got to have dinner with them after. But in the meantime, you’re focused on getting the win.

I felt like I was really on point with my stuff, especially towards the end of the game. I really fell in a groove, especially with the sweeper. Just being able to repeat that and continue to keep the fastball up in the zone and keep them off balance enough with the changeup. I had fun, and it was a blast, especially having my family and friends in attendance.

MMO: Speaking of your sweeper, I’m curious how pitchers go about getting a good feel on a new pitch. What did you incorporate regarding feedback and data for your sweeper?

Scott: You can look at the numbers on it and also just the way the hitters react to it or the way your catch partner reacts to it. You can kind of see if it’s staying on plane or if it’s diving like more of a slurve. You have the feedback of people you’re playing catch with and also able to see the numbers on Trackman. Just staying consistent with it.

If you have a release point or a cue that works for you for that time, try to repeat that and continue to stack good stones each time that you’re trying to develop a new pitch. Be able to take little achievements and eventually be able to locate that in the zone and then go away with it when you want. Just throwing it over time a bunch and also getting good feedback from it helped me out a lot.

MMO: You made nine starts with the Syracuse Mets in 2024. What were your thoughts on the automated ball-strike system for both the full ABS and the challenge system?

Scott: Honestly, I like the challenge system a little bit better. It adds another asset to the game, kind of like a strategic point to the game where you don’t want to use your challenges too early, but there are times when they’re necessary. If you have a 3-2 count and a couple of guys on, and a call doesn’t go your way, maybe you challenge that. It’s another facet for fans to enjoy where they show it on the scoreboard if it’s a strike or ball. You see how the game is played by inches, and less than an inch could be a ball or a strike. I think it gives a cool aspect to the game.

In terms of throwing to ABS, you don’t really notice it a whole lot. At least you know for sure if it was a strike or ball. You’re not getting any balls away and you’re not getting any balls in. You know you have to be in the strike zone. That was really the only adjustment; maybe you get half a ball off. When you’re throwing in ABS games, you’re going to pound the middle of the strike zone and try to get them to chase late. That’s the game plan most people have.

MMO: What were your impressions of Carlos Mendoza and Jeremy Hefner while you were up with the Mets?

Scott: I think they did an unbelievable job, just being able to stay even-keel the whole time. We had a lot of ups-and-downs during the season, but they are two rocks in our system. We’d go out and have fun but we’re also going to compete. We’re going to try and win every game we go out there and play.

I’ve got nothing but great things to say about Mendy and Hef. They’ve done an unbelievable job to help me and help me adjust. I’m super grateful to both of those guys.

MMO: You were shut down in July with a UCL sprain. Early on, there were hopes you could return later in the season. At what point did you and the team decide that having Tommy John surgery was the best course of action?

Scott: I don’t remember the exact date. I threw a couple of bullpens and was starting to raise the floors on some of the velocities. And I just didn’t feel right, especially with the offspeed pitches. I couldn’t get over that hump, and we tried a couple of different things, a couple of different changes. At the end of the day, it was probably the best option for me. I’m trying to stay positive about it.

MMO: You underwent a hybrid elbow surgery, combining Tommy John with a stabilizing internal brace. What are the benefits of adding that internal brace?

Scott: That’s correct. I went with Tommy John with the brace. There’s more support, especially early on in the process, and it just adds another layer of protection. I got a couple of recommendations from guys who’ve been there and had them and had a lot of success.

As a family, as a team and as an organization, we felt like it was the best decision, and I felt good about it. I had a lot of positive recommendations, and Dr. Keith [Meister] (who performed Scott’s surgery) is a great guy.

MMO: How has the rehab been going?

Scott: It’s going great. I’m going home in December for two weeks, but it’s been going great so far. A lot of the staff here is awesome. I know a lot of the guys down here, like Nathan Lavender. We’re hanging out and being positive about it and taking it day by day. We’re also challenging each other and pushing each other to be the best we possibly can be.

It’s been a good time going out there and trying to be positive every day. Continuing to put one foot in front of the other.

MMO: And you’re expecting to return for the 2026 season?

Scott: Yeah, I would assume so.

The post MMO Exclusive: Right Handed Pitcher, Christian Scott appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

While the Mets’ bullpen has hit its stride post All-Star break, one of the lone bright spots in the Mets’ ‘pen during the early part of the season could make his return very soon. Reed Garrett, who posted a 1.04 ERA in his first 26 innings of his 2024 season, was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation on July 10. Garrett had a steep decline prior to being placed on the IL, climbing to a 3.64 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. 

The Mets are hoping to get the high-end reliever that they saw early in the season upon his return. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media that there is a “good chance” the 31-year-old RHP will return to the team during their upcoming weekend series in Seattle. Garrett struck out three in a scoreless frame during his second rehab appearance and looks to add to the backend of the Mets’ bullpen.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets tied up their series in Colorado on Wednesday night as they beat the Rockies by a score of 5-3. Paul Blackburn had another wonderful outing, only giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits in his second start as a Met. After scoring two runs in the first two innings, the Mets’ offense went quiet up until the ninth inning. However, with the bases loaded in a 2-2 game, Francisco Lindor came up clutch again with a two-RBI base hit and Jesse Winker added on an RBI single to hand the Mets a three-run lead. Despite giving up a run in the ninth, Edwin Díaz completed the Mets’ win with his 14th save of the season.

The Amazin’s, who are now only 0.5 GB of the Braves for the third Wild Card spot, will look to take the rubber game in Colorado on Thursday. David Peterson (5-1, 3.47 ERA) of the Mets is set to face Austin Gomber (3-7, 4.66 ERA) of the Rockies for a 3:10 p.m. ET start at Coors Field.

Latest Mets News

The Mets come in 10th in Baseball America‘s midseason farm system ranking.

Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat will make his Triple-A debut as he will pitch for the Syracuse Mets at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday.

Starling Marte singled in his first plate appearance with Low-A St. Lucie during his rehab assignment, and followed it up by stealing second base. For more on Marte’s rehab assignment, click here.

Luisangel Acuña hit his sixth home run of the season for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. It was his third consecutive at-bat with an extra-base hit.

Luisangel Acuña launched his sixth homer of the season for Triple-A Syracuse.

It was his third consecutive at-bat with an XBH.
pic.twitter.com/YK86e34Z7t

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) August 7, 2024

Latest MLB News

Former Met J.D. Davis signed with the Baltimore Orioles, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Davis was most recently released by the Yankees and is hitting .218/.293/.338 on the season.

The Chicago Cubs signed former Mets pitcher Adrian Houser to a minor league deal, per MLB.com. Houser finished his short Mets tenure in the bullpen, posting a 5.84 combined ERA as a starter and reliever.

Free-agent pitcher Rich Hill is throwing for interested teams on Friday, August 9 in Waltham, Mass., per Robert Murray of FanSided. The Dodgers and Yankees are among the teams that have shown interest in the 44-year-old pitcher.

Brusdar Graterol, who seemed to have suffered a possible season-ending hamstring injury in his first outing of the season, might be able to return this season, per Dodger Insider. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the MRI showed it was a grade 1 hamstring strain and they are hopeful to have Graterol back this season.

The Baltimore Orioles placed OF Heston Kjerstad on the 10-day IL with a concussion, retroactive to August 1. The club also placed RHP Grayson Rodriguez on the 15-day IL with right lat/teres discomfort, retroactive to August 4.

The Boston Red Sox placed OF Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 4, with a left leg injection. They also called up INF/OF Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester and recalled RHP Chris Martin from the 15-day IL.

With his home run in the Orioles’ 7-3 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, Jackson Holliday became the youngest player in American League history to homer in three straight games.

Latest on MMO

The Mets’ deadline acquisitions have been put to the test early on. 

Luisangel Acuña delivers the walk-off knock for Syracuse.

Starling Marte returns to action in St. Lucie.

On This Date in Mets History

2014: Bartolo Colón records the 200th win of his career as he throws eight innings of one-run ball in a 5-4 Mets win against the Phillies. He joined Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez as the only Dominican-born pitchers to reach the 200 win milestone.

2011: The Mets come back from a four-run deficit in the eight inning, scoring five runs in the final two innings to beat the Padres by a score of 9-8. Lucas Duda smacked a two-RBI walk-off single off Heath Bell to win the game. Jason Bay also hit his 200th career home run during this game.

1997: The Mets trade Lance Johnson, Mark Clark, and Manny Alexander to the Cubs for Turk Wendell, Mel Rojas and Brian McRae. Wendell would go on to be a big piece of their 1999 and 2000 playoff runs, posting a 2.84 ERA in the 13 postseason games he pitched in during those two runs. 

Birthdays: John Hudek (58)

The post Morning Briefing: ‘Good Chance’ Reed Garrett Returns Against Seattle appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets placed RHP Drew Smith on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 24, with a right elbow sprain before Wednesday’s game. Smith left Sunday’s game against the Cubs after coming in for Edwin Díaz ,who was ejected and suspended 10 games for having a foreign substance on his hand. Smith would go on to get two outs prior to leaving the game after being checked by the trainer and showing some discomfort in his throwing arm.

His IL designation came a couple of hours after Carlos Mendoza told the media that he would be getting an MRI after experiencing forearm tightness, per Tim Healey of Newsday. RHP Ty Adcock was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to take his spot in the bullpen. 

Drew Smith, Photo by Ed Delany of Metmerized

The Mets finished off a sweep of the Subway Series on Wednesday night as the Amazin’ offense exploded yet again. Despite an hour and a half rain delay, the Mets added to their 4-0 lead and didn’t stop. They poured  on against the Yankees’ bullpen, leading to a 12-2 final score.

The Mets have off on Thursday before they host the Houston Astros for a weekend series. The Mets are expected to have José Quintana on the mound (3-5, 4.58 ERA) against Ronel Blanco (8-2, 2.34 ERA) of the Astros for the Friday matchup.

Latest Mets News

Mets catcher Joe Hudson cleared waivers, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The club outrighted him back to Triple-A Syracuse.

Ryan Clifford was named the Mets’ hottest-hitting prospect by MLB.com. Despite having a .211 batting average in June, 11 of his 12 hits have been for extra bases and he boasts a 1.081 OPS this month.

José Iglesias has been pressured by J.D. Martinez and the Mets’ clubhouse to push up the official release of “OMG,” and it will now be available on Friday, per Steve Gelbs of SNY.

Brett Baty continues to tear up Triple-A, hitting two more home runs and raising his OPS to 1.188. He has now homered eight times in 65 at-bats since being sent down.

Jonah Tong threw a gem for High-A Brooklyn on Wednesday: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO. He now has a 3.38 ERA on the season.

Luisangel Acuña had his 9th multi-hit game of his last 15 games. He has 26 hits, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases during that span for Triple-A Syracuse.

Latest MLB News

The Houston Astros signed former Mets catcher Omar Narváez to a minor league deal, per Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston. The Mets released Narváez on June 5.

Shohei Ohtani set a Dodgers franchise record by becoming the first player to record an RBI in 10 straight games.

The Astros lose yet another pitcher as J.P. France will be undergoing surgery on his shoulder and will miss the remainder of thr 2024, per his agent Nate Heisler of Klutch Sports. José Urquidy and Cristian Javier are also going to miss the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers have missed the first half of the 2024 season, and Justin Verlander has also missed time this season.

MLB announced the participants in the 2024 All-Star Celebrity Softball game, including Pedro Martínez, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers and former NFL star Terrell Owens. 

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN dives into Trajekt Arc, which is a machine that can replicate every pitch thrown in MLB, down to the mph and RPM. Hitters can use the machine during games and is the latest advancement for batters to use in attempt to keep up with continuous pitch development.

Justin Verlander, who is eligible to come off the IL on Monday, will not accompany the Astros to New York, according to Houston’s manager Joe Espada, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. He also noted that Verlander is getting better, but still has not played catch yet.

Michael Kay complained about SNY saying the Mets had the best booth in baseball.

Latest on MMO

Brett Baty keeps raking in Triple-A. 

Mark Vientos had his signature Subway Series moment on Tuesday.

Harrison Bader gets revenge against his old squad.

On This Date in Mets History

2008: Carlos Delgado sets a Mets franchise record by driving in nine runs in one game. Delgado hit a two-run double, three-run home run, and a grand slam in a Mets big win over the Yankees.

1962: The Mets sign a 17-year-old first baseman, Ed Kranepool. The original Met would go on to play 18 seasons with the club.

Birthdays: Abraham Almonte (35), Chris Woodward (48), Ricardo Jordan (54), Jeff Conine (58)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Place Drew Smith On IL appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The ’19 team, managed by Allison Waxman, looked on their way to another shocking series win, but David Wright and the ’06 Mets, managed by myself, turned their real-life Game 7 woes around.

The ’06 Mets ultimately took the series in seven games behind a game-winning, walk off solo home run by Wright in Game 7. But the series ended up extremely entertaining, and damnit, Pete Alonso‘s rookie season fortunes translated DIRECTLY to Out of the Park. (He had six homers and 12 RBIs in seven games.) The total score of the seven games was 33-31 (advantage ’19)—pretty evenly matched despite assumptions made from the matchup on paper.

Check out how the series played out below and where the ’06 team will go from here!

Want to give Out of the Park Baseball a try? Get 10% off your purchase of the latest version of the game when you use the coupon code METSMERIZED at checkout.

Game 1

Game 1 was a drubbing, with the ’19 team winning 7-0.

Pedro Martinez got ambushed by Pete Alonso, J.D. Davis and Juan Lagares (yes, you read that right) with homers in the first three innings, and Jacob deGrom (with run support!) shut down the ’06 lineup, who mustered three hits all game.

’19 may have surprised in their last series, but they made a statement starting this one.

Game 2

Zack Wheeler took the hill for Game 2 and faced off against Orlando Hernández. Like his fellow rotation oldie Pedro Martínez, El Duque put up a dud, allowing five runs in three innings. That was capitalized by Pete Alonso’s second home run of the series, an opposite field bomb that brought in three. Wheeler was able to limit damage and pass the game over to Edwin Díaz and Seth Lugo, who shut the door for the ’19 team in an 8-5 win.

The 2019 team is now up 2-0.

Game 3

The 2006 team needed this one, but it wouldn’t come easy.

With Tom Glavine and Noah Syndergaard facing off, each offense popped a couple of homers off the other. Floyd and Beltrán each hit two-run jacks, and Todd Frazier and—guess who—Pete Alonso each got one off Glavine. But the ’06 team was able to string together singles and doubles in the sixth to bring the score to 7-4—a lead that the bullpen would barely hold onto, with Billy Wagner ultimately notching a save in a 7-6 win.

Game 4

Game 4 saw John Maine face off against Marcus Stroman (the ’19 starting rotation was pretty damn good on paper).

The ’06 team, though, went up 2-0 on an RBI single by Endy Chavez and solo homer by David Wright. But Pete freaking Alonso drew them even in the third with a two-run bomb. The game continued back and forth for the next three frames, entering the seventh tied at three. But the ’19 team started pulling away in the seventh. A bases loaded walk to Amed Rosario and a fielders choice by J.D. Davis made it 5-3. The next inning, Wilson Ramos knocked in two on a bases loaded single. Though Shawn Green brought it back within three with a solo shot in the eighth, an Alonso double brought home Jeff McNeil in the ninth to make it 8-4.

The final frame got dicey with Steven Matz on the mound. After getting the first two outs, a single and two walks by Beltrán, Wright and Delgado gave Paul Lo Duca a shot to tie the game with the bases loaded. But he grounded out to third base, and the ’06 team was now on the ropes.

Game 5

The ’06 Mets are now down 3-1 in the series with Jacob deGrom as the opposition in a must-win situation. A tall order. But the ’06 wouldn’t quit. Neither would Pedro Martinez. He tossed seven shutout inning, and the ’06 team strung together two solo home runs—by Carlos Beltrán and Cliff Floyd—and a sac fly from Shawn Green. All three runs were off deGrom in the first four innings. Then the ’06 bullpen shut the door the rest of the game, with Wagner notching his second save of the series.

Game 6

In a must-win Game 6, El Duque and Wheeler faced off again. But this time, Hernández got the best of the matchup with six one-run innings in a drubbing by ’06.

David Wright got his second of the series in the top of the first, and Alonso got his SIXTH in the second. But the ’06 team started pulling away in the fourth with a four-run frame—Cliff Floyd and Endy Chavez both contributed RBI extra-base hits. But Carlos Beltrán put the icing on the cake in the eighth inning with a grand slam, putting the Mets up 11-3 for good.

Game 7

Game 7. It didn’t go great for the real-life ’06 team. The ’19 team never made the playoffs. It ended up as a pitching duel between Marcus Stroman and Tom Glavine.

Through six innings, both starters allowed a single run—a homer each to Carlos Delgado and J.D. Davis. The game was handed over to the bullpen, and combinations of Aaron Heilman, Pedro Feliciano, Robert Gsellman and Steven Matz pitched clean frames in the seventh and eighth.

Billy Wagner entered the game for the ’06 team in the top of the 9th, but three of the first four batters—Michael Conforto, Todd Frazier, and Juan Lagares—all got on base. Lagares was the third, and his single to center could’ve brought Conforto, but Waxman played conservative with one out and the bases now loaded. But Wagner settled in and retired Nimmo, and Chad Bradford entered to retire Rosario. Onto the bottom of the ninth.

Matz continued into the ninth with Seth Lugo warming. He started the frame getting Beltrán to fly out. Waxman weighed bringing in Lugo, but she stuck with Matz. David Wright came up and played hero, mashing a 438-foot homer to dead center. The 2006 team completed the comeback. Onto the semis!

MVP

David Wright wins the MVP of this series. He had three homers and seven RBIs, the most important one on the last pitch of the series. He got on base 11 times over seven games with a .878 OPS.

I debated giving this to Alonso, given his SIX home runs and 12 RBIs across seven games, but Wright had the last laugh and closed the book on this one.

What’s Next

The ’06 team will face off against either the 1988 Mets or the 1969 Miracle Mets in the semifinals. You can read a preview of that series here. Stay tuned to see who makes it!

The post Mets Madness Recap: ’06 Mets Best ’19 Mets in Thrilling Seven Games appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Each round will be best-of-seven. We will post only a series recap of the first round and then will be more detailed in our posting as we get deeper into the competition. We will also be giving folks access to 10% off coupons for downloading the game and giving away codes to download the game for free.

1985 METS

Prevented an opportunity to play for a championship during a time when playoff spots were scarce, the 1985 Mets finally get their chance. The year before *the* year gave a great indication of this team’s potential. Gary Carter’s debut season in Queens was arguably his best, leading the team with 32 homers and 100 RBIs

Keith Hernandez was his usual consistent self, batting over .300 and collecting another Gold Glove, while Darryl Strawberry continued to emerge despite a mid-season injury. Two young starting pitchers, Ron Darling and Sid Fernandez, each produced ERAs under 3.00 and the back of the bullpen was solidified with Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco recording 17 saves apiece.

Oh, and there was this kid named Dwight Gooden at the peak of his power. Quality pitching, especially an ace, is coveted for a short series. And there may not be a better card to play than 20-year-old Doc.

These Mets had 98 wins and were still three games shy of a division title, the only avenue to the postseason. Their first-round opponent had one fewer victory and took the NL East in a runaway.

2006 METS

Remember that team that really broke your heart? Well, I get to play with them!

Highlighted by Carlos Beltrán‘s look at strike three, the ’06 was the team from the mid-00s that had the best chance to win the World Series. And not just because they reached Game 7 of the NLCS.

The ’06 team’s top of the lineup was one of the best in the league–and one of the best in team history. José Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltrán and Carlos Delgado all had an OPS over .840. Beltrán himself finally broke out as a Met, too, crushing 41 homers (tied for a team record at the time) and put up 8.2 WAR–good for second-best in MLB behind Albert Pujols.

The pitching staff on this team resembled the 2023 in that they were OLD. Pedro Martinez (34), Tom Glavine (40), Orlando “El Duque” Hernández (40) and Steve Trachsel (35) made a combined 105 starts, and the young John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and others started the rest of them. And with a bullpen anchored by Billy Wagner, who could still strikeout everyone at 34, and Pedro Feliciano, who started a five-year stretch of greatness in ’06, this team was destined for good things. That didn’t happen.

But could it when facing off against other historic Mets teams?

Who do you think will win this matchup?

The post Mets Madness Series Preview: 1985 Mets vs. 2006 Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Max Scherzer. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, May 21, 2023 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.22) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.88)
WPIX

The New York Mets look to extend their winning streak to four games and get above .500 this afternoon when they take on the Cleveland Guardians for the first game of a doubleheader. Yesterday afternoon’s game was washed out, which was probably a good thing for the Mets as their bullpen had been overtaxed the last three games. Now we have a split-admission doubleheader probable lineup for the ages as Max Scherzer pitches in the afternoon followed by Justin Verlander tonight.

The last time New York was in action, Friday night, was another incredibly exciting win for the Mets who were down 3-0 early. Pete Alonso tied the game with a grand slam in the seventh inning. The baby Mets (specifically Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty) had home runs as well and eventually the Mets won the game via a walk-off single from Francisco Lindor.

Mets’ Lineup

Let's play two! #LGM

🆚 Cleveland
💪 @Max_Scherzer
📺 WPIX
📻 @wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/avtLOYOEPf

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 21, 2023

Max Scherzer has pitched 27 2/3 innings over six games posting a 4.88 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 1.301 WHIP, and an 86 ERA+. He is coming off of one his better starts this season where he held the Washington Nationals to one run via two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings.

He has now hit a season high of six strikeouts in three different starts – those have also been his best starts (this is excluding the start against the Dodgers, but he was heading toward at least six strikeouts before he was ejected). The Guardians have the following career numbers against Scherzer:

• Amed Rosario 5-17, 2B, HR, 8 K
• Josh Bell 5-12, 3 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• José Ramírez 1-6, 2B, 2 K
• Andrés Giménez 1-4, 3B, 2 K
• Cam Gallagher 1-3, K
• Josh Naylor 1-3
• Mike Zunino 0-3, K

Guardians’ Lineup

Cleveland Guardians Starting Lineup 5/21
1. Kwan OF
2. Rosario SS
3. Ramirez 3B
4. Naylor DH
5. Bell 1B
6. Arias OF
7. Freeman 2B
8. Zunino C
9. Straw OFhttps://t.co/9qdcv6EMaO

— 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 MLB (@LineStarMLB) May 21, 2023

The Mets’ bats will get a look at rookie Tanner Bibee. In his first four major-league starts he has has tossed 22 1/3 innings posting a 3.22 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 1.030 WHIP, and a 133 ERA+. Bibee had a rough start against the Detroit Tigers back on May 8 where he allowed four runs via seven hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings. He bounced back in a big way against the Angels his time out, holding them to only one run from two hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out seven.

Game Notes

Relief pitcher Josh Walker will serve as the Mets’ 27th man for the doubleheader for each game.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, the Mets will be the first team to start pitchers who have each won three-plus Cy Young awards in both ends of the doubleheader in Scherzer and Verlander. Coincidentally enough, the only team to start two pitchers who even won two-plus Cy Young awards were also the Mets: Pedro Martínez and Johan Santana in 2008.

The Mets, along with all of Major League Baseball, will celebrate Armed Services Weekend. The team will wear military inspired caps and socks for the entire series against the Guardians.

Three Things To Watch For

1. The Mets are showing power again! Álvarez hit his fifth homer of the year and Baty hit his fourth in the Mets’ last game. It was also the third time in four games that New York hit three home runs in the same game. This now gives the Mets 51 home runs on the season, good for 14th in the league (they were sitting at 20th at the start of the week). In the last seven calendar days the Mets have hit 10 home runs (all in the last four games), which puts them sixth in the league.
2. The Baby Mets. Álvarez, Baty and Vientos have been crucial for the Mets during this current winning streak. Pete Alonso leads the team with 17 home runs. Lindor has six. After that, Álvarez is third on the team with five homers and Baty is tied for fourth with four long balls. Vientos hit that critical shot in his first game with New York. When the kids are playing they are pushing the team forward.
3. Bullpen Check: The Mets’ bullpen probably did not complain that yesterday’s game was cancelled. Five pitchers were used in yesterday’s game including Dominic Leone (25 pitches), Drew Smith (19 pitches), Stephen Nogosek (18 pitches), Adam Ottavino (16 pitches) and David Robertson (nine pitches). Nogosek, Ottavino and Robertson have each tossed at least 37 pitches in their last three games. They could use a break.

The post MMO Game Thread: Guardians vs. Mets, 1:40 P.M. (Game 1) appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. The No. 3-ranked entry was Billy Wagner — a dominant closer beginning in 2006. Next up was another member of that ’06 club, who remains still under-appreciated for his standout and steady play at the plate and in the field. 

He parlayed an astounding 2004 playoff performance into a free-agency bidding war.

New Mets general manager Omar Minaya, like other team executives, was enamored with the mastery Carlos Beltrán demonstrated on the October stage as a Houston Astro. It included eight homers, 20 hits, a .435 batting average, and an on-base percentage above .500. All this came following a stellar regular season that saw him eclipse 30 home runs for the first time in his still-young career and surpass the 100-RBI barrier for the fifth time in his six years.

Who was to fault the Mets to froth over the prospect of a 27-year-old switch-hitting, five-tool center fielder teamed with a pair of up-and-coming infielders named David Wright and José Reyes along with fellow free-agency pickup Pedro Martinez?

For fans who suffered through a third straight season well below .500, no price — not even $119 million over seven years — was too much. Beltrán went on to average 30 homers, 108 RBIs, and 39 doubles (per 162 games). Before surgery wreaked havoc on his knee, he was among the most successful and timely baserunners, stealing around 20 a year at an 84 percent clip.

But the most downplayed aspect of his well-rounded talents was his defense. Beltrán’s range made him an elite center fielder and a three-time Gold Glove recipient. He got to would-be hits gracefully, not acrobatically. His speed and his knack for reading the ball off hitters’ bats afforded him the ability to glide over to catches more often than sliding.

He did all that after a rough debut year in which he set career lows in just about every major offensive category, including batting average (.266), homers (16), runs driven in (78), and stolen bases (17).

He rebounded in terrific fashion. Beltrán etched his name into franchise history when he equaled the Mets’ single-season home run mark at 41, a record that would stand for 13 years. He also drove in a career-high 116 runs as New York cruised to the NL East title. He finished fourth in MVP voting but was clearly the most valuable Met with an 8.2 WAR that was easily the highest on the team.

New York’s consecutive end-of-season unravelings were not the fault of their center fielder. Beltrán was one of the few Mets who never caved under the late-season pressure. He tried to right a sinking ship in September ’07 by launching eight homers and driving in 27 runs (more than he had in any other month that year). In September 2008, he hit .344 with an on-base percentage of .440 and an OPS of 1.086.

Injury-riddled 2009 and 2010 seasons preceded another All-Star-caliber year in 2011 (with a 151 OPS+) before being dealt to the San Francisco Giants at the trading deadline for pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

Carlos Beltrán would (and should) make most Mets’ all-time starting lineups, but most fans can only remember that one pitch — a patented wicked curveball from Adam Wainwright — in October 2006.

The context of when it took place makes it the moment we most associate with Beltrán. To use it as a defining moment is an oversimplification. A wide-lens view of his Mets career proves — despite the grand expectations laid upon him from the start—that while he was understated, he wasn’t an underachiever. Regardless of his NLCS-ending strikeout or the circumstances that led to his abrupt managerial career, Beltrán’s Mets legacy should be as the best center fielder this team has had and among the most significant free-agent signings.

The post Mets Best Free-Agent Signing No. 2: Carlos Beltrán appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. We’ve highlighted four pitchers so far, one of which is heading for Cooperstown and another who’s already there. Next is another pitcher who also has a Hall plaque who was one of the greatest pitchers of his era before arriving in New York.

It’s not about what he did, it’s about what came after him.

Pedro Martínez was, in many ways, a precursor, to Max Scherzer: a three-time Cy Young winner and Hall of Fame-bound pitcher on the back end of his career who portends future significant acquisitions.

Martínez was 33 and coming off a curse-breaking World Series title with the Boston Red Sox. The best days, at times historically great, were clearly in his past. But Mets fans were definitely granted glimpses of vintage Pedro, especially in 2005 — which turned out to be his only great season in New York.

The most significant effect of the signing was that it rejuvenated a fan base that had seen three dreadful seasons in a row and created an influx of talent that followed him, most notably Carlos Beltrán later that offseason. It’s a guarantee that without Pedro, there would be no Beltrán.

The first major deal for general manager Omar Minaya, at four years and $53 million, brought instant credibility for an organization devoid of such credit. And Martínez’s presence on the mound created a buzz around his starts, especially at Shea Stadium.

Even though he had yet to reach his mid-30s, Martínez — with a slight frame that belied his overpowering stuff — had logged 200 or more regular season innings in six of the past eight years (not counting his multiple playoff appearances). Yet he was able to throw 217 more in 2005, the name number he tallied in ’04.

In another All-Star season, Martínez had a league-leading 0.95 WHIP — the sixth time he led his league in that category and the fifth time he led the majors. Martínez won 15 games with a 2.82 ERA and 208 strikeouts. He tossed four complete games, the most for him since 2000, and topped all Mets in WAR. At 7.0, that number ranks tenth all-time in franchise history for pitchers.

His outing on September 16 at Shea Stadium may have been his best of the year, one in which Pedro fanned struck out 10 Atlanta Braves to highlight a complete-game shutout.

As the Mets improved their roster for 2006, acquiring Carlos Delgado in a trade with the Marlins, Martínez wasn’t able to maintain the zip on his fastball as the year progressed. The disparity between his heater and his curveball lessened and making him less effective than in his heyday.

He was again an All-Star but he soon was not the same Pedro from even a year ago. Injuries, to his right calf and his shoulder, were the main culprit. By the end of May, he had 88 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA. After that, his ERA was 7.10. As the Mets cruised to the NL East crown, his presence in the rotation as October would have still been invaluable, especially if he was healthy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Martínez’s shoulder kept him out the postseason. It would be almost a year until he returned to the mound.

He made five starts at the tail end of the 2007 season and pitched to a 2.57 ERA, giving hope he could sustain this level the following year. But a strained hamstring in April put him out for over two months. He would finish out his Mets career with a 5.61 ERA over 20 starts before joining the Phillies for 2009.

Pedro Martínez initiated a new era for the Mets. Even if it wasn’t the pitcher who dominated with the Expos or Red Sox, his charisma brought about a certain excitement, not to mention other players who wanted to be part of the fun. Some signings wind up being more about the player’s appeal than the player’s performance. And that was certainly the case here. 

The post Mets Best Free-Agent Signing No. 4: Pedro Martínez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets held their first Old Timers’ Day since 1994, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Complete with a surprise number retirement, a fake mustache and a bunch of old guys having fun on a baseball field, the festivities honored Mets history at Citi Field Saturday afternoon.

“Big day at the ballpark as we welcome back Mets legends spanning 60 years,” Mets owner Steve Cohen wrote on Twitter before the game.

A crew of old-timers — including Mike Piazza and Bobby Valentine — gathered on the bus before the game, chanting “Let’s go Mets!” in a video courtesy of SNY. It followed with a red carpet entrance.

Players young and old milled about in the outfield, sharing advice and wisdom from one generation to another. Jacob deGrom was seen conversing with Al Leiter and Glendon Rusch. Miracles starter Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon was also suited up, bringing back familiar memories for Mets fans who remember his time in New York.

Jose Reyes made an appearance as well, and in his meeting with reporters he compared the current Mets to the 2006 team.

“They look like the 2006 team. The chemistry that they have, it’s unbelievable. It’s really good to see,” Reyes said. “So hopefully they can continue to be like that, and they can stay healthy the rest of the way.”

Cleon Jones, meanwhile, compared the current team to the 1969 Miracle Mets.

“Everything about this team,” Jones said. “You’ve got great ownership that put all the pieces in place, from the manager to the players. Now all the players have to do is go out and put their best foot forward. This team reminds me of the ’69 team. We were platooning a lot, and sometimes we didn’t know we were platooning.”

Keith Hernandez wearing the orange and blue pinstripes was a sight to behold, as the broadcaster went back to his roots to take on a slightly different role on Saturday. Amazins starter Dwight Gooden took the field too, appearing to share pregame strategies with Mets radio announcer Rose.

He's Keith Hernandez. #MetsOTD pic.twitter.com/naflFXw2Ce

— New York Mets (@Mets) August 27, 2022

Warmups continued with batting practice, where Piazza took some good hacks. He even went deep!

The old-timers posed for a team photo, and then it was time for the introductions. Rose individually introduced each member, briefly noting their accomplishments and significance to the franchise. Benny Agbayani and Pedro Martinez were particularly pumped to be there, as they so clearly expressed here and here.

A highlight from the ceremony — which even induced a laugh from Rose — was Valentine walking out with a fake mustache.

But the biggest highlight came at the end, when Rose shocked everyone with a surprise announcement. As a way to fulfill a promise made by late Mets owner Joan Payson, the team will retire Willie Mays‘ number 24. For more on the Mays number retirement, check out our story on that.

The teams — the Amazins and Miracles — played three innings of fun, relaxed baseball. They cycled through pitchers, which included Colon, Gooden, Leiter, Jesse Orosco and many more.

A mic’d up Mood Zeile was heard giving out defensive pointers in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Leiter threw that one that was just slightly outside the strike zone. Meanwhile, Steve Gelbs sat down with Jay Hook, a member of the original 1962 Mets. Another original Met, Steve Dillon, came in to pitch during the second inning.

Martinez joined the SNY booth (which was just Gary Cohen) as well, talking about what his Mets career meant to him.

“I was really happy to have been part of the Mets organization,” Martinez said. “I felt like there were some duties to fulfill between me, the fanbase and the organization. I was just talking to Jacob deGrom, and I just asked him for a huge favor. I know it’s not easy, but I just went and told him, ‘Do it for me.'”

Martinez went on to enter the game, striking out Howard Johnson with some help from Zeile behind the plate.

Gelbs caught up with 1986 World Series MVP Ray Knight later in the second inning while Martinez pitched. At that point, the Miracles were up to a 5-1 lead over the Amazins.

Piazza appeared to switch teams in the third inning, and he promptly collected a base hit. Mookie Wilson also made a great catch, helping the Miracles eventually hold onto a luxurious 8-1 victory.

Despite the lopsided score, there were no losers in this celebration of Mets history. The first Old Timers’ Day in 28 years was a roaring success, one filled with laughs, memories and special moments.

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