The Mets, who are hosting their first version of fan fest in nearly five years on Saturday, released their star-studded lineup for the day. Amazin’ Day, where fans will be able to hear from and meet current and former Mets players, will have some of the biggest names in the franchise’s history available. Some of those names include Mike Piazza, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Mookie Wilson, Edwin Díaz, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo. It should be an exciting day in Queens as the club will also be releasing its new road uniforms for the 2025 season.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Jeff McNeil says he’s “a little surprised” Pete Alonso is still a free agent and hopes his “good buddy” re-signs with the Mets, per Anthony Rieber of Newsday.

The Mets announced that they will be revealing a brand new road jersey at Mets “Amazin’ Day” on Saturday. 

Latest MLB News

Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will launch a hitting competition called “Sluggball”, per The AP. The competition will focus entirely on situational hitting, with no fielding or running required.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are shopping some of their surplus of players in order to get add their new acquisitions to the 40-man roster, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. One player possibly on the chopping block is reliever Ryan Brasier, who is owed $4.5 million this season. 

On MLB Network, Jon Heyman of the NY Post went into detail on how the Toronto Blue Jays could be an ideal destination for former Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.

Former all-star shortstop Tim Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. 

The Cleveland Guardians signed former Met Paul Sewald to a one-year, $7 million deal with a mutual option for 2026.

The Oakland Athletics hired former World Series MVP and Athletics Hall of Famer Dave Stewart as a Special Assistant to Player Development for the 2025 season.

MLB Network will broadcast the 2025 Caribbean Series in English starting January 31.

Former Seattle Mariners pitching coach Bobby Cuellar passed away at 72 years old. 

Infielder Jon Berti agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs on a contract, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

Latest on MMO

David Wright stays on the HOF ballot!

Billy Wagner finally gets the call!

Four Mets prospects land on Baseball America’s top 100 list.

On This Date in Mets History

1975: Ralph Kiner is selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his final year of eligibility.

Born on This Date: Robert Carson (1989), Charlie Greene (1971), Bob Moorhead (1938).

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The Mets dropped the first two games to St. Louis, an extension of an unwanted streak that saw the team lose five of its last six after previously winning four straight series.

With a second consecutive series loss already confirmed, the bats struggled to get hot again on Sunday until the returning Mark Vientos thrilled Citi Field with a stunning walk-off home run to salvage the series finale.

And, in doing so, we were once again reminded that this year will be full of crushing lows and exhilarating highs in equal measure.

By the way, the Mets are 18-7 in extra-inning games since 2022 – the best mark in the majors in that span. Their 25 walk-off wins since 2021 are tied with the Rockies for the seventh-most in the big leagues.

On that note, let’s dive into a packed edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 Up

Apr 27, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a two run home run, his career 200th home run, during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

REDEMPTION TIME

It is time to give Mark Vientos all the flowers. The young DH hasn’t exactly had it easy in his quest to become an everyday major league player for the Mets. Following the addition of proven slugger J.D. Martinez, Vientos was banished back to the minors with a bad taste in his mouth. However, he raked at Triple-A Syracuse and with Starling Marte placed on the bereavement list, Vientos earned a trip back to the big leagues.

This all set the stage for Sunday. Thanks to some sublime hitting from Harrison Bader with two outs in the 11th inning, Vientos got his chance to remind everyone of what he’s capable of. And, boy, did he take his chance. Facing a 1-2 count, Vientos absolutely destroyed a fastball in the top of the zone, sending it over the centerfield fence for a two-run bomb that won the game for the Mets in walk-off fashion. It was a beautiful moment for Vientos, who wasn’t afraid to show how much that breakout moment meant to him. Talk about sweet redemption.

MAKING HISTORY

Pete Alonso continues to etch his name in the history books for the Mets. The All-Star slugger blasted his 200th career home run on Saturday. In doing so, he became the fourth-fastest player to reach that milestone in MLB history. Alonso needed just 710 career games to hit 200 homers. He trails only Ralph Kiner (706), Aaron Judge (671) and Ryan Howard (658). Alonso, who walked three times in Sunday’s game, continues to underline his importance to this organization. Should he re-sign with the team next offseason, it is becoming increasingly likely that Alonso will be the best power hitter in franchise history.

GOING LONG

Sunday was just an encouraging day all around for the Mets. Sure, the offense struggled again until Mark Vientos’ heroics in extra-innings. But the team did get great starting pitching and, more importantly, length from José Quintana. The lefty tossed an absolute gem, allowing just one run on three hits with one walk while striking out three. More significantly, though, Quintana became the first Mets starter this season to pitch into the eighth inning. As a result, the bullpen got a much-needed breather, and Quintana flashed the upside he has when he’s really locked in on the mound.

3 DOWN

Adrian Houser. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

STRANDED

If there was a recurring theme in the series against the Cardinals, it would be the offense failing to come up in big spots. The lineup went 2-for-11 with RISP on Friday, 1-for-7 on Saturday and 1-for-16 in Sunday’s finale. A ton of runners were left stranded on base all weekend long, making it too easy for St. Louis. Until Harrison Bader kept the game alive in the 11th inning on Sunday, the Mets had failed to record a single hit in 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position. That simply won’t get the job done. The offense needs to carry the blame for the recent slump in form. Otherwise, it is a trend that will only continue if the bats don’t start coming up clutch with runners on.

HURTING

This Mets bullpen is stellar. There is no denying that. However, cracks are starting to appear. Due to the incredible workload the pen has been asked to shoulder, bodies are falling. Brooks Raley was the first to go on the IL with elbow inflammation. Drew Smith has now joined Raley on the 15-day IL with shoulder soreness. Those are two big blows for an already overworked bullpen, and it remains to be seen how many knocks it can take before regression starts to hit.

NOT WORKING OUT

Adrian Houser continues to implode for the Mets. In his latest start, the righty was shelled again, allowing six runs on nine hits. Houser didn’t get out of the fourth inning and now owns an ugly 8.37 ERA. That isn’t exactly what you want. More worrying is the fact that Houser has issued more walks (16) than strikeouts (14) in his five starts this year. At this point, what do the Mets have to lose by bumping Houser out of the rotation and calling up highly-vaunted prospect Christian Scott? It just doesn’t make sense to allow Houser to keep getting battered on the mound.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets’ Walk-Off Heroics Highlight Of Series Loss To Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Today’s biggest news is that Baltimore Orioles owner John Angelos has agreed to sell the team in a deal worth $1.725 billion to a group led by Baltimore billionaire David Rubenstein. Puck News first reported the deal. 

Mike Arougheti, the co-founder of Ares Management Corp., is a major player in the deal. Rubenstein is worth $4.6 billion, according to Forbes, while Arougheti is worth $1.8 billion. Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reports that former Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. will be part of the ownership group. 

A timeline for the deal to be completed is unknown. 

The Orioles surprised many this past season as its young core won 101 games and cruised to an AL East title. 

Baltimore is home to some of the sport’s brightest young stars, with the likes of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman dazzling the loyal fans at Camden Yards. 

Due to Angelos’ stingy spending style, it was long expected a number of the young stars finding their stride in the majors were going to follow a path blazed by Manny Machado and find their riches elsewhere after their first contract. With new ownership, there may be reason to be optimistic about that fact. 

Latest Mets News 

The Mets announced the return of Adam Ottavino on a one-year contract. 

The Athletic published the annual Mets fan survey.

The Mets signed José Rondón to a minor league deal. 

Andy Martino of SNY said pitcher Brandon Woodruff is “worth keeping an eye on” for Mets fans. 

Latest MLB News

Pieces of a stolen Jackie Robinson statue were found burned in Kansas. A GoFundMe to replace the statue has been made. 

Justin Turner will sign with the Blue Jays, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Longtime New York Post writer Andrew Marchand has announced he is leaving for The Athletic. 

The Yankees are signing outfielder Greg Allen to a minor league contract, per Robert Murray of Fansided. 

The Royals made a trade with the Mariners to clear a roster spot with Adam Frazier, per Mark Feinsand of mlb.com. 

World Series MVP Corey Seager underwent sports hernia surgery, the Rangers announced. 

The Cubs are the most likely landing spot for Cody Bellinger, per Morosi. 

Nick Solak is joining the Mariners on a minor league contract, per Murray. 

Latest on MMO 

Christian De Block profiles free agent Brandon Belt. 

The Mets Madness series between the 2006 and 2019 Mets went seven games. Patrick Glynn details the thrilling series. 

If the Mets have to choose between adding pitching or power, what should they do? Patrick Glynn gives an answer. 

On this Date in Mets History

1962: Ralph Kiner officially signed on to the Mets broadcast team, kickstarting a stint full of memorable moments, affectionately remembered as “Kinerisms.” 

Birthdays: Alex Claudio (32), Guillermo Heredia (33), Rafael Santana (66), Bob Apodaca (74), Nolan Ryan (77)

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Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to imagine a recent Mets moment without Howie Rose or Gary Cohen. And it’s impossible for many Mets fans to watch or listen to a game without them.

They are direct descendants of a generation that saw and heard Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner, and Lindsey Nelson. That’s what makes them beloved: they are who we are. Howie and Gary are not transplants.  They became a central part of our Mets’ lives in the 80s, but they’ve essentially been a part of it since the early days. Their loyalty to the Mets has been evident over the decades on the air, supported by an encyclopedic knowledge of the team’s history.

On June 1, 2012, each raised their level just as Johan Santana was doing the same. As the night culminated in the franchise’s first no-hitter following more than 50 years of trying, Rose and Cohen fully understood its significance.

They’ve been there as the soundtrack for many happy moments — every “put it in the books” and every “outta here.”

They’ve been there when the only reason to follow the game is to hear them — for familiarity, reflection, and humor.

Rose began doing play-by-play for the Mets in 1996, but he’s been a presence at Mets games dating back to 1987 when he hosted pre-and post-game shows for WFAN. In 1989, Cohen joined the radio broadcasts and paired with Murphy through the 1990s and early 2000s.

It was on the radio that Gary implemented his signature home run call — repeating it if the occasion warranted it.

While Gary was doing then what Howie does now, Howie was the television voice. The networks may have changed but he hasn’t. His call of the Mike Piazza home run on September 21, 2001 — letting the crowd tell the story — remains unforgettable.

Howie has excelled with various partners while Gary is the master of ceremonies alongside Keith and Ron — the best television broadcast in the business and so engrained saying their last names would be unnecessary. A Mets game on FOX or ESPN is more than enough reason to press mute, sync up the radio broadcast, and bring in some normalcy.

After all, who else would we want to hear about the pennant victory in 2015?

When the miracle in San Diego took place in 2016 off the bat of Bartolo Colon, the amazement and amusement from both of them were clearly apparent (only the Gary call can be found).

The sound of Gary Cohen’s excitement is special enough. Watching him react has been a perfect accompaniment.

The post Gary Cohen and Howie Rose: The Voices of Mets Summers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tim McCarver, a major-league catcher for 21 seasons and a Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Mets games for 16 years, has passed away at the age of 81.

McCarver was known nationally as the analyst for a record 24 World Series and 22 All-Star Games and received the Ford C. Frick Award in 2012.

He joined the Mets broadcast team in 1983 after a playing career that lasted over two decades with four different clubs. McCarver provided television play-by-play and analysis, paired with many including fellow Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, and was there for the rise and success of the organization over the rest of the 1980s.

The Mets released the following statement on McCarver’s passing. “We are saddened to learn of the passing today of Tim McCarver, who for 16 years in the television booth gave Mets fans an insightful, humorous and knowledgeable behind the scenes look into the game of baseball.

Tim drew on his 21-year career as a catcher to give viewers a unique opinion on what went on between the lines. We send our condolences to his daughters, Kathy and Kelley, and the rest of the McCarver family.”

In 1985, McCarver called the first of many World Series for ABC. He would later do the same for CBS and FOX where he established himself as one of the most influential voices in the sport.

His network presence allowed McCarver to be on-hand and on the mic for several Mets postseason moments: the 1986 National League Championship Series against Houston, the 1988 NLCS loss to Los Angeles, Benny Agbayani‘s game-winning homer in the 2000 National League Division Series, later that year’s NLCS triumph against the Cardinals and the World Series defeat to the Yankees, and the 2006 NLCS loss against St. Louis.

The last of McCarver’s 21 All-Star Games was held at Citi Field in 2013. He stepped away from the FOX booth at the conclusion of that season.

Before McCarver spoke on his many World Series, he played in two — as a member of the 1964 and 1967 St. Louis Cardinals. The durable catcher was twice an All-Star selection, remarkably had a league-leading 13 triples in 1966, and was NL MVP runner-up in ’67. He also played for the Phillies, Expos, and Red Sox before retiring in 1980 as one of a handful to be major leaguer in four different decades.

Thoughts from Joe D

This one really hurts… Before Gary Cohen came along, Tim McCarver was my favorite Mets announcer. He not only entertained us with his myriad of colorful tales from his time as a player, but he taught me everything about the rules and strategies of the game. His pleasant southern charm came through in his voice and his knowledge of the game was unbound. I grew up with Tim and in many ways, he steered me into a lifelong appreciation of the game and of course the Mets. I’m going to miss him. Rest in peace, Tim.

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On December 19, it was reported that Wayne Randazzo will not return to the Mets’ radio broadcast booth for the 2023 season.  Reports are that Randazzo will be the next play-by-play announcer on TV for the Angels. His now former partner calling Mets games, Howie Rose, had this to say on Twitter:

I’m not at liberty yet to comment on @WayneRandazzo’s next move, but it’s all good and I am thrilled for him.

— Howie Rose (@HowieRose) December 19, 2022

The Mets’ radio booth has expectedly seen turnover during the team’s 61 years of existence. Let’s take a look back at the voices who have brought Mets games to our transistor radios, automobiles, and now streaming devices since 1962

1962-1978

For the Mets’ first 17 seasons, both the television and radio booths were remarkably stable. As was customary in those days, the Mets used a three-man rotating schedule, with the broadcasters doing both radio and television during each game. Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner, and Lindsey Nelson shared the duties on both media, each with a distinctive style. Kiner was the former player, who brought stories of playing for Branch Rickey on bad Pirates’ teams. Nelson was the quintessential sports broadcaster, who had a history of working all sports-though ironically, he had done little baseball before joining the Mets. Murphy had done other sports, but had spent most of his time broadcasting baseball, for the Red Sox, Orioles, and then the Mets.

This group was together for the 1969 championship, when Nelson spent some time in the NBC television booth with Curt Gowdy calling the World Series against the Orioles (things were quite different then). After the 1978 season, Nelson left the Mets for the San Francisco Giants, and the long run for the crew was over. While the three shared great Mets’ moments, their work during the 1977 blackout was epic. No one saw the blackout coming, it seemingly was just another night at Shea Stadium with a small crowd watching the Mets, who had traded Tom Seaver a month before, take on the Chicago Cubs. Here is a five-minute clip of their improvising on that strange and scary night.

1979-1981

Steve Albert replaced Nelson for the 1979 season,  joining Kiner and Murphy, and had the immediate challenge of calling the games of a team going through a painful rebuild. Albert joined the booth at 27 years of age, with a broadcasting pedigree from his brothers Marv Albert and Al Albert. Over the course of his career, Albert called baseball, football, and baseball. He also did sports anchor work on television and radio newscasts.

Albert did both radio and television during his short tenure with the Mets, rotating during each game as the crew had done since 1962,

1982-1984

After the 1981 season, the Mets made the decision to have dedicated radio and television broadcasters. The radio booth became a two-man show, with Murphy and newcomer, Steve LaMar. The television duties were given to Kiner, and newcomer Lorn Brown.

LaMar had been the play-by-play man for the Durham Bulls before joining the Mets. He had a very professional style, which paired well with Murphy’s Oklahoma twang and penchant for unique phraseology (“happy recap,” “trying to throw a fastball by him is like trying to sneak a sunrise by a rooster”). Murphy and LaMar teamed for the beginning of the Mets’ rebirth, as their younger players began joining the team in 1983, and they added Keith Hernandez. The 1984 team won 90 games, and as the Mets were getting ready for the next level, they made another broadcasting change for the 1985 season.

1985-1988

Going into the 1985 season, the Mets brought Gary Thorne in to join Murphy in the radio booth. Thorne worked with Murphy for the 1986 postseason, and was in the booth when Murphy made this unforgettable call during Game Six.

Thorne had a very busy schedule while he was with the Mets. He was the television broadcaster for the New Jersey Devils from 1987-1993, and along the way had several conflicts between his hockey and baseball duties during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. The Mets did not bring him back for the 1989 season, and Thorne went on to do quite a bit of national television work, later becoming the Orioles’ MASN television broadcaster from 2007-2019. The Mets did reunite with Thorne during the 2021 season, when he did fill-in work Gary Cohen on SNY. Thorne also did one game on WCBS radio in 2022, taking Wayne Randazzo’s place on September 23 in Oakland.

1989-2003

For the 1989 season, the Mets introduced Gary Cohen in the WFAN radio booth to work with Murphy. Cohen had done radio in minor league baseball, including work with the Spartanburg Spinners, Durham Bulls, and Pawtucket Red Sox. Cohen, of course, remains the voice of the Mets on SNY. Murphy was in failing health, and retired after the 2003 season. He would pass away less than a year later, leaving just Kiner from the original broadcast crew.

2004-2005

Howie Rose, the current radio voice of the Mets, replaced Murphy in the radio booth for the 2004 season, and worked with Cohen for two seasons (when Cohen moved to SNY). Rose was a familiar name on the Mets’ airwaves, having done “Mets Extra,” the radio postgame show in the 1980s and 1990s, then working Mets games on television into the early 2000s. Rose has also worked extensively in hockey, as the play-by-play voice of both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

2006-2007

With Cohen’s migration to SNY, the Mets hired Tom McCarthy to work on radio with Rose for the 2006 season. McCarthy is now the lead play-by-play man on Philadelphia Phillies’ television broadcasts. McCarthy had been the Phillies’ radio voice from 2001-2005 before joining the Mets. McCarthy has also done NFL television work.

2008-2011

When McCarthy returned to the Phillies, the Mets hired Wayne Hagin for the 2008 season. Hagin had done radio work with the Athletics, Giants, White Sox and Cardinals prior to joining the Mets. Hagin had a habit of referring to players by their positions rather than their names (“here’s a ground ball to the second baseman, who throws to the shortstop, back to the first baseman for a double play”). After the 2011 season, the Mets decided to try a new voice to pair with the veteran Rose.

2012-2018

For the 2012 season, Josh Lewin joined Rose to call Mets games on radio. Lewin had done Orioles games on radio, Cubs and Tigers games on television, then became the Texas Rangers’ radio voice from 2002-2011. He and Rose had a great chemistry, with both having sharp senses of humor. At one point, Lewin was not sure if a manager had been ejected. “I’m not sure if the umpire threw him out, Howie. He wasn’t very animated. He just kind of pointed, like he was in a donut shop and said I want that one.” Lewin has also worked San Diego Chargers football games on radio, as well as substitute work on the NHL’s Dallas Stars’ radio network.

2019-2022

After Lewin’s departure, the Mets turned to the man who had been doing the pre and postgame shows on radio, Wayne Randazzo. Randazzo became Rose’s partner on radio, and also did fill-in television work on SNY. Randazzo also had national television work on Apple TV+ last season. As Rose stated in his tweet, we don’t know for sure what may be next for Randazzo, but the Chicago native seems to be a rising star, and may well have landed a prime gig in the Los Angeles market working on the television side for the Angels .

The Mets have mad many roster changes for the 2023 season. Now, they will have to make an addition to their radio booth. Mets on-air quality has always been good. It’s fair to assume they will make a good hire to keep the fanbase entertained for years to come.

The post There Will Be A New Voice On Mets Radio In 2023 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On September 25, 2003, the New York Mets honored their long-time broadcaster, Bob Murphy, with an on-field ceremony before their game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Murphy was about to do what he loved one last time, broadcast a Mets’ game from the team’s radio booth at Shea Stadium. Murphy had been diagnosed with lung cancer, and would pass away less than a year later, on August 3, 2004.

In a sense, Murphy was an original Met, having joined the on-air crew for the inaugural 1962 season. He was teamed with Lindsey Nelson and former Pirates’ and Cubs’ slugger Ralph Kiner, who would be elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1975. From 1962-1978, the three shared television and radio duties (they would rotate during the game, with two in the television booth and one in the radio booth). After the 1978 season, Nelson left the Mets for the San Francisco Giants.

Murphy and Kiner continued to do both radio and television through the 1981 season (Steve Albert had replaced Nelson for the 1979 season and did both as well). After the 1981 campaign, Murphy was assigned to radio only, and worked with Steve Lamar until 1985, when Gary Thorne replaced Lamar. Murphy and Thorne worked together until 1989, when current SNY play-by-play man, Gary Cohen, took over for Thorne and partnered with Murphy until the latter’s retirement after the 2003 season.

Murphy had a very positive, almost jovial style of broadcasting. He seldom criticized the Mets, although during much of his tenure, there was plenty to criticize. In an article in the New York Times in 2004, Murphy was quoted as crediting his upbeat style to Curt Gowdy, with whom he worked in his first major league broadcast booth, that of the Boston Red Sox in the 1950s. Murphy recalled that Gowdy said, ”Let’s announce like we’re friends, just talking to each other.”

Along with Kiner and Nelson, Murphy was a big part of my childhood. While there are many classic Murphy calls that led to his legendary “happy recaps”, here are a few that stand out:

October 25, 1986. Game Six of the World Series, bottom of the 10th inning. Notice how he lets the moment breathe.

October 27, 1986. Game Seven of the World Series as the Mets win it all.

July 25, 1990. The Mets win a game in Philadelphia, after almost blowing a seven-run, ninth inning lead. You’ll hear a familiar voice say, “And they win it on a line drive!”, to which Murphy takes uses that broadcaster’s now signature line, “Oh, wow!”.

Between the Mets and Red Sox, Murphy worked for the Baltimore Orioles. It was a call he made while with the Orioles that was instrumental in his getting the job with the Mets. From the above-cited article:

“He was hired in 1962 by the Mets’ owner, Joan W. Payson, after his two-year announcing stint with the Baltimore Orioles, and he was teamed with Ralph Kiner and Lindsey Nelson. It was a tape of his call of Roger Maris‘s 60th home run against the Orioles in 1961 that piqued Payson’s interest.”

It has been 19 years since we last heard a “happy recap” or about “puffy cumulus clouds.” Here is an MMO hat tip to someone who helped instill the love of baseball to a generation, the late Bob Murphy.

The post Remembering Mets Broadcaster Bob Murphy appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

For the first time since 1994, the Mets are hosting an Old Timers’ Day. What once had been a staple of the organization ever since the team originated has now been revived under the Steve Cohen regime, helped by crowdsourcing on Twitter shortly after taking ownership. The early years of the festivities celebrated New York’s brilliant baseball past, especially in 1977 when they brought out Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays — appropriately — from center field.

Now with 60 years of its own history to look back on, this latest version is entirely orange and blue. It’s a day that will span generations as 65 former Mets are taking part, some of whom date back to the very beginning of the franchise.

Plenty of famous faces will be there: Mike Piazza, Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, and starting pitchers Dwight Gooden and Bartolo Colon, but many others who made an impact on this team’s unique past are also going to be recognized Saturday — and may even take their turn at the plate or on the mound. Here are just a few:

Jay Hook

The Mets have won over 4,630 times and it all began with him. Hook pitched a five-hit complete game and walking one in a 9-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field on April 21, 1962. The Northwestern University alum with a degree in engineering finished ’62 at 8-19 for the 40-120 club and ended his eight-year major league career as a Met in 1964. At 85 years old, Hook will toss out the ceremonial first pitch to Mike Piazza before the present-day Mets take the field for their contest with the Rockies and is hoping to pitch during the Old Timers’ Game.

Frank Thomas

The original Frank Thomas was also an original Met, acquired from the Milwaukee Braves on November 21, 1961. A the three-time All-Star with Pittsburgh clouted at least twenty-five homers in five different seasons—and found similar success with the short left-field porch of the Polo Grounds. He went three straight August games belting two home runs apiece and finished with 34 on the year, a mark which stood for 13 years. Although his power eventually subsided, Thomas topped the 1963 team in RBIs with 60—giving him a two-year total of 154 before getting sent to the Phillies in August 1964.

While Jay Hook is known for a Mets first, Orosco specialized in endings. Specifically in 1986, when he was on the mound for the NLCS and World Series clinchers. Orosco also has ties to the team’s first title, as he was traded to the Mets from Minnesota in exchange for the pitcher who finished the ’69 series, Jerry Koosman. The left-hander who set the MLB record for appearances had his longest stop in Queens, taking up eight of his remarkable 24-year career and racking up 107 saves. Often forgotten in the spotlight of ’86 was his stellar 1983 season, in which he had a 1.47 ERA and was third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Howard Johnson

HoJo might be the most underrated Met ever. There’s certainly a case to be made for him having the greatest hitting season, considering what he did in 1989: 36 homers, 101 RBIs, a league-best 104 runs scored, a career-best 41 stolen bases, and the highest single-season Mets totals in OPS+ (169) and offensive bWAR (8.0). Johnson recorded three 30-30 seasons in all (1987, ’89, ’91) and remains prominent on the franchise hitting leaderboards: fourth in home runs, fourth in RBIs, fourth in runs, and third in steals.

Rafael Santana

The starting shortstop on the 1986 Mets is largely forgotten because he didn’t have the star power of his teammates nor did he put up any tremendous figures with the bat. But Santana was a splendid fielder at shortstop and had the sixth-best defensive bWAR in the NL in ’86. He started all 13 games in the postseason that year, and set NLCS positional records for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances (31). Santana took advantage of the lively ball in 1987, setting career-highs in homers and RBIs.

Terry Leach

The right-handed sidearmer had two separate stints with the Mets in the 1980s and was a godsend to the ’87 club. The loss of Dwight Gooden to drug rehab and Bob Ojeda to injury, among other ailments to New York pitchers, necessitated Leach’s insertion into the rotation. All he did was tally ten consecutive victories, seven of eight as a starter, and have an overall 11-1 record. The Mets were far healthier in ’88, keeping Leach in the bullpen but not keeping him off the mound, as made 52 appearances for the NL East champs and posted a 2.54 ERA.

Rico Brogna

Looking at his Baseball Reference page, it’s hard to believe he only played for the Mets in 228 games over three seasons. Because growing up, I swore he was their first baseman for like eight. Brogna had 138 plate appearances in 1994 but was quite efficient, slashing .351/.380/.626 with an OPS over 1.000. His only full season came in ’95, when those numbers dipped slightly but he still produced 22 homers and drove in 76 with 27 doubles, not to mention being stellar with the glove. A highlight for him came when he hit a walk-off homer on John Franco Day after Franco (and others) were ejected for their involvement in a brawl with the Cubs.

Turk Wendell

There’s quirky, then there’s Turk. Baseball is known for its superstitions and probably no one had more than Wendell. You always could figure out who was coming in to pitch when it was a guy with a shark tooth necklace emerging from the bullpen. Idiosyncrasies aside, he was an oft-used high-leverage reliever during one of the team’s best eras, appearing in 157 games from 1999-00 with a 145 ERA+. If he ends up pitching Saturday and doesn’t throw the rosin bag and jump over the baseline as he jogs to the dugout, we will have not gotten the full Turk Wendell experience.

The post An Old Timers’ Day Primer appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It has been one week since the MLB team owners locked out the players (MLBPA), in a move the owners termed “defensive”, and whose purported intent was to move the negotiations forward for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. So far, the lockout has not achieved its desired endpoint, because the two sides are not even talking (at least not to our knowledge).

From a timing perspective, with the focal point being an on-time start of spring training, there is still an opportunity for an agreement to come together with no impact on the 2022 season. The functional deadline is probably around February 1, to give remaining free agents a chance to learn where they will be playing, trades to be made, and players to have a reasonable timeline to report to their training sites by mid-February.

Should the lockout persist into February, at a minimum spring training will be shortened, which could impact players’ (especially pitchers’) level of preparedness for the season. If the lockout goes into March, the season will be shortened. This is the outcome no one wants, especially the fans. A shortened season would not be unprecedented in baseball.

How did the MLB owners and the MLBPA get to this point? History tells the story. As we know, those who do not heed the lessons of history are condemned to repeat it. Let’s take a top-line look at the history of labor relations in MLB.

Prior to the 1970s, the owners held all the cards. Players were bound to their teams, and teams could pay the players what they felt was reasonable when contracts ran out. Players had two choices. Take it or leave it. Ralph Kiner told the story of being given a pay cut after leading the league in home runs. He was told the team finished last with him, and it could do so without him. In the 1970s, the players began to push back.

1972: The players went on strike for the first time. The issue was the owners’ contribution to the pension fund. The owners refused to give in, hoping to damage or break the union. The strike was settled in 13 days, with the players getting what they wanted. In total, 86 games were lost at the beginning of the season. The games were not made up, and teams played different total numbers of games.

1973: Owners locked out the players in spring training over the issue of salary arbitration. The result was a new CBA that included salary arbitration to be decided by a neutral arbitrator. Spring training started and no games were lost.

1976: This was the big one. Union lead Marvin Miller challenged the reserve clause that bound players to teams, and he won. Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally became the first free agents. Owners angrily locked the players out of spring training, but matters were resolved in March and no regular-season games were lost.

1980: With the CBA about to expire, players went on strike in spring training, canceling the last week. Further labor strife was avoided, temporarily. The 1980 season played without interruption. Free agent compensation remained an open wound.

1981: The players went on strike in June and two months of the season were lost. The issue was free agent compensation, still unresolved from 1980. The agreement reached allowed for teams losing a free agent to select a player from a pool of unprotected players (this cost the Mets Tom Seaver in 1984). The union accepted that, although the compensation system would have somewhat of a drag effect of the desire to sign free agents, the drag would be modest.

1985: The players went on strike for two days in August. The issues were the pension fund and salary arbitration (both repeats).

1990: The owners locked the players out of spring training over free agency and arbitration. The season started a week late, but all games were played.

1994: This one was baseball Armageddon when the players went on strike in August and the game was shut down until the following April. At one point, President Clinton had both sides at the White House, and they still could not reach an agreement. That’s how deeply the animosities ran.

The animosity and mistrust are palpable during the current negotiations (or lack of negotiations). The names have changed over the years, from Bowie Kuhn to Bud Selling, from Donald Fehr to Tony Clark, but the tonality between the players and owners remains the same.

The tension was on display last year when the two sides could not agree on the length of the season, when it should start, how many teams would qualify for the postseason, etc. All of this does not bode well for an expeditious resolution, a new CBA, and the resumption of what had become an exciting offseason.

At times, good and enduring ideas can come from times of unrest. To look at this offseason positively, the free agent frenzy that took place in the two weeks before the lockout was captivating and had the sports world talking about baseball.

Some have suggested establishing a trade deadline in the offseason. That would also push free agent signings (similarly to what we just experienced), as teams will need to work against a deadline to solidify their rosters. Maybe the two sides can agree to something like that in the new CBA.

Then again, given their history, the odds seem to be against it.

The post The Lockout Is a Week Old, and They’re Not Talking appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mitchell and Ness

In February 1961, the expansion Mets were putting together a front office in preparation for their first season, roughly 14 months in the future. Chairman of the Board, M. Donald Grant, was seeking a GM, and reached out to legendary Branch Rickey, who on February 15, 1961, turned down the job offer.

George Weiss, former GM of the Yankees, would accept the role as first GM in franchise history in May of 1961. It’s interesting to think that Rickey could have been the Mets GM in their early years.

Rickey is known for his role in breaking down baseball’s color barrier, by bringing Jackie Robinson to the major leagues in 1947. Rickey signed Robinson, who had been playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League, in 1945 and sent Robinson to play for the minor league Montreal Royals. Robinson helped the Dodgers reach the 1947 World Series against the Yankees.

While the Robinson story is well known, Rickey was involved in several other baseball innovations in the 1940s and 1950s. Under Rickey’s guidance, the Dodgers were the first team to have a full-time spring training facility. Their facility was set up in Vero Brach, Florida. Rickey also championed the use of batting cages, pitching machines, and importantly, batting helmets.

Another impact Rickey had on baseball was the early use of statistical analysis to evaluate players. Rickey hired a full-time statistician in 1947, and was among the first in the game to rank on-base percentage ahead of batting average as a key metric for position players. Rickey also was a pioneer in the concept of platooning players to get the most out of their abilities.

Rickey began his front office career in 1919 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is given credit for the famous Cardinals’ logo of two redbirds sitting on a baseball bat. In 1920, he stepped down as team president and became the field manager for six seasons. Rickey remained with the Cardinals until 1942, when he left to join the Dodgers. While with St. Louis, he is also credited with developing the structure of the current minor league system, with several affiliated teams to one organization.

Rickey was with the Dodgers from 1942-1950, and at one point owned 25% of the team. After leaving the Dodgers, he became executive vice president of the Pirates. In a story familiar to Mets fans, Rickey cut the pay of slugger Ralph Kiner, after Kiner led the league in home runs, saying to Kiner, “we finished last with you, we can finish last without you.”

Rickey became president of the experimental  Continental League in 1959. The league was created to appeal to fans in the western United States. With the major league’s western expansion to Los Angeles and San Francisco going well and future western expansions planned, the Continental League disbanded before it started.

After turning the Mets down, Rickey returned to the Cardinals in 1962 and remained there through the 1964 season. Rickey retired at that point, and passed away suddenly in 1965. He collapsed while giving a speech, and never regained consciousness. Rickey was 83 years old at the time of his death.

As we know, the Mets went on to win the World Series in 1969, a fast rise to the top after their inaugural season of 1962. Would they have gotten there sooner or after 1969 if Rickey were the GM? What other innovations may have come to the Mets? How might the franchise be different to this day?

We’ll never know. We do know that Rickey was a true innovator, a New York baseball legend, and a high-profile executive in his time who almost worked for the Mets.

The post OTD 1961: Branch Rickey Turns Down Mets’ GM Role appeared first on Metsmerized Online.