Good morning, Mets fans!
On Thursday, the 2023 season’s last road series kicked off for the Mets when they faced the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Despite the Mets mounting comebacks from two separate two-run deficits, their efforts fell short, and the Phillies secured a 5-4 victory in the opening game. It was the Mets’ 82nd loss of the season, assuring that they will finish below .500 in 2023. For more on this game, check out our recap.
Buck Showalter. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Now onto the morning briefing.
Latest Mets News
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Mets’ Double-A affiliate, clinched a spot in the Eastern League Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Somerset Patriots, marking their first appearance in the championship series since 2014. Binghamton is now set to move on to the best-of-three championship series, scheduled to commence this Sunday. The franchise has claimed the championship title three times in the past. They will face off against the Erie SeaWolves, who swept the Lakeland Flying Squirrels 2-0 to earn their spot in the finals. For more on this, check out our recap.
In a feature on MLB.com, Anthony Castrovince delves into the remarkable tale of former Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry‘s unexpected venture into the then-independent St. Paul Saints and the persuasive charm of Mike Veeck that led him to join the team. The narrative unfolds around Strawberry’s transformative impact on both the Saints and his own life during a remarkable few weeks in the summer of ’96. It’s a heartwarming chapter among the numerous touching anecdotes in “The Saint of Second Chances,” a recently released documentary on Netflix that explores the life of former Saints co-owner Mike Veeck and the unanticipated friendships that blossomed during this unique journey.
Latest MLB News
According to Dr. Keith Meister, the team physician for the Texas Rangers, the recent MRI scans of some of his patients resemble a small explosion occurring on the inner side of the elbow. This insight is part of a story on pitcher injuries this season, as discussed with Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal.
Jeff Greenberg has been officially appointed as the 20th General Manager for the Detroit Tigers, according to an announcement made by Scott Harris, the President of Baseball Operations.
As reported by Craig Mish of SportsGrid, Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara took the mound yesterday for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Nashville. Alcantara delivered an impressive performance, pitching four scoreless innings, and surrendering only one hit while striking out four against the Nashville Sounds, who serve as the Triple-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers. During this outing, Alcantara threw 51 pitches, with an impressive 34 of them finding the strike zone.
The Cincinnati Reds announced that they have released outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
As reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Tampa Bay Rays will promote their highly touted infield prospect, Junior Caminero. At just 20 years old, Caminero will be making a significant leap from AA, where he boasted an impressive batting line of .309/.373/.548 and had smashed 20 home runs in 314 at-bats.
Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers was asked about his plans for the 2024 season, and according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Kershaw responded that he hasn’t given it much thought at this point. He mentioned that the condition of his shoulder will play a significant role in his decision-making process.
Latest on MMO
MMO and Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks are tagging up on a giveaway for a chance to win a 2023 All-Star Game Mets Bobblehead! It’s easy to participate: simply follow both @Metsmerized and @ChiddysSteaks on Twitter/X, retweet this post, and tag one person in the replies to enter!
MMO dives into the report of Brewers manager Craig Counsell opting to manage in 2024.
Tommy Pham criticizes some Mets effort level, praises Lindor, Alonso and Nimmo.
On This Date in Mets History
1962: On this date in 1962, over 10,000 fans gathered at the Polo Grounds, thinking it might be the last game there. Despite plans to move to a new stadium in Queens, a harsh winter and construction issues delayed it. Nonetheless, the Mets put on a good show that day, with Bob Miller striking out nine Cubs, Frank Thomas delivering a walk-off win in the ninth, and young Ed Kranepool making Mets history with his first double, setting a franchise record with 1,418 hits.
Birthdays: Sam Coonrod (31), Chris Schwinden (37), Jeff Barry (54), Mark Guthrie (58), Vince Coleman (62)
