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Good morning, Mets fans!
On Thursday, the New York Mets extended their winning streak to three. By defeating the Philadelphia Phillies with a score of 4-2, they not only achieved a clean sweep in the three-game series against their rivals but also enhanced their home record to 15-9 this season. It was made possible by the contributions of Max Scherzer and Mark Canha. For more on this win, check out our recap!
Now onto the morning briefing!
Latest Mets News
According to Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News, the Mets are contemplating the possibility of starting pitcher Kodai Senga on Sunday with only four days of rest, a departure from their previous approach. This decision holds potential advantages, given Senga’s impressive performance at home. The team will reach a final verdict on this matter this weekend.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes about the Díaz brothers, Edwin and Alexis, and how they deal with adversity and the ways they plan to overcome it. The article also notes that Edwin is looking to possibly return to the mound for the Mets in late 2023. “If everything keeps going how it’s going, we’ve got a chance to pitch.” Díaz said in the article.
Mets manager Buck Showalter cited the starting of a right-handed pitcher as a factor behind catcher Francisco Álvarez batting ninth most nights, instead of when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. He goes on to clarify, “I don’t look at 9 like conventional people might.” and notes that he likes the catcher’s chances in driving in runs with high OBP people around him before the nine spot.
In Mets television news, the matchup between the Dodgers and Mets on July 14th at 7 p.m. ET will be exclusively available on Apple TV.
Former Met playoff hero Daniel Murphy was named the LI Ducks Player of the Month for April/May. The 12-year MLB veteran has been a standout performer, leading the Ducks and ranking second in the Atlantic League with an impressive 32 hits. With a batting average of .347, he not only leads the team but also holds the sixth spot in the ALPB in batting, showcasing his exceptional skills across all 30 games played.
Jacob Resnick, now working for the Mets in Minor League Operations, announces the launch of the Florida Complex League Mets Twitter account, just in time for FCL Opening Day on Monday! Their objective is to provide an exclusive glimpse into the complex, where a multitude of highly skilled players are poised to make a significant impact.
Latest MLB News
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, outfielder Kole Calhoun has chosen to exercise his opt-out clause with the Yankees on June 1. Unless the Yankees add him to the MLB roster within 72 hours, Calhoun will become a free agent. With an impressive .963 OPS at the Triple-A level, Calhoun’s recent swing change is expected to attract interest from other teams.
MLB and MLB Players, Inc. have announced a partnership to increase player marketing through league sponsors and third-party relationships. The agreement simplifies the process for brands to use MLB players in ads and promotions, leading to increased visibility for players on national and international platforms. This collaboration aims to showcase the talent and personality of MLB players as brand ambassadors.
According to Matt Monagan of MLB.com, in a recent interview with Padres outfielder Juan Soto, the elite hitter discussed the factors that contributed to his success, including a unique practice technique from his childhood where his dad would pitch him bottle caps and crumpled up pieces of paper.
Former Met catcher Gary Sánchez hit his second home run as a Padre on Thursday, propelling them to a 10-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the recent home runs by Sánchez, in just nine at-bats since joining the team, have already surpassed all other Padres catchers in home runs.
Jeff Passan of ESPN discusses his early MLB trade deadline possibilities and talks about which teams may want to unload as well as teams that may want to add at this seasons deadline.
According to Michael McCann, a legal expert for Sportico, a federal case initiated by minor league players in Puerto Rico is challenging MLB’s antitrust exemption. This case has the potential to be appealed to the First Circuit in Boston, along with another case currently in front of the Second Circuit in NY. These legal challenges may eventually lead to a review by the Supreme Court.
Andrew Bucholtz of Awful Announcing, reports on an intriguing aspect of Joe Buck’s transition from Fox to ESPN. Despite being Fox’s primary MLB commentator since 1996, Buck’s move to ESPN did not include baseball coverage. Buck stated in August that he was content with calling football for the remainder of his career and declined an offer from ESPN to call a MLB postseason game in November, citing a lack of desire. However, in a recent interview on Audacy’s The PBP: Voices of Baseball podcast with Matt Spiegel, Buck hinted that the desire to call baseball games might resurface, albeit on a local broadcast level rather than national ones.
According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat, the St. Louis Cardinals are set to recall Jordan Walker, as confirmed by a reliable source. Walker is expected to join the active roster today in Pittsburgh.
Latest on MMO
Players of the Month: Álvarez, Senga Stand Out as Rookies
On This Date in Mets History
2011: In a remarkable comeback, the Mets staged their largest rally in over a decade, overturning a 7-0 deficit to secure a thrilling 9-8 victory against the Pirates. Initially, Mike Pelfrey struggled, allowing Pittsburgh to score seven runs in the first three innings. However, Carlos Beltran‘s three-run homer in the bottom of the third narrowed the gap. Timely hits from Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy in the sixth brought the Mets within one run, and a passed ball allowed Tejada to score the tying run. Adding two more runs in the eighth provided some insurance, which proved crucial as Francisco Rodriguez surrendered one run in the ninth. Despite this victory, the Mets finished the season with a 77-85 record.
Birthdays: Tim Stauffer (41), Reid Cornelius (53), Kurt Abbott (54), Mike Stanton (56), Kelvin Chapman (67)
