Good morning, Mets fans!
After two consecutive days of postponements, the Mets faced the Detroit Tigers in a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday, losing the first game 6-3 in 11 innings. Reliever Michael Tonkin took the loss once again with another shaky performance. However, they bounced back in the second contest, winning 2-1 with Jose Buttó pitching six solid innings of one-run ball. The Mets’ offense woke up in the ninth inning with Pete Alonso‘s solo home run tying the game and Tyrone Taylor‘s walk-off hit securing their first victory of the season, helping them avoid a 0-6 start. For more on these games, check out our recaps of games one and two.
Now onto the morning briefing!
Photo by Roberto Carlo
Latest Mets News
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, J.D. Martinez may join a minor league affiliate as early as tomorrow. However, Carlos Mendoza stated that Martinez is not expected to join the Mets upon first eligibility on Sunday.
As reported by Anthony Rieber of Newsday, the paid attendance announced yesterday at Citi Field was 15,020, marking the smallest non-COVID crowd since the stadium’s inauguration in 2009. The previous record low was set on Monday with 16,853 attendees.
In an article written by Stephen J. Nesbitt and Tyler Kepner for The Athletic, Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo voiced his opinion on the new Fanatics and Nike MLB uniforms, stating that craftsmanship and attention to detail often decline when a product transitions from being handmade by a local woodworker to being mass-produced. He implies that quality may be compromised in favor of efficiency and profitability.
Latest MLB News
According to Evan Drellich of The Athletic and reported by other outlets, the Athletics have announced their intention to relocate to Sacramento from 2025 to 2027 with the possibility of extending their stay for a fourth year in 2028 while their new stadium in Las Vegas is constructed. This decision comes as they prepare to conclude their tenure in Oakland after the current season, which marks their 57th year in the city. The team will play its home games at Sutter Health Park, home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.
Jackie Bradley Jr., a 2018 World Series champion and Gold Glove Award winner, has joined the Long Island Ducks. The former 2016 American League All-Star signs with Long Island with 11 seasons of MLB experience under his belt, having played for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals.
As per Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, the Miami Marlins have announced that pitcher Eury Perez will undergo Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Sam Blum of The Athletic writes that the fan who caught Shohei Ohtani‘s first Los Angeles Dodgers home run received a signed bat, ball & two hats. The fan and her husband say the Dodgers separated them, refused to authenticate the ball & pressured her into a quick deal.
Latest on MMO
On the latest episode of MMO Weekly, host Sal Manzo talks to Tim Britton of The Athletic as they discuss the state of the Mets’ starting rotation, the signing of Julio Teheran and more!
On This Date in Mets History
1983: On April 5, 1983, in front of a crowd of 48,682 fans at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver returned to the mound in a Mets uniform for the first time since June 1977. Despite being plagued by injuries that had diminished his fastball, Seaver still managed to strike out Philadelphia Phillies leadoff hitter Pete Rose, which was reminiscent of his glory days.
However, the Mets struggled to provide run support for their ace as they faced off against the formidable Steve Carlton on Opening Day. Both pitchers held their ground for six scoreless innings until Mets manager George Bamberger decided to pull Seaver for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth, ending his chance for a win in his homecoming.
It was Phillies skipper Pat Corrales who faced criticism for leaving Carlton in for the seventh inning, though, as the Mets capitalized on four consecutive singles to take a 2-0 lead, securing their ninth consecutive Opening Day victory at the time.
Birthdays: John Curtiss (31), Lastings Milledge (39), Jimmie Schaffer (88)
