Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
Pete Alonso was the Mets’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, an honor given to a player “who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
Alonso was nominated in 2021 in part for his Homers for Heroes foundation, meant to help essential workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The first baseman’s participated in philanthropic efforts in and around New York City since arriving as a rookie in 2019. (He’s actually hosting a Home Run Derby in Brooklyn next week.)
Vote for Alonso here.
Latest Standings
NL East
ATL: 79-70, .530
PHI: 77-74, .510, 3.0 GB
NYM: 73-78, .483, 7.0 GB
MIA: 64-87, .424, 16.0 GB
WSH: 62-89, .409, 17.0 GB
Wild Card
LAD: 97-54, .642, +15.5 GB
STL: 81-69, .540
CIN: 78-74, .513, 4.0 GB
SD: 76-73, .510, 4.5 GB
PHI: 77-74, .510, 4.5 GB
NYM: 73-78, .483, 8.5 GB
Latest Mets News
The Mets lost 6-3 to the Red Sox on Tuesday night. You can read the recap of the game here.
Jacob deGrom threw off a mound Tuesday at Fenway Park, and he plans to throw major-league innings against this year “if everything keeps going well.” His “rehab” games would likely come next week against the Marlins or Atlanta.
Jon Heyman reports Billy Beane is the Mets’ No. 1 option to fill their top front office spot, should he be interested. There’s also the problem that Beane is still working for the Oakland A’s and would have to divest in a small stake he reportedly has in the team.
Noah Syndergaard will start his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse. He’ll start the game, but he’ll likely throw just an inning. After that, the Mets may bring him back to the majors in a reliever role or have him throw again in Syracuse. Luis Rojas hinted Sunday they want to make sure Syndergaard’s control is good in live action before bringing him back to the majors.
Drew Smith is going to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse next week, according to MLB.com‘s Anthony DiComo. The reliever has been on the injured list since August 14 with right shoulder inflammation.
Then, outside of Pete Alonso, the philanthropist, there is Pete Alonso, the realist:
Pete Alonso on Mets playoff chances: "Yes, it's unlikely. That's just a fact. We haven't played up to our potential and as unfortunate as that is, we still have to finish the season strong."
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) September 22, 2021
Latest MLB News
Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left rib, according to the Dodgers, adding to a dreadful season for the former NL MVP.
The Rays’ Wander Franco started a rehab assignment Tuesday as he works his way back from a hamstring strain. The 20-year-old was in the middle of a 39-game on-base streak when he got injured. (He got on base in the game he got injured, of course.)
Jake Arrieta was designated for assignment by the Padres after four abysmal starts in which he acrued a 10.95 ERA in 12 1/3 innings. That ends a two-year stretch where Arrieta had 6.67 ERA over 143 innings, and it might be the end Arrieta’s MLB career.
Speaking of the Rays, there was a bit of controversy stemming from Monday night’s game between the Rays and Blue Jays that spilled over to Tuesday. Let Arash Madani explain:
The Blue Jays are not happy.
Last night in the 6th, Kevin Kiermaier slid into home plate and grabbed a card (video here). That card, I'm told, was from Alejandro Kirk's wrist band that fell out on the tag.
On the card: the Blue Jays' game plan on pitching to Rays' hitters. pic.twitter.com/wjjuYd3Bhk
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 21, 2021
Kevin Kiermaier responded, according to Madani, saying he didn’t really know what he was picking up, thinking initially it was his own informational script. Madani said a Blue Jays source said, “if there’s one card we wouldn’t want any opponent to have, it’s that one.”
Everything seemed to go over fine during Tuesday night’s game with no sort of retaliation rather than on the scoreboard, where the Blue Jays won 4-2.
Latest on MMO
John Flanigan writes about how Jeff McNeil is trying to end his 2021 season on a high note. Flanigan also highlighted Aaron Loup‘s interest in returning to the Mets after his career year.
Brian Wright looked back on Mike Piazza‘s iconic go-ahead home run against the Braves in 2001 in the first game after the September 11 attacks.
Rich Sparago previewed the short series with the Boston Red Sox.
On This Date in Mets History
Happy 62nd birthday to Wally Backman, and happy 60th to Vince Coleman!
Also on September 22, this time in 1962, Ed Kranepool notched his first hit in the majors as a September call up on the inaugural Mets team. He eventually racked up 1418 as a Met, a franchise record until David Wright broke his record in September 2012.
And probably most famously, on this day in 2016, Asdrubal Cabrera his most famous moment as a Met as the team worked its way toward a Wild Card spot. It’s that home run.
