After Senga went down due to a left calf strain the Mets reacted by acquiring Paul Blackburn at the MLB trade deadline from the Oakland A’s in order to keep the starting rotation a float. Before Blackburn landed on the injured list with a right hand contusion he had a 5.18 ERA in five starts for the Mets. With Blackburn set to be back in the rotation it can be assumed that Tylor Megill will be the odd man out upon his return.

Denis Poroy-USA TODAY Sports

As for Senga this is a step in the right direction as he continues to battle back given the Mets current standings in the National League Wild Card. He threw 25 pitches in his bullpen on Wednesday and noticeably looked more intense.

“He looks good… The way the ball was coming out, it was good to see him in full uniform and actually letting it go. Good step for him today,” Carlos Mendoza said.

It is important to note that Senga still has some time before a possible timeline of his return, but Mendoza feels confident in his progression. He will continue to throw bullpens and the team will reevaluate when necessary.

The post Kodai Senga Intensifies Rehab; Blackburn Set To Return In Toronto appeared first on Metsmerized.

The left fielder has been quietly heating up again for the Mets and was monumental in another win this season.

On Monday against the Cardinals, Nimmo stepped up to the plate tied 3-3. The Cardinals had just erased a 3-0 deficit in the bottom of the sixth against Sean Manaea, and the Mets were in danger of coughing up the lead and a win in the fourth consecutive game.

But Nimmo had other plans. Facing Andrew Kittredge—who came into the game with a 0.64 ERA with no home runs allowed—Nimmo launched an off-speed pitch 415 feet at 111 mph to left field to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Nimmo’s solo shot in the top of the seventh was the winning RBI and got the Mets back in the win column after getting swept by the Rays in Tampa. It was his fourth homer of the season and first since April 29 against the Cubs.

“Honestly, the homer run I hit tonight was a good pitch,” Nimmo said of Kittredge’s changeup. “I was just able to get the barrel there.”

Getting the barrel to the ball has been something Nimmo has done all season long. He came into Monday’s contest in the 83rd percentile in barrel percentage (12.1) and hard-hit rate (48.4%).

In turn, Nimmo’s exit velocities have been high all season. He’s averaging 92 mph on balls put in play, which would be a career-high. Nimmo’s homer also was hit at 111.1 mph on Monday night, the hardest hit ball by the outfielder all season.

But, despite hitting the ball harder than ever, the results haven’t quite been what all the red on his Savant page may indicate. He entered Monday with a .369 slugging and 11 extra-base hits in 152 plate appearances.

After the Cardinals tied it up in the 6th, Brandon Nimmo LAUNCHES one deep to regain the lead for the Mets! The Mets lead it 4-3! pic.twitter.com/fCSFVzmP0e

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) May 7, 2024

So, what does this all mean? Should there be concern for the outfielder? No, not at all. Nimmo slugged a career-high 24 homers last season, and there’s no indicator that his power outburst is stopping anytime soon.

Nimmo’s expected slugging is .513, which is the 88th percentile of all major league players. If his true slugging percentage matched the number above, he’d be tied for 23rd in the league with Jordan Westburg.

The results are on their way. And Nimmo knows that himself. After the game, and the go-ahead homer, Nimmo addressed his unluckiness in the box this season.

“I’ve kind of been hitting the ball really well the whole season,” Nimmo said. “I think Anthony (DiComo) wrote a piece on how unlucky I’ve been as far as slugging and everything goes. … I still feel like there’s more in the tank that I can get better at but I also believe that we have just stayed the course. .. I’m talking small adjustments and not change too much … but I’ve been kinda unlucky.”

The post Brandon Nimmo Heating Up For Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

The 24-year-old went on the Triple-A injured list this week with an injured elbow. He is scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister, a renowned elbow expert, to figure out if an internal brace procedure is the best course of action, DiComo reported. Such an operation, a more modern procedure that has a faster rehabilitation time than Tommy John surgery, would be season-ending.

Nate Lavender, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Lavender impressed in spring training, striking out seven in three hitless and scoreless innings. He had thrown seven innings at Syracuse, striking out nine while giving up three runs on six hits and seven walks.

The Mets have not confirmed the report. A club official told DiComo they will have more to say early in the week.

The post Report: Lavender Likely Needs Season Ending Elbow Surgery appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

There’s been a boatload of talk about Brett Baty‘s potential role with the New York Mets in 2023. That picture is now starting to get a little clearer as we edge closer to the start of spring training.

Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Mets farm system by Baseball America, Baty earned his first big leagues call-up last summer. He made an instant impression after hitting a home run in his first at-bat in the majors, flashing tantalizing signs of his potential.

However, the third baseman struggled in the field and also failed to show consistency at the plate after going 7-for-38 with a .184 batting average in 11 games. Baty also hit two home runs with five RBI during that stretch. But, his first taste of the majors came to a premature end thanks to surgery on his finger.

Of course, growing pains are par for the course with any prospect, no matter how talented they are, and the thought was that Baty would get the chance to further hone his skills in spring training and stake his claim for a full-time role. After all, Eduardo Escobar largely struggled in 2022 and third base seemed there for the taking.

Then came the biggest saga of the offseason. With the Mets coming to an agreement with superstar free agent shortstop Carlos Correa, Baty’s role suddenly became blurred due to the fact that Correa would take over at third base in New York. That, coupled with Escobar’s red-hot September, left Baty on the outside looking in.

Life has a funny way of working out, though, and the 23-year-old will now have the opportunity to impress manager Buck Showalter and the rest of the coaching staff in spring training. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, manning third “works better” for Baty and he’s determined to prove he’s capable of winning the starting job.

“I see it like, if I go out there and show them that I’m capable of playing really solid defense and swinging it against major league pitching in spring training, I feel like I’m going to get a shot,” Baty told DiComo. “I’m going to get a look. But at the end of the day, it’s their call.”

And it is clear the Mets want to give Baty every opportunity to make the Opening Day roster in 2023. After all, they’ve remained steadfast in their philosophy of restocking the farm system and then building a team around a core of young studs. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Miami Marlins tried on a couple of occasions this offseason to acquire Baty in a trade.

According to Heyman, the Marlins made contact with the Mets about Baty both before and after the Correa deal fell through. Miami were prepared to offer one of their highly-regarded young starters in either Edward Cabrera or Jesus Luzardo, but New York ultimately said no in order to stay true to their long-term plan of building from within.

It doesn’t appear as though that trade talk has bothered Baty, however. In his conversation with DiComo, the lefty bat spoke about his willingness to shift over to left field if the Correa deal would have worked out. But, above all else, he just wants the chance to help this team win in 2023 and beyond.

“At the end of the day, you want that guy on your team,” Baty said of Correa. “If we did end up signing him, I would have been fine with going to try to play left field if somebody needed a day off or something like that. I just want to be in the big leagues helping a team win.”

The post Brett Baty All In On Helping Mets Win In 2023 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Starling Marte (fractured right middle finger) is optimistic that he can return in time for the Braves series next weekend and hopes to start hitting and throwing today, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets have been without Marte since September 6 due to the right fielder fracturing his right middle finger after being struck by a pitch. Since the injury, the Mets have had a rotating door of Jeff McNeil, Tyler Naquin, and Darin Ruf starting in right field. The Mets also struggled for a brief period without Marte and were swept by the Chicago Cubs without him.

New York’s offense would benefit if Marte was able to come back in time for their three-game set in Atlanta.

Marte has been the best offensive addition to the Mets during the off-season and is having one of his best seasons ever. In 2022, the All-Star has a 3.7 WAR and an OPS+ of 131.

The post Starling Marte Could Be Back For Braves Series appeared first on Metsmerized.

Carlos Carrasco, the other piece of the Francisco Lindor trade with Cleveland, is working his way back from a torn right hamstring he suffered during workouts in mid-March. The injury was described as a Grade 1 strain and occurred while he was also working his way back from elbow soreness and general fatigue from the COVID-19 vaccine.

The original expectation was that he would miss about 6-8 weeks and would not make his Mets debut until the middle of May, likely as the No. 2 or 3 starter behind Jacob deGrom.

He stayed behind in Port St. Lucie while the rest of the team broke for Washington and has thrown bullpen sessions since then, but per MLB.com Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo, he’s taken a big step forward over the weekend.

Carrasco threw two innings in a simulated game at the Mets spring training complex on Sunday.

On Friday, Mets manager Luis Rojas said that Carrasco had “advanced really, really well.” He still has to do other things – field his position and push off the mound – before a full assessment can be made, but facing batters in a simulated game situation is a step in the right direction going forward as it looks as though Carrasco could join the team on the low end of that 6-8 week timeline, barring any setbacks.

Carrasco returning from injury in that time frame would provide a big boost to the Mets rotation, which is already missing their other All-Star starter Noah Syndergaard as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. Syndergaard is expected back as soon as late May-early June.

While Rojas says the timeline for Carrasco’s return hasn’t changed despite the progress he has made, the simulated game action and the bullpen sessions are steps in the right direction and a welcome sign for the Mets as they prepare to hopefully make a big splash in 2021.

The post Carlos Carrasco Threw Two Innings In Simulated Game on Sunday appeared first on Metsmerized.

On July 21, 2004, a 21-year-old top prospect from Virginia made his major league debut for the team he grew up rooting for.

Batting seventh and playing third base, David Wright began a career that seemed destined for eventual enshrinement into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Showcasing extra-base power – with his trademark hits to right-center field – along with good speed on the basepaths, and with charm and charisma that soon made him not only a household name in New York, but the entire Major Leagues, Wright was ascending to superstardom.

From his rookie season in 2004 through the 2013 season, Wright posted the sixth-highest fWAR among position players (48.7). Among 108 players who recorded at least 4,000 plate appearances in that same span, Wright’s wRC+ of 137 was 10th-best.

In 2007, Wright joined Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry as only the third different Mets player to post a 30-30 season, while posting the best triple-slash line of his career with a .325 batting average, .416 on-base percentage, and .546 slugging.

The seven-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman provided countless memories throughout his fourteen-year major league career, including making a bare-handed, over-the-shoulder catch in San Diego in 2005; hitting a walk-off single off Mariano Rivera in the first Subway Series game in 2006; hitting a home run in the first at-bat of his first All-Star Game in 2006 and hitting a go-ahead, two-run home run off Yordano Ventura in the first World Series game in Queens in fifteen years.

What the Mets received in Wright was just about everything an organization could ask for in a player: a hard-working, well-spoken individual who led with his consistent All-Star play on the field, while being the quintessential team representative in the clubhouse and to the media.

It came as no surprise then, when the Mets officially named Wright the fourth captain in franchise history in 2013, joining only Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco. The honor bestowed upon Wright was one in which he looks back on fondly, naming it as one of the proudest moments of his professional career.

Wright’s trajectory was pointing towards an eventual plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which makes the latter part of his career all the more unfortunate. Wright’s downfall began back in the 2011 season when he sustained a stress fracture in his back in a diving play at third base with Carlos Lee.

While Wright was able to play in 156 games the following season, finishing sixth in the National League MVP voting and signing an eight-year, $138 million extension that offseason, along with posting a 5.2 bWAR in 112 games in 2013, the star third baseman was given unwelcome news in 2015: the diagnosis of spinal stenosis.

What ensued were countless surgeries to his neck, back, and shoulder, along with strenuous rehab and physical therapy sessions. For Wright, ever the committed hard worker, this was not going to define his career.

He wanted to go out on his own terms.

Wright opens up about his life and career in his upcoming memoir titled “The Captain” (release date of October 13), which was co-written by Mets’ beat writer for MLB.com Anthony DiComo. The book reveals the mental and physical struggles Wright endured to make it back onto the field, which he was able to do late in the second half of the Mets’ pennant-winning season in 2015.

The memoir offers a glimpse into just how arduous Wright’s efforts were to get back to playing the game he so loved. Wright details early on in his book how his father, Rhon Wright, had a chance to leave the hospital for a few hours after David was born, and instead of getting rest, he found himself purchasing a plastic glove, a kid-sized Louisville Slugger and a baseball.

As Wright puts it in the early pages of his memoir, “From the time that I could walk, everything on both sides of my family revolved around a ball and a bat.”

Among all-time Mets, Wright is the franchise leader in plate appearances (6,872), hits (1,777), doubles (390), runs scored (949), RBI (970), walks (762), and position player bWAR (49.2), while second in games played (1,585) and home runs (242).

Though the latter part of his career was marred by injuries, Wright will forever be revered by the fan base for posting some of the best single-season performances in club history, his leadership on and off the field, and incredible perseverance to return to the field.

The name David Wright will forever be synonymous with the New York Mets.

I had the privilege of speaking with Wright in early October, where we discussed writing his memoir, the injury struggles he faced, and how important it was to say goodbye to the New York fans.

MMO: David, thanks so much for taking the time today. Talk to me about what prompted you to write the book and what the overall process was like.

Wright: It’s funny; Anthony DiComo approached me shortly after my last game. He was down in San Diego for the general managers’ meetings, I believe. He asked if he could drive up – I’m in Southern California as well – and meet about an idea he had.

I told him, ‘Okay, we can go grab some lunch.’

He came up and said, “Hey, I’m going to write a book, and there are three options that you can do. You can have nothing to do with it, and I kind of do it all on my own; you can sort of be involved, but I’d take the lead, or, we can do this fifty-fifty where we both write it. But that’s going to require a lot of your time.”

I thought about it for a little while, and I told him I’d like to go all-in when I do things.

I said, ‘Let’s partner up and do it the right way.’

Dutton

It was a tremendous process, and, obviously, with COVID, it didn’t allow for some of the in-person stuff that I would’ve liked to do, but we spent dozens and dozens of hours on the phone. And he spent even more time connecting with childhood friends, teammates from amateur ball, the minor leagues, and, obviously, the big leagues, and talking to my family and friends.

It was a cool process to go through. I was probably as guilty as anybody during my career of not allowing myself to enjoy the moment or enjoy steps of my career. When you’re a player, at least for me, it was always onto the next challenge. What can I do to improve? I never got a chance to sit back and watch highlights or big games that we won or things like that.

Going through all of that and combing through it after my career was done put a big smile on my face and allowed me to kind of relive these memories that are some of the greatest that I’m going to have in my life.

I got a chance to pick out thirty or so pictures for the book – personal pictures – and my parents do a great job of organizing and keeping stuff from my childhood. They sent me three of four huge boxes of pictures from when I was born all the way to pictures they took in the stands [of me] in the big leagues. Getting the chance to relive some of those memories was pretty cool.

MMO: Family is something that you write extensively about in your book. Can you talk a little about your upbringing and the values your parents instilled in you to become the man you are today?

Wright: My parents were strict. Being punctual was important; being a good citizen was important; being a good student was important, way more important than being a good baseball player. I’d like to think that’s where I get that blue-collar mentality, that bring your lunch pail to work type mentality.

My dad was a police officer, and my mother worked in the school system, and it was certainly being a good student and being a good citizen before being a good baseball player.

My dad never, ever said a word to me when I had a bad game and when I struck out three times. I’m not saying he didn’t care; that just wasn’t the important thing; it was how I reacted to both failure and success. If I struck out and hung my head and went and moped in the dugout and didn’t cheer my teammates on, that’s when I’d get a talking to.

Likewise, if I got a couple of hits and I was gloating and running around and we lost or the team was losing, I’d get a talking to. [It was] this isn’t the way you carry yourself; you have to be in the game, and you’re all in this together.

I think that kind of mindset stuck with me for the rest of my baseball career, which was this isn’t about me; this is about us as a team, and what can I do to not only make the guys around me better but be a good person, teammate and leader in that clubhouse.

MMO: One thing I took away from the early part of your book was that you used wooden bats at times instead of aluminum because you were a bigger kid. Do you think that gave you an advantage at a young age and helped develop your approach at the plate?

Wright: That’s a great question, and you’re very kind with that: I was pretty chunky. More round than heavy. [Laughs.]

I think it taught me a couple of things. One was taking care of yourself physically. Number two is I was lucky where my parents would do everything in their power to send me to different baseball camps, and financially, that can be quite expensive, especially with a police officer and mother who worked in the school system. But they did everything they could to get me the best instruction that the area had to offer, and believe it or not, that area is a hotbed for baseball and pretty good baseball instruction.

At a young age, I had some instructors who put wooden bats in my hands, and this was a foreign concept to me because everyone else was using aluminum bats. And they were going a lot further and they were hitting a lot harder, but the instructors that I was seeing were saying, “This is going to make you a better hitter.”

I certainly think that using the heavier wooden bat allowed me to utilize the right side of the baseball field, hitting the ball the other way better than if I had just used aluminum through my upbringing. Maybe it was because the bat was a little heavier and I couldn’t quite get it around as fast forced me to keep my hands inside and shoot it the other way.

I think it definitely made me a better hitter at the time, practicing and even in some games using wooden bats at a relatively young age at the advice of some of the instructors that I had.

MMO: A player you give a ton of credit to for taking you under their wing was super-utility man Joe McEwing. What made McEwing such a valuable ally for you in the beginnings of your major league career?

Wright: I got lucky when, in the minor leagues, I was roommates for a few years with Matt Galante. His father happened to be our third base coach in the big leagues, Matt Galante Sr.

I was roommates with Matt Jr. for years in the minor leagues, and we played in Port St. Lucie in High-A ball. If we got an off day and the Mets happened to be playing down in Miami, we would take the trip down, and his dad would put us up at the team hotel and take us out to dinner.

Matt Galante Sr. and Joe McEwing had a tremendous relationship, so Joe would tag along to some of those dinners. I got to know Joe when I was in the minor leagues, and, fortunately, when I got called up, he immediately took me under his wing. Everything from I rented an apartment right next to his, teaching me directions like how to get to the ballpark, how to dress, what time to show up, and how to prepare for a game.

He told me I’d be pulled in all sorts of directions, but baseball is your number one priority. He taught me these lessons that stuck with me for the rest of my career.

He and his wife cooked dinner for me on a pretty regular basis. After my first game, I was exhausted, but he took me out to my first dinner in New York as a young player. He just seemed to be beyond a teammate; he was a friend or an older brother type. He really cared for me in a way that made me feel comfortable around some of those other veteran guys.

When I got called up, it was a very veteran team. I think being that comfortable and Joe making me that comfortable allowed me to have some of the success that I had early on.

MMO: From afar, you never seem fazed by the spotlight and media attention you received early on in your career. And as you developed, you basically became the Mets’ version of Derek Jeter in terms of being available and upfront with the media, along with doing the right things on and off the field. Did that come easily for you, and were there ever certain challenges you faced with how you wanted to be viewed and represented?

Wright: My father always said, when someone asked him, because everyone thinks they have the next Derek Jeter as a son, or have the next Mike Trout, how did you get your son to be a first-round pick? How did you get your son to be a major leaguer? How did you get your son to be an All-Star?

And he said, “I never set out to raise a good baseball player; I set out to raise a good person.”

I was always nervous of when I spoke to the media or the way I carried myself on and off the field, that I would somehow embarrass my family or somehow let down my mother and father, who raised me to be a specific type of person with the way that I carried myself. So that was always in the back of my mind of how would my three youngest brothers view me if I went out and did something stupid and embarrass myself? That was always in the back of my mind when I made decisions.

I had some great coaches along the way in the amateur levels, minor leagues and big leagues. I’ll never forget our minor league coordinator at the time, and he’s still with the Mets in a different role, Guy Conti. He always said, “You have choices, decisions and consequences.”

That stuck with me forever. To this day, I still think of choices, decisions and consequences, and that’s kind of the way that I’ve tried to treat my baseball career, and that’s kind of the way that I try to live my life away from baseball.

It sounds simple, but it always stuck with me.

MMO: You write that “you’ll always remember the 2006 season as the year in which everything seemed to click.” What memories stand out to you about that season, and what made that club so special in your eyes?

Wright: For me, it was my first taste of the playoffs. But I think just the superstar talent [we had]. I mean, we had future Hall of Famers, we had perennial All-Stars, and you had a good mix of a veteran presence but also some young and up-and-coming guys that brought energy, especially the guy to my left in José Reyes.

I think it was a good mix, and it taught me that I don’t think you can learn how to win until you actually practice it. It’s tough to sit there and talk about you have to have this winning mentality; you have to have this winning culture. You don’t know what that is until you win and you experience what that culture is like and practice winning, especially practice winning baseball.

I think that year I learned how fun it is to win, how exciting it is to win, how New York embraces winners and not necessarily great single-season performers. When I was a younger player in the minor leagues, and even when I got to the big leagues, I saw how the ’86 guys were embraced, everybody from the superstars of that team down to the 25^th man on the roster. You say the name of a guy who was on that ’86 team, and people raise a glass in the city and cheer them to this day. And that’s kind of what I wanted to be remembered as. I knew that at a young age, that’s what I wanted to be remembered as.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it all the way. But that’s the style of baseball that I wanted to play on a nightly basis was that style of winning baseball where you want your legacy to be not that he had some great years, but he played the game the right way, and he played winning baseball.

MMO: A lot has been made about the original construction of Citi Field, and how it zapped you of some power. You write that you “could have – or should have – used Citi Field to your advantage,” and how the ’09 season exposed some holes in your offensive game. What did you have to do to mentally and physically adjust your game to play at the ballpark?

Wright: That’s a good question, and it’s a fair question. I was accustomed to, by the time Citi Field was built at the end of the year, seeing a specific stat line, and it’s a terrible way to think. But when you get out of that comfort zone and you see a weakness like I’m accustomed to hitting 25-30 home runs a year, then all of a sudden you hit less than half of that, it shocked my system a little bit.

And it was like, I need to get back to being that type of hitter; this team needs me to be that type of hitter.

Instead of doing what I should’ve done [which was] thinking the homers will come, but let’s be a more complete hitter. Instead of hitting .300 or .310 or .320, I can use this to my advantage to hit .330, .340.

One of my strengths was going the other way: utilizing those gaps and utilizing all that room in the outfield for more base hits, take what the pitcher gives you. All of those clichés that you hear hitters say. Instead, for whatever reason, it was I’ve got to hit more homers.

I think that I got out of my comfort zone in trying to hit more homers, and it cost me being the complete hitter that I was, and that I still was after that. For that next year, yes, I hit more homers, but I struck out a lot more, and I didn’t feel like I was that complete hitter that I was before I started making some of those adjustments.

Hindsight’s 20/20, but I wish that I could go back and say, forget the home runs, be the hitter that you are, and let’s utilize this as an advantage.

MMO: The Matt Cain hit-by-pitch on August 15, 2009, is a date I’m sure you’d like to forget. But what I found to be interesting is that you enlisted Howard Johnson to help regain your mechanics at the plate. What did you and HoJo work on to get your confidence back?

Wright: I think that every player – you’re not afraid of getting hit by the ball – but you accept the reality that there’s going to be times that you get hit, and hopefully, it’s in a spot that’s an ideal spot to get hit if there is such a thing. But for me, it was kind of the first time that I took a direct hit to my head. It shook me for a little bit; I think it would shake a lot of people.

It wasn’t this thing where I got back in the box afterward, and I was scared; that wasn’t the case. I think it was just this natural reaction that I had to overcome this, hey, look, this was a hopefully once-in-a-lifetime type ordeal, and just relax and think about hitting instead of thinking about the mechanics of hitting and how to get back on the horse after you’ve been knocked off.

I never felt scared; it was more of I couldn’t get back to the feeling that I felt before getting hit. It should be easy, like riding a bike, but I found it incredibly difficult to learn how to pedal again afterward for a couple of months.

The thing that kind of got me over it was getting hit again, not in the head, but I got hit with a pitch after that, and it was like, that was no big deal. I went to first base, and all of a sudden, I got comfortable.

It was just one of those weird things where I wasn’t consciously scared or nervous or anything; it was more just like I couldn’t get comfortable in the box again for a little bit after that. That was probably the best thing for me afterward was getting hit by another pitch and kind of telling yourself that this wasn’t bad at all.

MMO: You write in the book that people ask you about having any regrets from your baseball career, and you admit that, of course, there are a few small things you would’ve done differently. But the one that stands out was the play at third with Carlos Lee on April 19, 2011. How often do you think back to that moment, and at what point did you realize something wasn’t right physically?

Wright: Going through all of my back rehab and all of my back issues the last couple of years, I thought about it a lot. [Laughs.] I think it’s just one of those things that it was a freak play; it was so out of the ordinary that it’s just I’d like to think that I tried to play the game hard, and if that same play were to happen and if I didn’t have the hindsight of what I know now, I’d probably do the same thing.

It’s a foot race to the bag, and we dove at the same time. I just happened to jam my shoulder and my neck into the ground at a weird angle, which fractured a vertebra. I definitely didn’t know it at the time that I hurt something, but I didn’t know it at the time that it would ultimately really kill my back years down the road.

It was just one of those plays that, do I wish I would’ve let up and allowed him to take third? Do I wish I were a little faster where I could just beat him there and not have to dive? Of course! But it wasn’t the case, and I tried to play every out like it was the most important out ever.

It was one of those freak accidents and freak plays that, do I think about it a lot? Of course. Is there anything I can do to go back and change it? Of course not. It’s one of those it is what it is types of things where I wouldn’t call it a regret, but I used to think about it fairly often.

MMO: Dr. Altchek gave you the news about your spinal stenosis diagnosis in 2015. What was your initial reaction upon hearing that, and can you describe some of the rehab and stretching you had to do each day?

Wright: The rehab I do on a daily basis to this day, I’ll do it for the rest of my life. It’s a routine that kind of strengthens the area and gives me the best chance of not being in pain on a consistent basis.

I’d say the initial reaction was kind of in shock, and you hang your head and feel sorry for yourself for a couple of days afterward. And I was no different. I mean, when you look at the diagnosis and the outcome, it’s not very positive for anybody, much less somebody that’s supposed to be in their prime in baseball.

After I got over that initial shock and moping around for a few days, it became my goal to kind of prove that wrong and get over that mental hurdle of kind of feeling sorry for yourself and saying, ‘You know what? It is what it is. It’s a bad break, but I’m going to make it back on this field. I’m going to prove everybody wrong, and I’m going to help this team win.’

That was kind of my mindset, and it helped that the team was having a good year. Every night I sat and watched the team after two rehab sessions and the monotony of going through my back exercises twice a day and rehab another time of day, it became evident that these September games were going to mean something in 2015. That gave me a ton of extra motivation.

The guys on that team were in constant communication, whether it was through FaceTime or phone calls on the team bus or before and after games. That kept me feeling like I was a part of the team.

But certainly devastating is a good word to use when I got the news. My mantra for the rest of my career was, ‘I’m not going to allow this to define me.’ Ultimately, it would be one of the main factors that ended my career. But mentally, it was always that, when I look back on my career, it’s not going to be I feel sorry for myself because I got hurt. It’s going to be I did everything in my power to overcome this, and as much as I can, go out on my own terms.

MMO: Where does your home run in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series rank in your career?

Wright: There’s not even a close second. Playing in the World Series, in New York, for that organization, in front of those fans. “A dream come true” gets thrown around pretty often, but it really was.

I remember growing up in Virginia, and our family was Mets fans because of our Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk. Standing in the backyard with my dad and my grandfather and Game 7 of the World Series. I know we didn’t make it to Game 7 – but [the] New York Mets are up to bat, and here comes shortstop David Wright; at the time I played shortstop, albeit a little pudgy shortstop. Here comes the 3-2 pitch, whack, home run!

To be able to live out that dream in New York for the team that I grew up rooting for, the team that drafted and developed me [was a dream come true]. It was one of the few times where I was rounding the bases and looking up at the stands allowed me to kind of soak it in and enjoy the moment because of, selfishly and personally, all the hard work that I had put in to get back on the field. Those months of rehab and getting up at the crack of dawn to do one rehab session followed by another physical therapy session, followed by having to do back exercises on my own, you think about all of these things as you’re rounding the bases.

You felt like you accomplished the goal of not only getting back, but making an impact, and, obviously, being a small part of the team going to the World Series was a lifelong goal. I just wish we could’ve finished it off and become champions.

MMO: You write that during the 2018 season, you weren’t always honest with the Mets about how you were feeling, and that had they known more, they would’ve shut you down. At what point during your rehab did you come to the conclusion that your body just couldn’t handle the grind anymore?

Wright: For me, it was fairly evident. I’ve always loved the game. I’ve always loved playing the game, practicing the game, even the most boring drills I always found enjoyable in a weird way because I was getting the chance to play baseball, because that’s what I loved to do.

When it became tedious and painful and just trying to get through [it] without aggravating an injury, I remember playing in some of my first rehab games and just hoping and praying that they didn’t hit the ball to me. Just hoping that the pitcher would throw a fast, quick game and I wouldn’t be on my feet for very long at third base. Rooting for just trying to make simple contact at the plate so that I didn’t swing and miss or check swing and really hurt something.

It just became that you can’t play the game that way. Physically, it was one of those things where I was always fighting mentally that you can do this, you’ve got this, and you’ll overcome this. But then physically it’s like no, you don’t, and you can’t go on doing this.

It took a while for my mind and my body to match up, but once I was honest with myself, it became pretty clear that physically I couldn’t do it.

MMO: I was fortunate enough to attend your last major league game on September 29, 2018, and it felt like a playoff atmosphere. What was the overall day like for you?

Wright: It’s emotional to even think about. I sat down, and I kind of asked that I’d like to wear the uniform one more time, that I’d like to play in front of my kids and like to properly say goodbye to the organization and the fans. I knew it was a big ask because I hadn’t played in a while, and I knew there would be some hurdles that we had to jump. But when I got the go-ahead, I didn’t know what to expect.

I knew that it would be a big deal for me personally, because I had been a Met for over half my life, so it was going to be an emotional day for me. I didn’t know how the city or the fans would deal with it. I showed up to the ballpark at my usual time – around noon – and there were dozens of fans already waiting. When I went out and shook some hands, took some pictures, and signed some autographs, I was overwhelmed and shocked by the support that night.

When I ran out onto the field for the first time and saw that it was sold out, just the signs and the thank-you’s, I kept telling myself that it should be the opposite and I should be thanking the fans. They’ve seen me fail way more than they’ve seen me succeed. For them to come out in full force and thank me for an injury-shortened career where no World Series titles to show for it, a handful of playoff berths, and a National League pennant meant the world to me to have that kind of send-off and support.

Every athlete wants to kind of write their last chapter, and I certainly didn’t get the opportunity to do that. But for one day to have that emotional send-off really meant the world to me. That’s why I love New York so much and this organization so much, because of that bond from a relatively young age of just connecting with the city and fans. I think that’s the type of relationship that I think every player dreams of having with their city and their fans, and I was lucky enough to have that.

MMO: And you know New Yorkers will never let Peter O’Brien hear the end of it.

Wright: [Laughs.] And that’s what makes New York so great, is that I hate that for him, but it was so cool. I appreciated it.

MMO: When you look back over your career, David, what are you most proud of?

Wright: I would say a couple of things. One was being viewed as a leader and, ultimately, becoming a captain of that franchise. That’s probably my greatest personal achievement: that my teammates, front office, and ownership viewed me as a captain-type leader in the clubhouse.

More broadly, although I would’ve liked to have played injury-free in my last few years, I’d like to think that when I put my head on my pillow at night that I maximized my potential. That a six-foot, two-hundred-pound kid from Southeast Virginia, who wasn’t the most talented player out there, genuinely felt like when I took the field every night, I was the hardest worker out there and I was the most prepared. For that night, my mindset was to be the best player out on this field, and that didn’t matter if Derek Jeter was across the diamond, or Barry Bonds, or Mike Trout. It didn’t matter who; I felt like I was more prepared and worked harder than everyone else, and for that reason, I was going to be the best player on the field.

I’d like to think that I reached my full potential as a baseball player, given the abilities that I had. But more importantly, I was viewed as a leader and a good teammate and, ultimately, became the captain of this great franchise.

MMO: Thank you so much for your time, David. It was an honor speaking with you.

Wright: Awesome, Mat. I appreciate the kind words. Thanks again.

Purchase David’s memoir, “The Captain,” here.

The post MMO Exclusive: The Captain, David Wright appeared first on Metsmerized.

On the Mets last off day of the 2020 season, I reached out to folks that cover the team and asked them a variety of questions. Here’s what they had to say:

What do the Mets do long-term with Amed Rosario?

Anthony DiComo: At some point, the Mets are going to have to trade a shortstop. I don’t know if that’s Rosario, Gimenez or Mauricio, but it’s hard to see all three playing future roles on the Mets. I don’t think moving Rosario to center field is the answer. If he doesn’t prove he can be a consistent offensive threat in this league, it won’t matter where he plays. But I do wonder if the Mets won’t shop Rosario this winter, knowing his skill set will still be tempting for many teams.

Andy Martino: If an appealing trade came along involving Rosario he certainly shouldn’t be untouchable, but in a perfect world the Mets should probably make sure that Andres Gimenez is an everyday player on the offensive side. How does he look, say, next July, when the league has made adjustments to him? He’s been impressive so far but that’s when we’ll have a better idea if he’s the SS of the future.

Tim Healey: I’m still curious about Rosario in centerfield. The Mets probably should have tried it a year ago, or in spring training, or in summer camp. They could still do it now. Just see what it looks like. What do you have to lose? Maybe another team is into it and it ups his trade value. I would think Rosario could be had via trade this offseason. It’s probably unwise to wholeheartedly decide Andes Gimenez is a no-doubt, legitimate major-league shortstop based off these two months, but … he is awfully fun to watch, no?

Tim Britton: Avoid the temptation to read too much into 60-game samples — and I mean that about Rosario and about Giménez. We’re not that far removed from Rosario being a good major-league shortstop for four months, while showing the resilience and on-the-fly improvement that bode well for further development. I wouldn’t throw out this year’s preseason optimism because he’s looked bad in 115 plate appearances under extremely unusual circumstances.

And if you want to be all-in on Giménez as your shortstop, you have to acknowledge the potential that his bat is not always going to play like this. We caught a glimpse of that in August. Certainly I was guilty of reading too much into his offensive struggles last season at Double A: The league’s offense was down overall, it was easy to forget how young he was, and there’s a level of prospect fatigue that crops up when you start following a guy’s non-linear career arc as a teenager. But I also don’t think you can write his name in ink at short for the next half-decade yet.

That’s what makes the dilemma hard, right? I want to say, “Stick Giménez at short and see what Rosario can do in center.” The best Mets team in 2021 probably has both of those things go well. But is Rosario trying center while also being your backup plan if Giménez is hitting .220 next June? Is that too much to ask of a player, or is creating that kind of internal depth exactly what the Mets should be doing? I’m not sure.

Wayne Randazzo: This is certainly a quandary for them because of the emergence of Andres Gimenez plus Luis Guillorme has done a nice job too as a utility guy. The logical choice to keep him would be with a position change, but there’s no guarantee he’ll hit enough to make a significant contribution at a different position. He’s regressed quite a bit offensively this year. He could also be a trade candidate, but I’m sure his value has taken a hit so we’ll see. That’ll be a tough decision.

Justin Toscano: It’s too early to give up on Amed Rosario, but if Andrés Giménez continues to clearly outplay Rosario next season, it’s probably time to think about moving Rosario while he’s got some years of team control remaining. Right now, Giménez is giving the Mets more than Rosario in every facet of the game. Still, we have to see if this is the case in a normal year, too.

Deesha Thosar: After Andres Gimenez’s breakout season, it’s tough to see Amed Rosario back at shortstop next year. But I think they’ll give Rosario another shot after he works hard this winter.

Who has been the Mets MVP so far?

Anthony DiComo: It’s Jacob deGrom. All due respect to Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith, who have been great. But the Mets wouldn’t even be in fringe playoff contention without deGrom. They’d be one of the worst teams in the league.

Andy Martino: Hard to pick against the best pitcher in baseball, but I’ll say Dom Smith for the combination of production and leadership around much larger issues that have unified the team.

Tim Healey: Michael Conforto. Nothing against the terrific seasons from Dominic Smith (40 fewer ABs), Robinson Cano, Jacob deGrom or others. But Conforto will probably get some mid- and down-ballot NL MVP votes this year.

Tim Britton: Jacob deGrom, obviously.

You could probably have concocted cute ways around making deGrom the club’s de facto MVP last year: Alonso and McNeil had great offensive years for a lineup that wasn’t as good, and the team didn’t win enough in deGrom’s starts. It’s different this year. The lineup is really good, the rotation isn’t, and deGrom is the only one holding it up.

Wayne Randazzo: It’s easy to flip a coin between Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith. They’ve both been able to realize their potential and get pretty close to their ceilings this year. It’s been a joy to watch them develop into these players, and I’ve been fortunate to see just about every game that both have played at the major league level.

However, the real team MVP is deGrom. The Mets starting pitching has had it really rough, but at least every fifth day, we’ve been able to watch the best pitcher in baseball go to work. The Mets are 6-2 in deGrom’s 8 starts. He’s got a 1.69 ERA and is getting himself positioned for a 3rd straight Cy Young Award. The team has had trouble staying afloat but without deGrom, they’d be completely out of it. He gets my vote.

Justin Toscano: I’m going to go with Michael Conforto. Jacob deGrom has crazy numbers, but, unfortunately for him, his peers have let the team down. Conforto is putting up MVP-type numbers offensively while making stud plays in the field — both with his glove and arm. In my book, Conforto edges out deGrom and Dom Smith.

Deesha Thosar: Michael Conforto is edging out Dominic Smith.

Will Brodie Van Wagenen still be with Mets come December?

Anthony DiComo: That’s really going to depend upon how long it takes for the new ownership to transition. I could easily see a scenario in which the new owner comes in early in the offseason and immediately cleans house. I could also see a more measured approach where Van Wagenen and the current regime gets one more offseason. Call it 50/50.

Andy Martino: Yes, I expect Brodie will be here in December and April. The ownership change doesn’t become final until November at earliest. However, I don’t claim to know if Cohen plans sweeping change on Day 1. Brodie does have two more years on his deal.

Tim Healey: Haha good question. This is my take: You need more than two years to fully and fairly evaluate a general manager. But he hasn’t done himself many favors as far as the moves he’s made. With a new owner coming in, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Steve Cohen install his own baseball ops leader.

Tim Britton: I was asked this last month in a chat and really hemmed and hawed on it. I think it’s less likely now than it was even then, first because the sale is further along and now looks in line to be completed relatively early in the offseason, and second because the hot mic incident — as much as fans and players might agree with what Van Wagenen said — reflects poorly on the GM from an owner’s perspective.

Wayne Randazzo: This is a difficult question to answer without all the specifics in place. As we know, there is a potential for ownership change. If that happens, that could mean immediate changes, or Brodie could be given another chance by the new bosses. Either way, whoever is in charge will have to determine if Brodie has merited more time or not.

Justin Toscano: It’s hard to say, but I’ll guess no. There’s just always too much uncertainty when new owners take over, and it’s tough to not see them wanting their own guys for a fresh start. Brodie Van Wagenen also hasn’t had the best track record, though it could theoretically improve if his bosses actually open the checkbook and give him more possibilities that way.

Deesha Thosar: Depends if Steve Cohen wants to give BVW a chance to be GM without the Wilpon’s puppet strings. I’ll go with no, he won’t be around. But I can see Luis Rojas continuing to manage.

Do Mets make the playoffs?

Anthony DiComo: No, probably not. They’re a talented team, but don’t have the starting pitching to overcome the hole they dug for themselves.

Andy Martino: I don’t think so, but I’ve been wrong before.

Tim Healey: I would say no, but the expanded playoff field is *so* big and it is *so* easy to get in that I still have to say yes. As I write this, they’re four games under .500 and only two games back! Yeash.

Tim Britton: The part of me that watches the Mets every day scoffs at that question. Like, of course not, right? They haven’t won more than three in a row all season, haven’won a single series against a team that isn’t the Marlins all year, and lack the consistency we typically associate with good baseball teams.

The part of me that looks at the standings each morning and realizes the postseason will include teams we wouldn’t typically describe as good baseball teams wonders, “Why not?”

(But no, I don’t think they do.)

Wayne Randazzo: I hope so. They have a lot of work to do over the final two weeks. It’s possible for deGrom and Lugo to start half of the remaining 16 games thanks to a couple off days so that should give you some hope along with the way the team has been hitting. Another plus has been Edwin Diaz‘s bounce back. I know the fans still have trouble trusting him with late leads, but he’s been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball this year. There are still some solid ingredients here for a strong finish. If they do get in, they could be tough to knock out in a short series.

Justin Toscano: I’m going to say no. The offense is good enough to push them in, so I realize I could be wrong. But the bad starting pitching continues and, at times, the bullpen has melted down. Those issues can be fatal, and I don’t see the Mets being perfect enough to make it.

Deesha Thosar: Slim chance. They can only afford to lose about six of their 16 remaining games. It’ll be close, like last year, but I think they’ll fall a couple of games short.

Who should be Mets top free agent target this offseason?

Anthony DiComo: Trevor Bauer. I know everyone wants J.T. Realmuto and the Mets should pursue him. But starting pitching is a bigger issue than catching, and Bauer is a legitimate ace. He represents their quickest path back to contention.

Andy Martino: The guy they should have traded for two offseasons ago – J.T. Realmuto. A great player and leader.

Tim Healey: Go straight to the top of the market at their positions of need: J.T. Realmuto and Trevor Bauer. I’m open to George Springer too — I’ve been a fan of his since he was at UConn — but since he’s turning 31 and tends to play all-out I’m not super confident about how he’ll age. I can definitely be sold on it — maybe via the argument that paying for these next couple of years will make the overpaying late in the contract OK, which is how I see a theoretical Realmuto deal — but among this trio he is probably third on my fake GM priority list.

Tim Britton: The easy answer is J.T. Realmuto, though I’m overdue in researching the aging curve for really good catchers in their early 30s. I’d need to do that before strongly advocating a long-term deal for him. Furthermore, and I’ve banged this drum all year, the rotation’s pretty significant questions don’t go away next year, and finding a really solid No. 2 starter might be the biggest improvement this team could make.

Wayne Randazzo: J.T. Realmuto would make all 30 teams better. He will be very well paid and sought after, rightfully so. He’s as good as they get in every facet of the game for a catcher.

However, this team needs starting pitching badly. Noah Syndergaard had Tommy John surgery in March so I wouldn’t expect him back until mid 2021 at the earliest. Seth Lugo should be counted on along with deGrom, but they need a lot more than that so I would make a bid for Trevor Bauer. Trevor’s battled some inconsistencies in his career, but he’s been absolutely terrific this season. He’s a guy with a personality that would thrive in New York and his throwing regimen will help him stay healthy over the terms of a long contract. He would be number one on my list. I would also give George Springer some consideration as well. Springer’s a Connecticut kid, a true center fielder and has big time October credentials. I would go after those two before thinking about Realmuto.

Justin Toscano: J.T. Realmuto. A catcher — and player — of his caliber is a perfect building block to the talented, young core they have now.

Deesha Thosar: Starting pitching and catching.

The post Mets Reporters Weigh-In on State of the Team appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning, Mets fans, we hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend!

Michael Wacha takes the mound for the Mets tonight as they open a two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:10 pm EDT. SNY and MASN 2 will have the coverage of tonight’s matchup.

Mets vs Phillies 

The Mets dropped a heart-breaker to the Philadelphia Phillies last night, losing 9-8 in extra innings. Erasmo Ramirez threw 34 strikes over 54 pitches thrown in five innings of relief.

Latest Mets News

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, Mets’ 3B coach, Gary DiSarcina returned to the team Monday after being out for a few weeks due to a player and coach from the Mets’ organization testing positive for COVID-19.

Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, The Chicago Cubs claimed OF Billy Hamilton off of waivers from the Mets

Steve Cohen’s deal to buy the Mets is getting closer, awaiting MLB approval. Joe D discusses this in-depth in an article on MMO.

Latest MLB News

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Blue Jays have placed Teoscar Hernandez on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain.

Per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs claimed OF, Billy Hamilton off of waivers from the Mets, added INF Ildemaro Vargas to the active roster, optioned and DFA’d LHP, Matt Dermody, and signed Pedro Strop to a minor league deal. They also added RHP, Duncan Robinson to the 60-man player pool and released catcher, Jose Lobaton. Following those transactions, the Cubs’ 60-player pool stands at 59 players.

Per Jake Kaplan of The Athletic, The Astros have placed Blake Taylor and Chris Devenski on the IL with elbow Soreness and have recalled Humberto Castellanos and Chase DeJong.

Latest NL East News

JT Realmuto hit his tenth home run of the season tonight against the Mets.

Rhys Hoskins has hit eight home runs in his last 13 games, homering today against the Mets.

With just three weeks left in the 2020 regular season, the Braves lead the NL East, with the Phillies two games back, the Marlins three and a half games back, the Mets five and a half games back, and the Nationals nine games back.

Latest on MMO

MMO is doing a giveaway. Head over to twitter to win a five-card park of David Peterson Bowman Rookie cards. Five winners will be selected Wednesday.

Sam Lebowitz and Jack Hendon posted episode three of the “Pleasant Good Evening Podcast” in memory of Tom Seaver and talked all things Mets. Follow the podcast on Twitter @PGEPod_MMO for all the content.

Rich Sparigo recalled the Mets’ 2015 record-stirring win against the Nationals in article on MMO.

Checkout Ryan Finkelstein’s article looking at the Mets’ push for playoffs.

On this Day in Mets History

On September 8, 1964, The Mets announced the signing of 18-year old right-handed pitcher, Bill Denehy.

On September 8, 1967, The Mets honored former Dodger pitcher, Sandy Koufax, who threw a n0-hitter against the Mets in 1962 and retired in 1966 due to arthritis.

On September 8, 1969, the Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-2 at Shea Stadium. Jerry Koosman was credited witht the win for the Mets.

On September 8, 1993, Darryl Kile no-hit the Mets at the Astrodome in the Astros’ 7-1 victory over the Mets.

Birthdays: Bobby Parnell (36), Don Aase (66),

Let’s go Mets!

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Lose Extra-Innings Heartbreaker to Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized.