Several Mets are set to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. So there’s a good chance this list featuring players who were Mets at one time or another encapsulating the four previous editions of the international tournament will have an addition or two by the time it’s over on March 21.

2006 and 2009: Dice-K Goes Back-to-Back

By the time Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived in New York, he’d already achieved his biggest professional baseball accomplishments. In 2006, he was a star pitcher for Japan getting plenty of attention from major-league suitors. At the inaugural WBC, Dice-K raised his national hero status while simultaneously improving his stock. He won the championship by going four innings and allowing one run in a 10-6 victory over Cuba. Three years later, Matsuzaka was again the star—going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA—with Japan again being the event’s dominant country.

2009: Wright Walk-Off

It’s not just one of the best moments by a Met in the WBC, but it’s also one of the best moments in WBC history. David Wright was already beloved by Mets fans. Now he had a whole country to embrace him. Days after the United States was humiliated by Puerto Rico in a mercy-rule loss to put the Americans in a win-or-else scenario, Wright came up in the ninth down 5-4 with the bases loaded and one out in Miami. He took a pitch down in the zone and placed it perfectly down the right-field line to score the tying and winning runs and send Team USA to the semifinals.

2013: When “The Captain” Became “Captain America”

This was the off-season when Wright’s unofficial title as leader of the Mets became official. But there was a more prestigious title that awaited him after the first-round contest with Italy. Just like the ’09 Puerto Rico thriller, Wright was up with the bases loaded. It was a less-dramatic situation (the fifth inning) but still had a tremendous result. His blast went into the left-center field stands and broke a 2-2 tie. Wright is one of the top performers in WBC history, batting .300/.400/.458 and driving in 10 runs over the four games he played in 2013. But his participation was cut short because of an oblique injury and teammates hung up a superhero cap in the dugout to pay homage to their third baseman.

2013: Canó Leads DR to Perfect Record

The Dominican Republic clearly had the most talent in 2013 and proved it—never losing on their way to the championship in a feat no WBC champ has done before or since. In their eight wins in eight tries, Canó batted .469 with two homers. In addition to being named tournament MVP, he became one of four to have a WBC title and a World Series ring. Canó was wrapping up his career with the Yankees, but not his career in New York of course. After spending 2014 through 2018 in Seattle, the All-Star second baseman was anything but All-Star form during his two-plus seasons as a Met.

2017: Díaz Brings the Heat

In a thrilling and contentious extra-inning Puerto Rico win over the Netherlands, Edwin Díaz gave a hint of a future for both Seattle and eventually New York. He breezed through the 10th by striking out the side and even inciting a bench-clearing after a pitch that went high and tight. WBC rules then stipulated that two runners were automatically put on base beginning with the 11th. But it had no effect on Edwin—except it may have gotten him more pumped up. Díaz kept the Netherlands off the scoreboard again and his hitters won it in the bottom half. He saved 34 for the Mariners in ’17 and then locked down 57 the next year. That dominance, as we know, is now in full effect in Queens.

2017: José Bautista’s Walk-off Throw

He was “Joey Bats,” but his arm was the difference for the Dominican Republic. In the bottom of the ninth of a first-round match-up, Columbia was in position to win with runners on the corners and one out. Bautista hauled in a line drive and fired it home to try and get a tagging Oscar Mercado. Catcher Welington Castillo shielded the baseline, caught Bautista’s laser throw, and applied the tag in time to end the inning and outrage Columbia’s personnel. Two innings later, the DR offense broke out with a seven-run eleventh to make a dramatic game seem lopsided by the 10-3 final.

Bautista wrapped up a 15-year major-league career the next season when he played for not one, but three teams in the NL East. His stint with the Mets lasted 83 games, the highlight being a game-winning grand slam against Tampa.

2017: Javy’s No-Look Tag

He’s mesmerizing whether on the field or at the plate. It’s impossible to keep your eyes off him–whether he was on the Cubs, Mets, or now with the Tigers. What makes this play from Javier Báez so fascinating was what he wasn’t seeing. In the top of the eighth against the Dominican Republic, a 3-1 Puerto Rico lead was in danger with Nelson Cruz on first. On a pitch from Edwin Díaz, Cruz attempted to steal. Yadier Molina caught and fired to Báez covering second. Even before he received the throw, Báez pointed in celebration toward Molina and then continued while blindly putting the tag on Cruz.

2017: Stroman in MVP Form for USA

The most recent edition of the WBC was the most exciting, highlighted by the three moments above as well as Adam Jones‘ sensational catch amid the center field fans at Petco Park, and punctuated by Marcus Stroman‘s brilliant performance in an 8-0 win for Team USA in the championship round. He dominated Puerto Rico, allowing just one hit in six innings for an impressive 2.35 ERA in three starts for a deserving MVP. Proving even if you beat ’em, you can join ’em, the former Met and current Cub will be with Díaz and Francisco Lindor on the Puerto Rico roster in 2023.

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The New York Mets and right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga agreed on a five-year, $75 million deal that sends him from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball.

Senga, 29, wasn’t posted by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and triggered an opt-out in his contract to become a free agent. He was therefore not subject to the MLB-NPB posting system.

The system has brought many Japanese talents to the major leagues, including current players Yu Darvish, Kenta Maeda, and Shohei Ohtani.

Those former NPB stars have enjoyed success in the major leagues. Let’s see how they and other pitchers have fared in their first season in the new league.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Yu Darvish

NPB Stats: 93-38, 1.99 ERA, 1,268.1 IP, 1,250 SO, Two-time Pacific League MVP, 5-time All-Star
Rookie Year Stats: 16-9, 3.90 ERA, 191.1 IP, 221 SO, All-Star

Darvish pitched seven seasons in NPB, all for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He made his professional debut as an 18-year-old and his MLB debut at 25. He’s the most accomplished pitcher to come from NPB being a five-time MLB All-Star and one of the best pitchers of his era.

Kenta Maeda

NPB Stats: 97-67, 2.39 ERA, 1,509.2 IP, 1,233 SO, 5-time All-Star
Rookie Year Stats: 16-11, 3.48 ERA, 175.2 IP, 179 SO, RoY-3

Maeda debuted for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at 20 and came to MLB at 28 as a member of the Dodgers. In Japan, Maeda won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2010, won five gold gloves, and two Eiji Sawamura awards (NPB’s Cy Young). Maeda began his career in Los Angeles but currently plays for the Minnesota Twins. He was one of baseball’s best in 2020 but has followed it with an injury-marred 2021 and did not pitch in 2022 due to injury.

Shohei Ohtani

NPB Stats: 4215- 2.69 ERA, 543 IP, 624 SO, 5-time All-Star, Pacific League MVP
Rookie Year Stats: 4-2, 3.31 ERA, 51.2 IP, 63 SO, Rookie of the Year

Ohtani’s first-year pitching stats were impressive but short-lived due to injury. After undergoing Tommy John he has become the two-way star he was expected to be. Now he’s not only a top hitter in baseball but a top pitcher. In 2022 he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 166.0 innings pitched, the most he’s ever had in an MLB season. Ohtani debuted young for a Japanese transfer at 23.

Yusei Kikuchi

NPB Stats: 73-46, 2.77 ERA, 1010.2 IP, 903 SO, 3-time All-Star
Rookie Year Stats: 6-11, 5.46 ERA, 161.2 IP,116 SO

Kikuchi has not had the success in America he had in Japan. He spent three seasons with the Mariners before he to Toronto. While in Seattle he struggled with an average ERA over 5 but he was named to the American League All-Star team in 2021. Kikuchi has shifted to a bullpen role in Toronto. When he was initially rumored to be posted he was scouted by the Mets and they were again interested when he eventually was.

Hideo Nomo

NPB Stats: 78-46, 3.15 ERA, 1,051.1 IP,1,204 SO, 5-time All-Star, Eiji Sawamura award
Rookie Year Stats: 13-6, 2.54 ERA, 191.1 IP, 236 SO, Rookie of the Year

Nomo’s best year as a major leaguer was his first. In 1995 he was an All-Star, rookie of the year, and the major league strikeout leader. Nomo would pitch 13 seasons in the big leagues with eight different teams, including the Mets in 1998. He finished his career with a 4.24 ERA in 323 games pitched with 318 starts.

Daisuke Matsuzaka

NPB Stats: 114-65, 3.04 ERA, 1,454.1 IP, 1,410 SO, Eiji Sawamura Award, 7-time All-Star, 7-time gold glove
Rookie Year Stats: 15-12, 4.40 ERA, 204.2 IP, 201 SO

Matsuzaka, more popularly known as Dice-K came over as a 26-year-old with the Boston Red Sox. He finished fourth in rookie of the year voting and a year later finished fourth in Cy Young voting. Matsuzaka had a career ERA in MLB of 4.45 with both the Red Sox and the Mets. He returned to Japan after the 2014 season where he’d pitch through 2021. Matsuzaka had his injury issues and went from the starting rotation to the bullpen in his final year of his career and arguably could’ve stayed in MLB longer if he wanted to take on a role there.

Hiroki Kuroda

NPB Stats: 124-105, 3.55 ERA, 2,021.2 IP, 1,461 SO, 5-Time All-Star
Rookie Year Stats:  9-10, 3.73 ERA, 193.1 IP, 116 SO

Kuroda debuted as a 33-year-old rookie in 2008. He never recorded an ERA over 3.76 and was a solid innings eater for seven years with the Dodgers and Yankees. His late debut shortened his MLB career but as a control-first pitcher, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t have had success had he come over sooner.

Koji Uehara

NPB Stats: 112-67, 3.02 ERA, 1,583.2 IP, 1,400 SO, nine-time All-Star, two-time Eiji Sawamura Award
Rookie Year Stats: 2-4, 4.05 ERA, 66.2 IP, 48 SO

Uehara debuted late like Kuroda at 34 years old. With the Orioles in 2009 he began his career as a starter but moved to the bullpen for the next eight seasons. As a reliever, Uehara never had a ERA over 4.00 and finished with one under 3.00 six times. He was a 2014 All-Star and had 95 career saves. Uehara pitched in MLB through age 42.

Masahiro Tanaka

NPB Stats: 112-56, 2.46 ERA, 1,537.2 IP, 1,496 SO, MVP, 7-time All-Star, 2-time Eiji Sawamura Award
Rookie Year Stats: 13-5, 2.77 ERA, 136.1 IP, 141 SO, All-Star

Tanaka was a two-time MLB All-Star with one appearance during his rookie season. Tanaka played seven years with the Yankees until he went back to Japan. With the Yankees, he had a career 3.74 ERA.

Kodai Senga

NPB Stats:  87-22, 2.59 ERA, 1,089.0 IP, 1,252 SO, 3-time All-Star

Senga has played 11 seasons in NPB. In his career, he’s struck out 28.2% of batters and walked 9.3%. Senga’s repertoire featured four pitches, headlined by a fastball that sits near 95 and tops at 100, along with a splitter known in Japan as a “ghost fork(ball).” Those pitches combined with solid control projects him as a starter in the majors.

Some of Senga’s career highlights include being an All-Star three times, a five-time Japan Series champion, a two-time Pacific League strikeout leader, and a two-time gold glove award winner. He won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020.

The post How Former NPB Pitchers Fared Their Rookie MLB Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, folks! The Mets will play in a double header today after a five-and a-half hour rain delay caused the yesterday’s double header to be cancelled.

The Mets wiped out the Marlins 13-0 last night thanks to another great performance from Zack Wheeler and big days from Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, Jay Bruce, and Amed Rosario. Wheeler had a shot at a shutout after eight innings of 89 dominant pitches.

The Mets begin the doubleheader at 3:10 p.m with Steven Matz on the mound and Jason Vargas will start in the nightcap. Both games are on SNY and can be heard on WOR.

Latest Mets News

The Mets and David Wright will announce their plan for the rest of 2018 today. Keep an eye out for that.

The Mets officially announced Jay Horwitz will become the team’s Director of Alumni Relations. Among those in attendance for the announcement were former GMs, Sandy Alderson, Omar Minaya, and Steve Phillips. Former managers, Terry Collins, was also there, as well as players such as David Wright, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Edgardo Alfonzo. Former manager and Hall of Famer, Joe Torre was also there.

The Mets announced their Sterling Award winners. This recognized the top performers at each level of the Mets system. They also named Justin Dunn their top pitcher and Peter Alonso as their top hitter. Alonso addressed the media on not being called up by the Mets.

Joel Sherman has an outside the box pick to lead the Mets.

R.A. Dickey (the last Mets’ Cy Young winner) thinks Jacob deGrom should be the Cy Young.

Latest MLB News

Rustin Dodd of the Athletic writes about Peter Moylan‘s treacherous and remarkable career.

Latest NL East News

The Braves odds of winning the NL East are now 93.5%. The Phillies have been dreadful and have been playing like choke artists.

Matt Gelb of the Athletic writes about what to expect from the Phillies last stretch of games.

Is Juan Soto the best teenage hitter, ever? The Washington Post has your answer. I think it’s a yes.

Latest on MMO

John Sheridan looks at Jeff McNeil‘s scouting history.

This Day in Mets History

2015: The Mets pull of another crazy comeback in Atlanta thanks to big homers from Daniel Murphy and Michael Conforto.

Birthdays: Daisuke Matsuzaka turns 38, Grant Roberts turns 41, Rodney McCray turns 55, Tom Parsons turns 79.

The post Morning Briefing: Let’s Play Two, Again! appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tonight, the Mets will take on the Chicago Cubs at 8:05 p.m. Matt Harvey has the ball for the Mets and will face Jon Lester.

Last night, Robert Gsellman coughed up an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. The big blow came from Kris Bryant, a three-run home run, and that would be all for Gsellman. The Cubs tacked on four more runs against the Mets bullpen to put the game out of reach form the Mets offense. Amed Rosario racked up two hits while making some nice plays in the field.

Latest Mets News

The Mets acquired Eric Handhold to complete the Neil Walker deal.

The Mets recalled Tomas Nido yesterday. Despite a down year offensively, Nido is regarded as a good defender behind the plate.

The Mets will open the 2018 season on March 29th at Citi Field against the Cardinals.

The Mets want a veteran relief arm for 2018 according to Marc Carig of Newsday.

Latest NL East News

Gio Gonzalez‘s 2018 vesting option kicked in yesterday. Gonzalez will earn 12 million for the Nationals in 2018.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com answers questions from Marlins fans about the team.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes about the hiring of Adam Fisher.

Matt Gelb of Philly.com writes about the Phillies offseason plans for 2018.

Latest on MMO

Logan Barer writes about Asdrubal Cabrera‘s role for 2018.

Barer also writes about how Juan Lagares doesn’t see himself as just a backup outfielder.

This Day in Mets History

1969: Tom Seaver gets his 22nd win thanks to Ron Swaboda’s grand slam.

Birthdays: Daisuke Matsuzaka turns 37, Grant Roberts turns 40, Rodney McCray turns 54, Tom Parsons turns 78

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On February 1, 2008, Johan Santana agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million dollar contract with the New York Mets, two days after the Minnesota Twins dealt their ace left-hander for center fielder Carlos Gomez, and pitching prospects Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey. By all accounts, it was a steal for the Mets.

The Mets had two days to seal-the-deal with Johan and as time was running out, both clubs asked for and received an MLB approved 2-hour extension. With three minutes to spare, the Mets announced the landmark deal that made Johan Santana the highest paid pitcher in baseball history.

More importantly for the Mets, after a historic and gut-wrenching collapse in 2007, the Mets were now the odds-on favorite to win the NL East with 10:1 odds they would go all the way and win the World Series.

Of course, it never happened, but that was hardly Santana’s fault, who led the National League with a 2.53 ERA in 2008 with a league leading 34 starts and 234.1 innings pitched while racking up 208 strikeouts and a 7.1 WAR. He would finish third in the Cy Young voting.

Things began to unravel for Santana after that as his body began to break down, and he would never give the Mets 30 starts or 200 innings again. However, when he was on the mound and healthy, few were better than Santana.

When all was said and done. Santana’s Mets career amounted to a 46-34 record over four years with a 3.18 ERA and 1.201 WHIP in 109 starts.

A two-time Cy Young award winner who prided himself on making only one trip to disabled list in his eight years with the Twins, was hurt each season with the Mets, including missing all of the 2011 and  2013 seasons.

Despite all of the injuries, Santana gave the Mets everything he had when he was on the mound, and was one of the fiercest competitors ever to don the Orange and Blue.

No Met fan will ever forget the complete game, three-hit shutout he tossed against the Miami Marlins in the second to last game of the 2008 season. It was a do or die game and he answered the call on three days rest while battling a leg injury.

And of course, Santana will forever be remembered with reverence for tossing the first no-hitter in Mets franchise history. It happened at Citi Field against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 1, 2012 and when David Freese struck out to end the game, there wasn’t a dry eye in New York. It was euphoric and transcending, but it would also be Santana’s last shining moment as a Met.

So if you had to do it all over again, would you still make the trade for Johan and agree to the $137.5 million contract that sealed the deal? Of course you would. I do that trade again in a heartbeat and I never look back. I cried buckets on June 1 and I’ll never forget that night as long as I live. Worth every damn dime.

The post Revisiting The Johan Santana Deal Eight Years Later appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to the Japan Times, right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is returning to Japan after playing six seasons with the Red Sox and the past two seasons with the Mets.

Dice-K, 34, has agreed to a contract with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, who are the reigning Japanese League champions.

In 41 games including 16 starts, Matsuzaka posted a 4.24 ERA and 1.311 WHIP for the Mets.

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Last Night’s Quick Scores

• Las Vegas 14, New Orleans 5
• Rome 3, Savannah 2
• Brooklyn 2, Staten Island 0
• Kingsport vs Bluefield – Postponed

Minor League Notes

• Daniel Muno hit his 13th home run for a Grand Slam and drove in five runs.
• Matt Reynolds singled in four at bats and scored two runs and extended his hitting streak to five games.
• Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 4, scoring two runs, and extending his hitting streak to seven straight games. He is batting .481 (13 for 27) with five multi-hit games in that span.
• Cesar Puello finished 3 for 3, with two runs scored, two doubles, his fifth home run and drove in two runs.
• Tomas Nido went 1-for-3 for Brooklyn and now has a healthy 10-game hitting streak.
• John Mora now has a five-game hitting streak for the Cyclones after going 1-for-2 in Brooklyn’s win over the Yankees.
• Tyler Moore has now recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four games for Brooklyn.
• In his final rehab start, Daisuke Matsuzaka went five innings striking out seven, with two hits and two walks.
• With his 14th save of the season, Shane Bay is now tied for the lead in the New York-Penn League.
• Yeixon Ruiz RBI on Savannah’s loss to Rome, gives him 12 in his last 10 games.
• Champ Stuart extended his hit streak to six games after going 1-for-3 Thursday night.

Las Vegas Wins PCL Pacific Southern Division Crown

Back to back! 51s are back in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/JKMMEd5q4K

— Las Vegas 51s (@LasVegas51s) August 22, 2014

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In front of an over capacity crowd of 8,005 at MCU Park in Coney Island, Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed five scoreless innings for the Brooklyn Cyclones to earn a win in his third rehab start since going on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation July 26.

The Cyclones (36-29) defeated the Staten Island Yankees 2-0 and remain two games ahead of the Connecticut Tigers in the New York-Penn League Wild Card race. It was Brooklyn’s ninth shutout victory of the summer.

The Japanese right-hander struck out seven batters while allowing two hits – both in the first inning – and two walks. He threw 72 pitches – 51 for strikes.

“I’m sure the Mets are going to be very pleased with how he threw, his command, his stuff, and most important of all when he came out after 72 pitches, he said he felt great,” said Cyclones’ manager Tom Gamboa.

Dice-K said there were no problems with his elbow and that he wanted to use all of his pitches in different situations.

“I just wanted to go out there and pitch well and give the team a chance to win,” said Matsuzaka through a translator.

It seemed that every batter he faced was behind in the count, which was something he was conscious of coming into this start.

“That’s definitely something that I wanted to do today,” he said. “In my previous experience in rehab starts, the guys (opposing hitters) have tended to be pretty aggressive, so I kept that in mind and wanted to attack them early.”

With his start, Matsuzaka became the 20th Major Leaguer to rehab with the Cyclones and the second to do so this season, with Dillon Gee making two rehab starts in Brooklyn earlier this summer. Dice-K joined Tsuyoshi Shinjo (2001) and Kazuo Matsui (2005) as the only Japanese-born players to rehab with the Cyclones.

Matsuzaka ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the first inning, giving up a leadoff double. The bases wound up being loaded with only one out, but Dice-K retired the next two batters via strikeout en route to striking out the side.

The top of the second saw him strikeout the side again, but he only needed 11 pitches to do so unlike his 27-pitch first inning.

He only threw nine pitches to retire the side in the top of the third. After retiring 10 straight batters, he surrendered a walk in the fourth but then retired the side in order in the fifth to conclude his outing.

The Cyclones’ offense rallied at just the right time to get Dice-K the win. Brooklyn first baseman Pedro Perez lined a one-out double to right center, and the next batter, All-Star right fielder Michael Bernal, stroked an RBI double down the right field line to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead.

The following inning, Cyclones’ second baseman Tyler Moore plated an insurance run with a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Three lefty Cyclones relievers – Brad Wieck, Kelly Secrest and Shane Bay – combined for four scoreless innings in relief of Matsuzaka. The All-Star Bay is now 14-for-14 in save opportunities this season.

Brooklyn’s starting pitching has been one of its strengths all season, but in the heat of a playoff race, the timing of having a savvy veteran like Matsuzaka make a rehab start was quite perfect.

“For our team, it was huge,” Gamboa said. “From a development standpoint, we have 17 pitchers on our staff here and for them to get a chance to see an established big leaguer, for them to get a chance to watch him warm up, how he goes about his business, how he pitches, his balance point on the rubber and his ability to take the sting out of a hitter’s swing, I think it was good for our pitchers to see.”

As for Matsuzaka’s return to the big club, he said the decision is not up to him but that he feels ready. In fact, he said he felt ready after his previous start in Binghamton. He said he’s not sure whether he’ll start or come out of the bullpen when he returns, but with a big smile on his face, he made it known that he prefers to start.

The Cyclones remain home to open a three-game weekend set against the Tri-City Valleycats, the Single-A short season affiliate of the Houston Astros. Right-hander Martires Arias takes the bump for Brooklyn at 7 p.m.

Click here to view the complete box score from this game.

All photos by Jim Mancari.

The post Dice-K’s The Competition, Picks Up Win In Cyclones’ Rehab Start appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

New York Mets pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his final rehab start on Thursday for the Brooklyn Cyclones at MCU Park when the Clones take on the Staten Island Yankees at 7:00 PM. The game will be televised on SNY or you can listen live here.

Matsuzaka, who is 3-3 with a 3.87 ERA this season, last pitched for the Mets on July 24 and was placed on the Disabled List on July 26 with inflammation in his right elbow. Thursday will mark his third rehab start.

Michael Conforto leads the team with a .318 batting average. The 2014 first rounder owns a .417 on-base and is slugging at a .427 clip to begin his pro career. When Conforto scores a run, the Cyclones are 14-2. The first round pick has scored 22 runs in 29 games with Brooklyn this season and has scored six runs in his last four games.

Third baseman Jhoan Urena is the only player in the New York-Penn League to participate in all 64 games this season. The franchise record for most games in a single season is 74, set by OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis in 2008. Urena is

Marcos Molina, 19, is the ace of the rotation and is 6-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 10 starts and has yet to allow a home run. In 63.2 innings pitched, Molina has struck out 73 while walking 12. At the NYPL All Star Game, manager Tom Gamboa told MiLB.com: 

“I just saw recently where he’s the No. 16 prospect in the Mets’ farm system. My answer to that is, if we have 15 players better than him, then the Mets are headed for the World Series in the not-too-distant future because I just see him on the fast track.”

The Cyclones are currently in second place in the McNamara Division with a 35-29 record. They are coming of a 14-2 loss to the Staten Island Yankees.

GO ‘CLONES!

The post Game Thread: Staten Island Yankees vs Brooklyn Cyclones, 7:10 PM appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tuesday, August 12th

According to Marc Carig of Newsday, Jacob DeGrom is feeling better and that the rest has helped. DeGrom added that he’s relieved to know there was nothing major after getting MRI yesterday.

He’s still banking on missing just two starts before returning to the Mets rotation and will start throwing again when swelling subsides in his shoulder, which will hopefully be in the next 5-6 days.

Mets assistant GM John Ricco announced that Jacob deGrom is heading to the DL with rotator cuff tendinitis.

Ricco told reporters that this was good news and that rest and anti-inflammatory medication should do the trick.

Rafael Montero will get the start on Tuesday against the Nationals.

5:00 AM

Jacob deGrom has been scratched from his next start due to shoulder soreness. He is back in New York for an MRI and to be examined by team doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Rafael Montero is expected to be called up to fill in for deGrom on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, a source confirmed to ESPN New York. However the Mets are not prepared to announce the decision until deGrom is examined in New York later today.

Assistant general manager John Ricco said the team will know more when they hear back from the medical staff on Monday.

“I haven’t really talked to Sandy (Alderson) about the candidates, so I’m not sure what this thinking will be on that,” Ricco said. “First thing we got to see if this is a one start thing or more than one.”

DeGrom told reporters that he is not worried, adding that his shoulder felt fine during last start but that the next day it was pretty sore and so he informed the team.

“I could probably go out there and pitch with it right now but I think just talking to them at this point of the year it’s not really worth pushing it,’ deGrom said. “If I could skip one and be 100 percent and let it calm down then that was they kind of talked about.”

Jared Diamond had noted that deGrom averaged 93.7 mph with his fastball in his last start, which was down from 94.86 mph and 94.58 mph in his previous two outings. He is also approaching the most innings he has ever tossed in his career.

The team has often spoken about possibly cutting down some of deGrom’s starts to limit his innings, but that matter was never settled and there was some chatter about foregoing an innings cap altogether for the 26-year old righthander.

Montero, 23, went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four major league starts with the Mets in May and feels up to the task this time. He has tossed 14 2/3 scoreless innings over his past two Triple-A starts.

“I learned very much in the little time I was in MLB. I hope to stay up the rest of my career. I have worked hard to be here. I’m coming off two very good starts. I feel like I’m in my best physical form of the whole year.”

Losing deGrom for any length of time would suck. He was having a tremendous rookie campaign, posting a 2.87 ERA in his 16 starts and striking out 94 in 100 1/3 innings. Let’s hope this is nothing serious and just a one-start thing.

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