On Wednesday, the Mets finished off their seven-game homestand with a bang.

After a Brett Baty two-run homer off of Zack Wheeler, offense was hard to come by as it was knotted at 2-2 going into the eighth. The Mets’ defense continued to keep them in the game, as Juan Soto gunned out Nick Castellanos at the plate in the eighth inning, eventually sending the game into extras. The culmination of the Mets’ perfect homestand would come with a Starling Marte bloop single into center field, scoring Pete Alonso and securing a 4-3 win for New York. For a full game recap, click here!

This win made the Mets 12-1 to start the season at Citi Field, marking their best home record to start a season in team history.

New York has an off day on Thursday as they travel down to D.C. to kick off a four-game set against the Washington Nationals. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning are the expected starters for that series. 

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Ryne Stanek raved about the Mets pitching development under this new regime, per David Lennon of Newsday. Stanek said New York’s pitching development is is “as good as anywhere I’ve been.”

Carlos Mendoza told reporters that he expects to reinstate Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez from the 10-day IL on Friday. Click here for more on the two Mets’ expected returns.

Mets traded minor leaguer Rowdey Jordan to the Astros, per Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online. Jordan was an 11th RD pick in 2021. and has a .683 OPS in the minors.

Mets trainers noticed that one of Edwin Díaz’s legs was longer than the other on Tuesday. They fixed the issue, says Díaz: “I was feeling better after”, per SNY. Edwin left Wednesday’s win with what he labeled as a “hip cramp.” Click here for more on Edwin’s injury.

Latest MLB News

The Atlanta Braves selected RHP Jesse Chavez to the major league roster and transferred INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the 60-day injured list. 

The Philadelphia Phillies reinstated INF/OF Weston Wilson from the 10-day IL and in return designated INF/OF Kody Clemens for assignment.

The Chicago Cubs signed Nicky Lopez to a one-year major league contract and transferred LHP Justin Steele to the 60-day IL.

Athletics reliever José Leclerc is going to get a second opinion when the A’s are in Texas next week after going down with a lat strain, per Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. He’s shut down for the time being with no timetable for a return.

Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell “didn’t feel great” after playing catch on Tuesday per Dave Roberts. Snell will be shut down from throwing and might go for more imaging, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Latest on MMO

Edwin Díaz left Wednesday’s win with a hip cramp.

Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez are expected to return this weekend!

The Mets finish off a perfect homestand!

On This Date in Mets History

2013: Jordany Valdespin hits a walk-off grand slam to give the Mets a 7-3 win over the Dodgers. 

2007: Pinch-hitter Damion Easley ties the Mets at one a piece with the Colorado Rockies in the 10th inning with the club down to their last strike. Endy Chávez would then win the game in the 12t inning with a walk-off drag bunt.

1986: Howard Johnson launches a two-run homer to tie the Mets and Reds in the ninth inning. George Foster then puts the Mets ahead in the 10th with an RBI single. 

1962: Casey Stengel is fined $500 by commissioner Ford Frick for appearing in a Rheingold Beer advertisement while in uniform.

Born on This Date: Tyler Naquin (1991), Carlos Beltrán (1977), Pat Zachry (1952).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Continued Historic Start at Citi Field appeared first on Metsmerized.

Let’s set the scene. The Mets led 5-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. The offense had been supplied Darryl Strawberry (four RBIs, including a home run) , and Ray Knight, who drove in a run on an error by Padres’ pitcher, Ed Whitson.

Roger McDowell took the mound for the home half of the eighth inning, and ran into immediate trouble when two runs scored on error by Wally Backman on a ball hit by Steve Garvey. Jesse Orosco replaced McDowell, and surrendered the lead on run-scoring hits by Carmelo Martinez and future Met Garry Templeton. The game remained tied until the 11th inning.

The Mets took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Keith Hernandez off pitcher Rich Gossage, scoring Lenny Dykstra. Now came the intriguing bottom of the 11th inning.

With Doug Sisk pitching, Templeton led off with a double. After a strikeout, Tim Flannery stepped to the plate. A double play is unlikely with just a runner on second base, and one that went this way is very rare. Take a look at the video below.

As Ralph Kiner said, Templeton runs well, making the play all the more unlikely. Templeton absolutely pummeled Mets’ catcher (and current bench coach) John Gibbons, who stayed in the play and fired a strike to Howard Johnson to nab Flannery at third base.

That kind of play gave the feeling that the 1986 Mets were not only a great team, but also destined to win. The Mets proceeded home after that game (Tim McCarver said they had a plane to catch) where they would take two-of-three from the Los Angeles Dodgers and five-of six from the San Francisco Giants and the Padres.

On September 17, 1986 the Mets would achieve the first of  three postseason prizes, clinching the division at home against the Chicago Cubs. As the 2024 team fights for the postseason, we can hope that moments like the one that took place 38 years ago will happen once again.

The post OTD 1986: Unique Double Play Seals Mets Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mets Hall of Famer Howard Johnson will receive the Thurman Munson Award at the 44th annual AHRC New York City Foundation dinner on March 14. The award recognizes individuals for their on-field excellence and the betterment of sports and their community. Four-time World Series champion Tino Martinez and NYC Basketball Hall of Famer Anne Gregory O’Connell are the other honorees.

Latest Mets News

Adrian Houser struck out five batters in 3 1/3 scoreless innings, but Shintaro Fujinami allowed two runs in the eighth inning as the Mets dropped their game to the Tigers on Sunday, 3-2. Mark Vientos and Tomás Nido both hit homers.

The Mets host the Marlins this evening at 6:10, with Tylor Megill looking to continue his strong play against lefty Trevor Rogers. Most notably, Edwin Díaz is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut. The game will be televised on SNY.

Latest MLB News

Brewers closer Devin Williams has been dealing with a sore back and will be seeking a second opinion from a spine specialist this week. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said the issue has flared up during camp and while the team isn’t overly concerned, they are going to be cautious with Williams.

The Mariners announced the signing of Ryne Stanek to a one-year deal. However, they placed Jackson Kowar on the 60-day IL and he will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro recaps the Mets’ loss to the Tigers on Sunday.

Christian De Block breaks down the strong performances of Mark Vientos and Brett Baty on Saturday.

James Villani and Patrick Glynn debate whether the Mets should bring back J.D. Davis in the latest MMO Crossfire.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Bobby Abreu (50), Rich Hill (44), Jeremy Hefner (38)

The post Morning Briefing: Howard Johnson to Receive Thurman Munson Award appeared first on Metsmerized.

After Mother Nature sent a deluge of rainfall on Citi Field on Tuesday, making conditions unplayable, the two teams were forced to contest a doubleheader on Wednesday. That was just the beginning, however.

With the Marlins holding a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning in the series finale on Thursday, Mother Nature reared her ugly head again to throw the game into complete chaos. A three-hour-plus rain delay ultimately forced the game to be suspended, acting as the latest weird chapter in a long line of them in the Mets’ season.

And it might not be over. With this series holding serious playoff implications for the Marlins, who are in the thick of the wild card race heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the suspended game may have to be completed at Citi Field on Monday at 1:10 p.m. ET.

At this point, the Mets probably can’t wait for this wacky year to be done with.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

3 Up

Bouncing Back

While play being suspended on Thursday was a real blow to the Marlins, given that they still have a lot to play for, it didn’t matter for the Mets in the grand scheme of things. However, they will hope that mother nature’s force of will doesn’t overshadow a gem of an outing from David Peterson. After enduring a rough start in his last outing against the Phillies, Peterson bounced back in impressive fashion against the Marlins. He went a full seven innings for the second time this year (August 27 against the Angels), while not allowing a run on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. Furthermore, Peterson threw a season-high 113 pitches.

In what was his final start of the year, the lefty really showed a lot and has now set himself up for a huge spring training after a testing up-and-down 2023. Peterson’s ERA ballooned to an ugly 8.08 ERA in eight starts when he was demoted to the minor leagues in mid-May, but he finishes his year with a much more respectable 3.38 ERA in 19 games (13 starts). That’s how you bounce back, and that’s how you leave a good lasting impression heading into the offseason.

Strikeout King

The Mets lost the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday, but that didn’t matter in the overall context of a lost season. What did matter, though, was their future ace achieving a notable slice of history. Kodai Senga entered his final start needing only six strikeouts to become the second Mets rookie with 200 strikeouts after the great Dwight Gooden racked up 276 in 1984. Senga delivered, just as he has done all year. The rookie quickly amassed five straight strikeouts before recording his sixth of the night later on in the evening on back-to-back forkballs to retire Jake Burger. Now, it wasn’t a vintage Senga outing given that he gave up two home runs – including the first-ever homer on his iconic ghost fork – but finishing with 200 strikeouts was a fitting finale for what was one of the most impressive debut seasons we’ve seen from a rookie. Senga should get serious consideration for Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.

Reclaiming His Crown

It sure seems like Francisco Lindor doesn’t get enough love for being one of the best shortstops in the game. He’s certainly one of, if not the most underrated shortstop in baseball. The veteran delivers year in, year out, and he did something on Wednesday that highlights his elite excellence. In hitting three home runs across the doubleheader – one in Game 1 and two in Game 2 – Lindor became the latest player to join the 30-30 club.

In achieving the remarkable feat of 30 homers and 30 stolen bases for the first time in his career, Lindor put an exclamation point on both his greatness and his importance for the Mets. Lindor, who achieved a career-high in stolen bases, is the first Met to join the 30-30 club since David Wright in 2007. Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry are the only other Mets in the hallowed, prestigious club.

Lindor was electric in this series, also knocking in six RBIs, and the star has played hard all year while bringing consistent excellence both at the plate and in the field. The four-time All-Star is batting .254/.334/.469/.803 on the year, with 96 RBIs, 33 doubles and 64 walks. Lindor has morphed into a real leader on this team, the heartbeat if you like, and he’ll be an instrumental piece for new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, to build around in 2024 and beyond.

John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

3 Down

Tough Day At The Office

What a testing week for the grounds crew at Citi Field. Heavy rain has pounded the New York area for days now, and that’s only expected to continue this weekend. The team responsible for keeping the field pristine condition had their work cut out throughout this series. They had to deal with a field resembling a lake on Tuesday, even resorting to using blow torches to help dry out the field some more on Wednesday. Then, after a brief respite, Mother Nature wreaked havoc again on Thursday, leading to more than a three-hour rain delay. The grounds crew certainly didn’t endear themselves to the Marlins, removing the tarp just in time for more rain and then being seen posing for pictures while the game was in a lengthy delay. There may be a few angry words exchanged between Miami and the Mets ground crew on Monday, depending on how this weekend pans out.

Disaster Strikes, Pt. 1

We thought splitting this next topic into two parts would be best. The regular season may be nearly over, but that didn’t stop the Baseball Gods from raining down yet more bad news on the Mets. Literally and figuratively. It began with Jeff McNeil, who saw his year-end a few days early because of a partial tear in his UCL. The versatile veteran hopes a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left elbow on Friday will solve the problem. McNeil is looking to avoid surgery and instead deal with a six-week layoff, which means he would be fighting fit for the start of spring training. That’s certainly a bullet dodged for both the Mets and their two-time All-Star. McNeil won’t want anything holding him back after suffering a disappointing 2023 season.

The 2022 Silver Slugger struggled offensively for much of the year, with only a hot August and September saving his numbers from looking especially bad. He finishes the year with a slash line of .270/.333/.378/.711, with 10 homers, 25 doubles, four triples, and 55 RBIs.

Disaster Strikes, Pt. 2

The weather had another cruel twist waiting in store for the Mets on Thursday. Brandon Nimmo was removed from the fifth inning of Thursday’s suspended game due to an issue with the AC joint in his right shoulder. The injury occurred after Nimmo hit the grass hard while diving to try and make a play in the field in the fourth inning. While initial X-rays were positive, manager Buck Showalter said Nimmo will undergo further imaging on Friday afternoon. Shoulder injuries can be tricky, so the Mets will keep everything crossed that Nimmo has avoided anything serious. The best-case scenario is he is shut down for the season’s final series and can report to spring training fully healthy. The positive is that Nimmo did manage to achieve a career-high in games played with 152, and he also set a career-high in home runs with 24. Both marks to be proud of if Nimmo’s year is indeed done.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets, Marlins Beat By Mother Nature appeared first on Metsmerized.

Alonso made his mark immediately against the Marlins and lefty Braxton Garrett in Game 1 of the doubleheader. With Brandon Nimmo on first, Alonso lined a no-doubt, two-run homer to left field. The homer was a bullet, traveling 416 feet and leaving the bat at 114.6 mph.

Sep 3, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) is greeted by left fielder Jeff McNeil (1) after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The long-ball gave the Mets an immediate 2-o lead and ended a 43 at-bat stretch without a home run for Alonso. It was the second-longest stretch of the season for him without a homer. The longest for Alonso was a 49-at-bat stretch between July 6 and 25.

The first-inning home run from Alonso was also historical. It was the 192nd long ball of his career and it tied him with Howard Johnson for fourth place on the Mets’ all-time home run leaderboard.

Tying Johnson was another sign that Alonso continues to be one of the most prolific home run hitters in Mets’ history. He reached 192 homers in only five seasons, one being the COVID-19-shortened season. It took Johnson nine seasons to hit 192 with the Mets.

It’s not unfathomable to believe Alonso won’t reach second place on the Mets’ homer list before the end of next season. He’s 28 homers behind Mike Piazza for third place, 50 homers behind David Wright for second, and 60 homers behind Darryl Strawberry for first.

While 50 homers is a large sum, Alonso has done it before and has the ability to replicate it. It’s more realistic for Alonso to reach third place on the leaderboard in 2024 and attack Wright and Strawberry’s position in 2025. That, however, would require an extension of the first basemen which is up in the air currently.

Alonso’s historical first-inning homer was just an initial sign of his big day to come. He finished Game 1 going 4-for-4 with a homer, double, two singles, and two RBI. Alonso also reached base for a fifth time after he was plunked for a National League-leading 19th time.

A 2-run shot from Pete Alonso to get the Mets on the board 💥 pic.twitter.com/rdLD6K8u8k

— SNY (@SNYtv) September 27, 2023

His Game 1 performance, along with Francisco Lindor‘s four RBI performance, carried the Mets past the Marlins to an 11-2 victory. The win improved the Mets record to 8-3 against the Marlins at the time.

Alonso wasn’t as dominant in Game 2 on Wednesday. He went 1-for-4 with a double but came inches away from hitting his second home run of the day. The homer would have cemented Alonso in fourth place all by himself with 193 career home runs.

Instead, the double put Alonso in scoring position with the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth. The Mets were unable to drive him in and lost to the Marlins 4-2 in Game 2.

Alonso still finished the day with a strong stat line. He went a combined 5-for-8 with a homer, two doubles, two singles, a hit by pitch, two RBI, and two runs scored in both games.

While it was an overall successful day for Alonso, the missed homer in Game 2 was substantial. Alonso currently sits at 46 homers for the season and only has four more games to reach the 50-homer plateau.

Alonso most likely won’t reach 50 homers, but it isn’t impossible. The Mets face the Phillies in their last three games and they have already made the postseason. Taijuan Walker is going to pitch on Friday and then the Phillies will save their best pitchers for October.

50 homers won’t make or break an already great season for Alonso. In 150 games, he’s slashing .222/.323/.517 with 46 homers, 21 doubles, and 117 RBI. Alonso is also second in the NL with 46 homers.

If the season ended today, Alonso would finish top 10 in homers and RBI for the fourth time in his five-year career. Alonso would also finish the season with a fifth consecutive season with an OPS above .800. The only other Met to start their career with five consecutive seasons with an .800 OPS was Wright. He did it nine seasons in a row.

OTD IN 2019

Today was monumental for the Mets organization and Pete Alonso. On September 28, 2019, Alonso hit his 53rd home run of his rookie season against Mike Foltynewicz.

#OTD in 2019, Pete Alonso set the Major League rookie HR record with his 53rd homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/nxUeM2hi2O

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) September 28, 2023

The homer broke the MLB rookie home run record of 52 set by Aaron Judge back in 2017. For his historical year, Alonso took home the NL Rookie of the Year award and finished seventh in MVP voting. Alonso also cemented himself at the top of the Mets’ single-season home run record leaderboard.

The post Pete Alonso Reaches Home Run Milestone appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning, Mets fans!

A star-studded filled afternoon that featured former Mets Al Leiter and Howard Johnson and team broadcasters Howie Rose and Gary Cohen were inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame ended on a sour note as the Blue Jays beat the Mets 2-1. Tylor Megill started for New York and pitched admirably through five innings but the team failed to muster more than a run. For more on this loss, check out our recap.

The Mets, with just one run in two games this series, will look to avoid the sweep today at 1:40 p.m. ET.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest MLB News

Sarah Langs of MLB tweeted her gratitude for the numerous messages she has received and assures that she has seen and appreciates each one. She describes the previous day at Citi Field, as incredible and expresses her immense gratitude. Also in her tweet, Sarah urges everyone to maintain awareness about ALS every day until a cure is found.

As I get to answering all the messages I’ve received in so many places, please know I’ve seen them + appreciate every single one

Yesterday was incredible. I am so grateful

Let’s use this awareness to keep ALS top-of-mind EVERY day until there’s a cure

BASEBALL IS THE BEST 🫶 pic.twitter.com/lGj6MKndvE

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 3, 2023

According to Adam McCalvy, the Brewers beat writer for MLB.com, Jon Singleton has made an impressive comeback. Singleton, who was previously considered one of the top prospects in baseball but faced personal challenges off the field, has now earned his return to the major leagues after a six-year absence. The Brewers have officially announced his call-up, marking a significant milestone in Singleton’s journey. To make room for Singelton, the Milwaukee Brewers have made several roster moves. First baseman Darin Ruf has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right knee laceration. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor has also been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain, and this move is retroactive to June 2. Outfielder Blake Perkins has been recalled, along with Singleton’s contract being selected from Triple-A Nashville.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, former Mets pitching prospect Ryder Ryan has been granted his release from the Seattle Mariners’ AAA team after exercising an opt-out clause in his contract. Ryan, known for his MLB-quality sinker/slider combination, was highly sought after during the previous offseason. In his last six games with Triple-A Tacoma, he has pitched seven innings, allowed only one run, and recorded seven strikeouts. Ryan possesses an impressive 93.7 mph two-seam fastball, a 43.4% whiff rate, and has limited hitters to a .179 batting average against his slider.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to promote outfield prospect Jonny DeLuca. Sources have confirmed that DeLuca, who hails from Agoura Hills, is being called up to fill the roster spot of Trayce Thompson, who has been placed on the injured list due to a strained oblique.

Latest on MMO

MMO Roundtable: The GOAT Gary Cohen and Howie Rose’s Met Calls.

On This Date in Mets History

1976: In an impressive 11-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets showcased their offensive prowess with a total of 14 hits. The game was highlighted by Tom Seaver‘s dominant three-hit pitching performance. Leading the charge was Dave Kingman, who had an outstanding night, driving in eight runs and becoming only the second Met in history to hit three home runs in a single game. Jim Hickman achieved this feat 11 years earlier. This remarkable win served as a much-needed confidence booster for Kingman, Seaver, and their teammates. Prior to the game, Kingman had struggled, with just three RBIs in his last 15 games. Seaver had also faced difficulties, posting a winless record of 0-4, along with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in his previous five starts. As a team, the Mets had endured a tough stretch, losing four consecutive games and 11 out of their last 13.

Birthdays: Rick Wilkins (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Honor Legends But Fall in Lackluster Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

Because it had taken so long for the Mets Hall of Fame to expand its member base, the recent inductees have been overdue. That holds true for the players joining this year.

Howard Johnson and Al Leiter‘s Mets careers don’t overlap. HoJo generated the fourth-most homers, fourth-most RBIs, and third-highest stolen base total, primarily in the racing stripe uniforms. Leiter pitched t0 a 124 ERA+ with more than 1,100 strikeouts in a variety of colors, black included.

Both arrived to New York through offseason trades from the reigning World Champions. Both deals would be instrumental in helping solidify the franchise as a title contender for multiple years. Both are still among the top 15 in overall bWAR.

Johnson was a platoon third baseman when the Mets won it all, while Leiter was an integral part of a starting rotation that came up short in the Fall Classic. In fact, Leiter’s most admirable performance might have been the World Series-deciding loss.

He strove to single-handedly fend off a Yankee three-peat, even creating a run-scoring play with a perfectly-placed bunt. As his pitch count crept toward a season-high 142, two-out ninth-inning hits against the exhausted lefty plated the tie-breaking runs and spoiled hopes of sending the Subway Series back to the Bronx.

It was so much of what Leiter was about: tough, fearless, durable, emotional.

The value of pitching wins notwithstanding, Leiter never earned a victory in his seven postseason appearances despite six of them being quality starts. But he was at his best when the Mets’ first playoff trip in 11 years was at stake in Cincinnati.

For the one-game tiebreaker to determine the 1999 NL Wild Card, Leiter dealt a two-hit shutout. He allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings, but then went on to retire 13 Reds in a row. He dotted the strike zone beautifully with pitches that led to seven strikeouts and rarely resulted in hard contact.

Leiter’s masterpiece holds a special place in the history of the Mets, the team this Toms River, New Jersey native watched while growing up. The left-hander had been a part of championship teams in Toronto and Florida when he joined the Mets prior to 1998. But playing for the team he rooted for fulfilled a childhood dream.

Leiter gave no misconceptions about his feelings on the mound. That infectious passion was a feeling the Mets fed off of during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He began exceptionally well. During a ’98 season when home runs were flying out at a record pace, Leiter gave up only eight. When the median ERA of all major-league pitchers was a hefty 4.42, Leiter’s was a robust 2.47. And in a season in which the collective league-wide batting average was .266, Leiter held opposing hitters to .216. He also led all Mets in victories with 17 while losing just six and walked 71 batters two years after he led the NL with 119.

While Leiter was a key component upon arrival, Johnson’s progression didn’t happen overnight. Once a middling utility player in Detroit, he averaged a little more than 10 homers and 42 RBIs in his first two seasons in New York. He certainly had his moments during the championship year. Most notably, a key long ball in St. Louis to propel the Amazin’s to a four-game sweep versus their NL East rivals and assert themselves as a dominant club.

He split his time at the hot corner with Ray Knight, who enjoyed a comeback season that ended with World Series MVP honors. Shortly after the champagne dried, Knight was gone and Johnson was the everyday starter.

But as the Mets continued to be in a state of disrepair, Johnson was breaking down. Injuries derailed his final two seasons in New York and he was a Colorado Rockie by 1994 before retiring after 1995.

Johnson is perhaps the most underrated player in franchise history. He’s certainly among those names at the top. His best years came while the Mets were underachieving or, sometimes, worse. And that’s a big reason why Johnson doesn’t get enough consideration when discussing the franchise’s best.

Hopefully, this weekend’s ceremonies help give HoJo the esteem he deserves as he and get their well-earned recognition together.

The post HoJo, Leiter Get Deserved Mets Hall of Fame Nods appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Wednesday, Buck Showalter revealed that David Wright would be visiting the team this spring to serve as an alumni coach along with a who’s who of other Mets legends.

In addition to Wright on March 1-2, Showalter plans to bring in Edgardo Alfonzo and Darryl Strawberry from March 2-6, Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson from March 5-10, and Al Leiter and John Franco from March 20-26/27. Showalter also commented that Mike Piazza won’t be attending due to his role as Italy’s manager in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

“We’ll take as much as they’re willing to give, because they’ve got schedules too,” Showalter said. “Those guys are all good, nothing beneath them, they want to get into it, and we’ll work them.”

It was reported in January that the Mets planned in extending an invitation to Wright, who also attended spring training last season, the first time he had worn a Mets uniform since his retirement in 2018.

Wright’s expertise will be of particular value to Brett Baty, who got his first taste of major-league action a year ago and will be fighting to be the team’s long-term third baseman after this season. Wright, Alfonzo, and Johnson also figure to work with the likes of Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio, who may end up playing a variety of positions this season.

The post Wright, Strawberry Among Alumni That Will Visit Mets Camp appeared first on Metsmerized.

Howard Johnson, Al Leiter, Gary Cohen, and Howie Rose will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame as the 2023 class of inductees, the team announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, Jay Horowitz, the team’s longtime media relations guru, will receive the team’s Hall of Fame Achievement Award.

Johnson, Leiter, Cohen and Rose will officially be inducted on Saturday, June 3 in a pre-game ceremony prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field. The four new additions means that there is now a total of 34 inductees in the Mets Hall of Fame.

The organization also announced that they will host a Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 19 at 11am with Johnson, Leiter, Cohen, Rose and Horowitz.

“It was an honor informing each of the four new members that they were going to be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Howard Johnson was the classic combination of speed and power, with three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases. Al Leiter, who grew up in New Jersey rooting for the Mets, ranks in the top 10 in team history in wins and strikeouts.

“Mets fans are privileged to have two of the very best in all of baseball describing the action with years of institutional Mets knowledge. Gary Cohen is set to start his 35th year of calling Mets games and Howie Rose has been covering the team since 1987. In addition, we are honoring Jay Horowitz, who has passionately worked for this organization for over 40 years, with the Hall of Fame Achievement Award. I’m looking forward to celebrating more Mets history on June 3.”

Johnson and Leiter are being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their prowess on the field in a Mets uniform. Johnson put together three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases (1987, 1989, and 1991), which rank as the most in team history. The two-time All-Star (1989, 1991) and two-time Silver Slugger (1989, 1991) was the first switch-hitter to join the 30-30 club in major league history. He also ranks in the top five in franchise history in home runs, doubles, RBI and stolen bases. Johnson was a member of the 1986 World Series team and he spent nine years with the Mets.

Leiter, meanwhile, excelled on the mound for the Mets and he won double-digit games in seven straight years between 1998-2004. The two-time World Series winner ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in wins, innings, strikeouts and quality starts. Perhaps Leiter’s finest moment in a Mets uniform came in 1999 when he threw a two-hit shutout in a one-game playoff at Cincinnati. He also became the first pitcher to defeat all 30 major league teams. Leiter won both the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award for his charitable endeavors.

As richly deserving as Johnson and Leiter are of being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their heroics on the field, so too are Cohen and Rose for their expertise off it. Cohen began calling Mets games in the booth in 1989, right up until 2006 when he transitioned into the SNY booth. Cohen, who is the second-longest tenured Mets play-by-play announcer in team history, makes up one part of SNY’s famous broadcast booth with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling.

Rose is known for entertaining the Mets masses with his distinctive voice on the radio as the team’s play-by-play announcer, a job he’s proudly been doing since 1996. Rose has been with the Mets since 1987 having grown up going to Shea Stadium. Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2012, and welcomed into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, Rose’s signature “Put it in the books” call is a welcome sound to all Mets fans after a win.

Finally, the organization will also honor Horowitz in a classy move. The longtime Mets PR guy joined the team on April, 1 1980 as the director of public relations. He was promoted to vice president of media relations in 2001, and he has been honored on a plethora of occasions for his undying commitment to the Mets. The decision to honor Horowitz is another sign that owner Steve Cohen is determined to pay tribute to all those who have left their mark on the franchise.

Further details will be announced by the Mets in due course. Mets fans can now purchase tickets for the June 3 game vs. the Blue Jays and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony by clicking here.

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For the first time since 1994, the Mets are hosting an Old Timers’ Day. What once had been a staple of the organization ever since the team originated has now been revived under the Steve Cohen regime, helped by crowdsourcing on Twitter shortly after taking ownership. The early years of the festivities celebrated New York’s brilliant baseball past, especially in 1977 when they brought out Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays — appropriately — from center field.

Now with 60 years of its own history to look back on, this latest version is entirely orange and blue. It’s a day that will span generations as 65 former Mets are taking part, some of whom date back to the very beginning of the franchise.

Plenty of famous faces will be there: Mike Piazza, Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, and starting pitchers Dwight Gooden and Bartolo Colon, but many others who made an impact on this team’s unique past are also going to be recognized Saturday — and may even take their turn at the plate or on the mound. Here are just a few:

Jay Hook

The Mets have won over 4,630 times and it all began with him. Hook pitched a five-hit complete game and walking one in a 9-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field on April 21, 1962. The Northwestern University alum with a degree in engineering finished ’62 at 8-19 for the 40-120 club and ended his eight-year major league career as a Met in 1964. At 85 years old, Hook will toss out the ceremonial first pitch to Mike Piazza before the present-day Mets take the field for their contest with the Rockies and is hoping to pitch during the Old Timers’ Game.

Frank Thomas

The original Frank Thomas was also an original Met, acquired from the Milwaukee Braves on November 21, 1961. A the three-time All-Star with Pittsburgh clouted at least twenty-five homers in five different seasons—and found similar success with the short left-field porch of the Polo Grounds. He went three straight August games belting two home runs apiece and finished with 34 on the year, a mark which stood for 13 years. Although his power eventually subsided, Thomas topped the 1963 team in RBIs with 60—giving him a two-year total of 154 before getting sent to the Phillies in August 1964.

While Jay Hook is known for a Mets first, Orosco specialized in endings. Specifically in 1986, when he was on the mound for the NLCS and World Series clinchers. Orosco also has ties to the team’s first title, as he was traded to the Mets from Minnesota in exchange for the pitcher who finished the ’69 series, Jerry Koosman. The left-hander who set the MLB record for appearances had his longest stop in Queens, taking up eight of his remarkable 24-year career and racking up 107 saves. Often forgotten in the spotlight of ’86 was his stellar 1983 season, in which he had a 1.47 ERA and was third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Howard Johnson

HoJo might be the most underrated Met ever. There’s certainly a case to be made for him having the greatest hitting season, considering what he did in 1989: 36 homers, 101 RBIs, a league-best 104 runs scored, a career-best 41 stolen bases, and the highest single-season Mets totals in OPS+ (169) and offensive bWAR (8.0). Johnson recorded three 30-30 seasons in all (1987, ’89, ’91) and remains prominent on the franchise hitting leaderboards: fourth in home runs, fourth in RBIs, fourth in runs, and third in steals.

Rafael Santana

The starting shortstop on the 1986 Mets is largely forgotten because he didn’t have the star power of his teammates nor did he put up any tremendous figures with the bat. But Santana was a splendid fielder at shortstop and had the sixth-best defensive bWAR in the NL in ’86. He started all 13 games in the postseason that year, and set NLCS positional records for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances (31). Santana took advantage of the lively ball in 1987, setting career-highs in homers and RBIs.

Terry Leach

The right-handed sidearmer had two separate stints with the Mets in the 1980s and was a godsend to the ’87 club. The loss of Dwight Gooden to drug rehab and Bob Ojeda to injury, among other ailments to New York pitchers, necessitated Leach’s insertion into the rotation. All he did was tally ten consecutive victories, seven of eight as a starter, and have an overall 11-1 record. The Mets were far healthier in ’88, keeping Leach in the bullpen but not keeping him off the mound, as made 52 appearances for the NL East champs and posted a 2.54 ERA.

Rico Brogna

Looking at his Baseball Reference page, it’s hard to believe he only played for the Mets in 228 games over three seasons. Because growing up, I swore he was their first baseman for like eight. Brogna had 138 plate appearances in 1994 but was quite efficient, slashing .351/.380/.626 with an OPS over 1.000. His only full season came in ’95, when those numbers dipped slightly but he still produced 22 homers and drove in 76 with 27 doubles, not to mention being stellar with the glove. A highlight for him came when he hit a walk-off homer on John Franco Day after Franco (and others) were ejected for their involvement in a brawl with the Cubs.

Turk Wendell

There’s quirky, then there’s Turk. Baseball is known for its superstitions and probably no one had more than Wendell. You always could figure out who was coming in to pitch when it was a guy with a shark tooth necklace emerging from the bullpen. Idiosyncrasies aside, he was an oft-used high-leverage reliever during one of the team’s best eras, appearing in 157 games from 1999-00 with a 145 ERA+. If he ends up pitching Saturday and doesn’t throw the rosin bag and jump over the baseline as he jogs to the dugout, we will have not gotten the full Turk Wendell experience.

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