Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the sour finish to both his own and the team’s season in 2022, it’s hard to call Max Scherzer’s first season in Queens anything but a rousing success. The three-time Cy Young Award winner finished with a career-low 2.29 ERA and 169 ERA+ in 145.1 IP while finishing the season at 38-years-old. Scherzer also brought a strong presence to the Mets clubhouse. Along with NL Manager of the Year Buck Showalter, Scherzer had an undeniable hand in helping turn the Mets into a respected, well-run team during their 101-win season.

If there were any trepidations Scherzer had about signing in New York ahead of the 3-year, $130 million contract he signed in the 2021 offseason, it sounds like those fears went away pretty quickly. During an appearance on The New York Post’s “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman” podcast, Scherzer described the special vibe of the Mets clubhouse last season.

“I got there and fell in love immediately”, Scherzer said. “Especially with Billy and Buck in charge, I thought they were great in what they were able to do. I fell in love with the team a lot quicker than I even thought I was going to. Really good dudes, and we had a really good clubhouse. It didn’t feel like we had any bad eggs, and when you have that kind of chemistry that’s when you go out there and you win.”

Scherzer also touched on his reaction to seeing the Philadelphia Phillies, a team the Mets went 14-5 against in 2022, go on a surprise run to the World Series despite finishing in third in the NL East behind the Mets and the Atlanta Braves.

“We faced that Phillies team a lot, and even though we had some success against them, we also recognized they were a team that could do damage in the postseason. They had the pitching, they had some bullpen, they had a lineup that could slug … I’m actually kind of happy the NL East keeps putting teams in the World Series … I look at it as the NL East keeps producing great ballclubs.”

The Mets, Braves, and Phillies will likely do battle again for NL East superiority in 2023, and Scherzer will play a huge part in whatever success the Mets have. If Mets GM Billy Eppler and the rest of the front office are able to put together a clubhouse with nearly the same amount of chemistry and talent as they had in the 2022 season, it will put the team in a great position for a return trip to the playoffs.

The post Scherzer Says He ‘Fell in Love Immediately’ With Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Meet MJ.

At first, Mets games were about hanging out with friends and simply watching the game for her. But after her dad passed away four years ago, the Mets became an escape for her and helped her get through that difficult time.

Tell me your full story. 

When my dad passed, it was the distraction I needed. The time leading up to baseball, life felt like it stood still. It was hard to be me. It felt dishonest to maintain a smile, to put on that brave exterior when inside, I was falling apart. I felt like a burden to people. There were times when I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, stay home and have no contact with the outside world and cry, just cry. That feeling of not being able to move, everything just felt so heavy.

My dad knew when things were bothering me. He was the guy that loved me unconditionally. He was the guy who asked me why I was crying when I came out to my parents. When I responded with “I didn’t think you’d love me anymore,” he responded with “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” The next day, when I came home from work with Nancy following behind me, he gently moved me aside, walked passed me and gave her a hug. I remember it so vividly.

He hugged her and said “Welcome to the family.” I think back on it during this quarantine and it was as though, 24 years ago, he knew that she was THE one. He was the one I watched games with growing up. As an adult, we’d attend games together. He was my hero. He was who I patterned my work ethic behind. He was who I wanted to make proud…whether in sports, in school, my career or in life. So, when I lost him, it felt like a huge part of me was gone, the sorrow was intense. When you lose someone, everyone else moves on while you continue to mourn, stuck in that one place and feel alone even when friends are there for you. It hits everyone differently. It hit me harder than I thought even though I had tried to prepare myself as he deteriorated during his fight with Parkinson’s.

Baseball season came along and it was the distraction I wanted and didn’t truly know I needed. I started to look forward to weekends and being at the stadium. It allowed me to slowly feel connected, to yell and scream, even if only for a few hours. The players, our Mets family, the staff, they all, without knowing it, helped me through my healing process. I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes OD that year in the stands. Just being there and missing him, I was overcome with emotions. I opted not to go to the Father’s Day game because the internal pain on that specific day was unbearable. I watched it at home, again with the same lump and even more tears.

Do you have a story you want to share about how the Mets helped you through a difficult time? We want to hear it – DM us on Twitter.

The post How the Mets Saved Me: Meet MJ appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Prior to the game yesterday, Dominic Smith chose to kneel, alone, for the National Anthem.

After the game, he emotionally explained his reasoning for doing so:

ICYMI: Here’s Dominic Smith talking emotionally after the game about why he chose to kneel.

pic.twitter.com/dHZSRJH7kW

— Metsmerized (@Metsmerized) August 27, 2020

Smith’s heartfelt words resonated with a lot of people. I saw countless Mets fans tweeting out their support of Smith, and wanting to show that support by buying a Smith Mets jersey. That’s great — a great way of showing your love and support of a player is by wearing their jersey.

But, do you really want to make an impact that will help make change? Use that money you were going to use to purchase the jersey and make a donation to BaseballGenerations (or if you can swing both, go for it!).

Smith founded this non-profit organization that is based in Southern California back in 2017. According to the website,

“BaseballGenerations provides high-quality baseball instruction. The purpose of the organization is to mentally and physically prepare young baseball players to excel on and off the field. BaseballGenerations has a carefully selected staff and unique approach to coaching. Our unique methodology is designed to get youth excited and interested in playing the game of baseball at the collegiate or professional level.”

Additionally, every instructor that is part of the Academy is a current or former professional or collegiate baseball player. How cool is that? A great opportunity for these children that they definitely would not have gotten otherwise.

Through this organization, Smith is not only talking about change, he is making change. He’s giving back to his hometown, to help make sure that children growing up there have more chance and opportunity. Smith is investing in their future. And if you really want to show Smith you support him and what he is kneeling for, investing in this as well, instead of a jersey, can help make change.

If you want to donate to the BaseballGenerations Foundations, you can do so here. 100% of donations go directly to underserved youth, allowing them to participate not only in baseball activities, but in camps, travel ball, skills training, and mentorship.

A Smith jersey is great, and if you already have bought one, rock it. But if you want to show your support for Smith and have the means to do so, consider donating to or advocating for his charity. There’s even a store with some cool swag you can choose from, too.

The post Hey Met Fans, Support Dom Smith’s Charity appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets have had their fair share of personalities on their team throughout the decades, that is for sure. But if you could choose one Mets team to hang out with, which team would it be? Would it be one from your lifetime, or one from before you were born?

Matt 
I turn 21 in a couple of days. I feel like the ’86 Mets would certainly help me celebrate in the grandest of styles. The only downside is that there’s a 50-50 chance that some of the members of the team would wind up in a jail cell.

Dilip 
I would like to go drinking with the 1986 Mets for just one night.

Rich 
Unlike many fans my age, who were around for the 1986 Mets and would probably like to watch them in action off the field (and risk an encounter with the police), I’d like to hang out with the 2019 Mets. The concept of the “Cookie Club,” which originated when the team was in Philadelphia in 2019, was (and still is) just great. The original cookie club was comprised of J.D. Davis, Pete Alonso, Dom Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto. Those guys represent the young core of the Mets. They just seem like genuine, good guys who would sit around and talk about nasty sliders and change ups that fall off the table. I think it would be nothing but pure baseball talk, from guys who eat, sleep, and breathe the sport. In addition, the Mets’ success, at least over the next few years, rests largely in their hands. Hanging out with them would be pretty cool.

Mojo
I, too, would want to hang out with the 2019 Mets. From a baseball standpoint, the mix of rising young stars with established talents would be a treat to be around, but there’s also so many great personalities on that team like rookie sensation Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. And of course, getting to talk to the best pitcher in baseball Jacob deGrom would be a delight within itself. I might have gone with the 2020 Mets, but given the recent events, I’ll play it safe and maintain social distancing by going with the previous year’s group.

Sam
I would definitely want to hang out with the 2019 team. They are a fun and young group that seem to have personalities like mine, from what I’ve seen on the field, in videos, etc. One of the things that definitely draws me to this team in particular is the “Cookie Club” and what that is really about. I would love to sit and talk baseball with them and just eat some cookies. This 2020 team seems very personable and quirky which are traits I would describe for myself. This 2020 team just gives off this radiance and positive energy that I would just always want to be around. There are, of course, more fun answers like the 1986 team but they were a bit too wild for me—which is the understatement of the year.

1999 Sports Illustrated Cover of the Mets Infield

Jack 
This one is out of left field, moreover because I was barely alive and never had that chance to appreciate them in their time, but there are so many stories about and characters that make up the 1999 team, it would be ludicrous to forget about them. Turk Wendell, Todd Pratt, Robin Ventura, and the late Darryl Hamilton are the more pronounced personalities that come to mind, but there were also a myriad of veterans with whom I’d love to simply talk baseball: Rickey Henderson, Orel Hershiser, John Olerud, and of course, John Franco. On top of that, you have Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Al Leiter – three of the best to ever put on a Met uniform – as well as Bobby Valentine, the best manager to ever put on a disguise after getting ejected. Add in a storyline centered around comebacks big and small across six months, localized in Shea Stadium no less, and the hangout in all likelihood would not end.

Marshall 
As the elder statesman of the group this one was easy. I would love to hang out with the ’69 Mets. Not only the players we all know and love like Agee, Seaver, Grote, Koosman etc., but particularly the manager, one Gil Hodges. The amount of knowledge he could impart on the finer nuances of baseball would not doubt be staggering. Look at the way he managed the “Miracle Mets.” He skillfully platooned his players, keeping everyone fresh, and utilized all members of his bench. He took a laughing stock of a team and made them champions. And that is the type of leader I want to learn from. Hodges will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in December when members of the “Golden Days” are considered. He should have been in the Hall long ago. Let’s soon begin a campaign to get him there soon.

Joe
Even though Reggie Jackson ultimately broke my heart, I loved the ’73 team. They had a lot of guts and swagger. Many of our key players were hurt and they played through it.

It would be so exciting to hang out with Tug McGraw, Willie Mays and Rusty Staub. Oh, the stories they would tell. And can you imagine how much fun Yogi Berra would be? That ’73 team had so much personality.

Sal 
There are many teams throughout Mets’ history that I would have loved to hangout with, but the two that jump to my mind (for a more singular reason) would be either the 2018 or 2019 teams. Now might seem strange considering these teams never made any playoffs runs, but my reason is simple, Jacob deGrom. I would give anything to have been able to sit with him during those historic seasons (historic for him) and just pick his brain. I can’t imagine being that good at anything, and to be able to dominate over and over while still pushing yourself to be better every time out would be amazing to watch day after day. Imagine sitting next to him in the dugout the day after he completely massacred a lineup, and talking to him about HOW he exactly did it? That’s some baseball ASMR to me.

Michelle 
It has to be 1986. Was there a more fun group of guys than that?! I would like to make no further comment.

Which team would you like to hang with? Tweet us your response @Metsmerized. 

The post MMO Roundtable: Which Mets Teams Would You Want To Hang Out With? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

When you think back to some of your favorite baseball memories, is there one person in particular who comes to mind? Not a player, like we discussed in our last Roundtable, but someone you know personally? Who is that person for you?

Sal

Last time I spoke about which player made me fall in love with baseball (thank you Mike Piazza), but today I want to talk about which person made me fall in love with this great game. I wrote a piece on why I’m grateful for baseball and I spoke about the relationship with my grandfather and our love for baseball. It’s no surprise that when I think of the PERSON who sparked my passion for the sport, it was Pop. I grew up hearing stories about his favorite player (Jackie Robinson) and everything else that came with growing up in Brooklyn as a Dodgers fan. We must have watched thousands of hours of Mets games together either on TV or at the stadiums (Shea and Citi) and although most of it was bad baseball, Pop loved his Mets and we never stopped cheering.

More than just the Mets, Pop was my number one fan, and literally never missed a game of mine. Even after I graduated from school and began playing in men’s leagues, Pop attended every game I had, and my teammates loved having him there, always calling him our unofficial mascot. We lost Pop to cancer in March of 2019, but I still feel him whenever I hear GKR or step onto the diamond. I don’t think my grandpa thought baseball would be the thing that keeps his memory alive, but for me they are synonymous — when I think of baseball I think of Pop, and I’m so lucky that we were able to share it together.

Laney 

Baseball has given me so many things in my life. It’s given me friends, a boyfriend, and a future career. It’s only fitting that the person that gave me life is the one that gave me baseball. If it wasn’t for my mom, I would be not only lost as a person, but lost as a baseball fan. She brought me to my first games, bought me my first jerseys, and showed me how to cry after a tough Mets loss. She showed me that women can love sports and that just because we love the Mets doesn’t mean people can walk all over us. I owe my mom a lot for many things but giving me a love for the game is something I can never truly repay her for.

Matt 

I’m not exactly sure how to answer this question as I’m somehow the only die-hard sports fan in my family. I suppose I’d have to go with my mom and grandpa, who took me to games at Shea and Citi when I was young. To this day, I still make it a point to attend two Mets games a season with my mom.

Mojo

The reason I’m a baseball fan is because of my dad, who is a lifelong Mets and grew up in New York. Growing up in LA, I originally only wanted to be a Dodgers fan, but with my dad putting SNY on the TV every night without me having much choice in the matter, I eventually couldn’t help becoming a Mets fan as well. My dad taught me how to play baseball as well as the history and nuances of the game, and also sparked my love for minor league baseball by taking me to Las Vegas 51s games.

Photo: Josh Holmberg, Las Vegas Review

Jack

The easy answers would be my dad and my high school coaches, who showed me baseball and pitching (respectively), but I don’t think I really came to love baseball the way most people love family, God, etc. until I got to coach other kids at a baseball camp I worked at through high school.

While most coaches I worked with were collegiate-level athletes and handled teens that played travel ball and already had some sense of direction, I was appointed to the youngest age group (think 6-8 year-olds). I didn’t need to worry about hitting fungos or coming face-to-face with the “my dad/coach disagrees” arguments, but I still had to teach about 14-18 small children every week how baseball worked.

My experiences coaching children every day brought back memories from when I was one of those exact children learning to run the bases, how force plays worked, what position I liked the most, and above all else what it felt like when I first found something I enjoyed.

A lot of these kids come in because their parents are scared of keeping them inside all summer, and they’d buy in for more weeks at camp because they all found themselves pursuing that same joy. And knowing – even as someone who didn’t play in organized leagues or really ever got the chance to elevate my game like I’d wanted – that I was giving other kids a reason to get attached to the game was a reward for which I could never thank anyone enough.

Ryan

Of all the roundtables I have participated in with MMO this one is probably the easiest to answer. My Dad is my greatest role model and is the sole reason I developed such a passion for the game of baseball. Growing up my parents turned what would have been the living room of our house into a large playroom, which became our diamond. My Dad would come home from work and we’d play wiffle ball for hours on end.

Later, my Dad would become Coach Rob, as he managed countless little league teams and eventually our travel baseball team from ages 9 through 14. When we weren’t out on the field playing, we were watching the Mets play on TV or talking about them. While my playing career ended some time ago, our joint passion for baseball lives on. There is no one I would rather sit next to and curse out the Mets with than my Dad.

Michelle 

I come from a Mets family. My mother used to cut high school to go to Mets games. My aunt worked for WFAN in the ’80s and helped coordinate Spring Training trips. My dad went to every Mets Opening Day from as far as I can remember. My Greek immigrant grandfather became a Mets fan when the team began. And then there’s my little brother, who was the best Mets fan I will ever know. So when I think of the Mets, I don’t just think of one person, I think of family. I think of those happy memories with those that I have lost. I think of being allowed to stay up late on school nights, to watch the Mets in the playoffs and World Series. I cannot pinpoint one specific person who made me fall in love with the game, but I can pinpoint the feeling, the memories, and the happy times I spent with my family because of them.

The post MMO Roundtable: Person Who Made Me Fall in Love With the Game appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

When you think of the player that made you fall in love with the game of baseball, who do you think of? The answer to this question will likely depend on your age, where you grew up, your family, and so on — which makes it an interesting question to pose. This is why I asked the MMO team to share theirs.

Are any of ours your player, too?

Mojo 

It’s hard for me to pick just a single player who made me fall in love with the game of baseball, because there’s been so many, and for so many different reasons that have shaped how I have become the baseball fan that I am today.

Growing up in L.A., I was always fascinated by Clayton Kershaw and how he could be so dominant and unique and perfect, and that certainly steamrolled my interest in the game. But my love for minor league baseball, as well as the more subtle, fundamental areas of the game, actually stemmed from Gavin Cecchini, right around the time he was in Vegas and making lots of errors. Admittedly, I almost died from laughing when he made three errors in a single game and 33 on the season, and I would tune into the Vegas game every night just to see if my boy Gavin was going to make another error. Almost by accident, I ended up becoming familiar with the entire 51s lineup and pitching staff, which sparked my interest to start tagging along with my dad to see these players in person, and even meet some of them, who were surprisingly nice. There’s too many to list, but a few that stuck out as being kind were Victor Cruzado, Kyle Regnault, Buddy Baumann, and Pete Alonso.

So because Kershaw was the first major league player I followed closely, and Cecchini was the first prospect I followed closely, I’ve got to go with them, but there’s also been plenty of others such as Brandon Nimmo, Mets legend David Wright, and Jeff McNeil (and a million others) who have provided a wide array of memories and experiences, both good and bad, that have shaped my love for the game.

Sal 

When I think of the player who made me fall in love with baseball, the answer is a pretty easy one — it was the great Mike Piazza. Besides sharing our Italian heritage, Piazza always played the game hard and would do anything to win, which was hard not to love. As a kid I was obsessed with his swing, specifically the natural power to the opposite field Piazza possessed. Even on some (really bad) teams, the slugger seemingly never give up an at bat or mailed it in, representing the tough New York mentality that we all love. Even though he was a superstar, Piazza never made himself bigger than the game, doing his talking with his bat and beating his opponents. I was lucky enough to watch the greatest hitting catcher of all-time in his prime for my favorite team, so for that I am thankful because it made me into the baseball addict I am today!

Marissa 

I am going to go with Carlos Beltran. While I don’t have much memory of my fandom when I was younger, my dad tells me stories about how he became my favorite. One that sticks in particular is him loving Beltran himself because he was a lot less streaky than Wright (who happens to be his favorite). His story goes on to say that him hyping up Beltran rubbed off onto me and got me to fall in love with the game of baseball even more than I already was. Of course he was also a very good center fielder in his prime, so I’d like to think that had something to do with it as well

Violeta 

Even though I know he’ll be one of – if not the most – popular choice, I have to go with David Wright because he truly was the player that solidified my love for baseball. His first full year in the majors, 2005, was the first year I remember actually paying attention to the Mets and getting into baseball as a whole. From then on – especially after the Mets’ 2006 playoff run – I was sold.

The reason why Wright was that player for me mainly has to do with the way he carried himself. Obviously, he was a talented player – good bat, good glove, good instincts and knowledge of the game – but it was his attitude and the way he approached each game that stood out. He appeared dedicated to improving where he could. He seemed to just know how to be a leader on and off the field. Lastly and maybe most importantly, he always seemed to have a positive attitude – even as injuries plagued his career towards the very end. For those reasons alone, I had to go with the Captain.

Laney 

This is an easy one for me. As a kid, the one player that always drew me in was David Wright. He was my first jersey, first idol and a big reason why I want to work in sports. Watching him was like magic and hearing him speak after games made the losses feel okay. I’m forever grateful for the captain.

Tatiana

I grew up going to games with my family all the time because I lived so close to Shea stadium/citifield but it was never enough to get me fully invested. Even as I got older and I went with my friends I loved watching, but I hadn’t fallen in love yet. Then there was a game on April 18th 2018 where I was supposed to go with friends but they cancelled so I went alone. Through most of the game we were losing to the Nationals until Cespedes came up to the plate in the bottom of the 8th and hit a three run home run, this then started a series of runs that won us the game by a long shot. Ever since then I went to any game my mom would let me go to most of which I would go to alone. After years of going to games more as a social event, Cespedes finally got me hooked.

Matt 

For me, the answer is easy. David Allen Wright. Growing up with the Captain at the hot corner was nothing short than a privilege. Growing up and only being a baseball fan, I was hard pressed to find a player that fit the mold of a consistent, impactful, and delightful player. Wright was my only choice, but yet, it was a choice that I never regretted.

Wright was a good ballplayer, undoubtedly. Everyday, he was due to contribute a couple of hits and make a bare-handed play at third, tongue wagging all over the place. But the thing was, he was a better person, which stuck with me. No matter what, he emerged the dugout everyday with a smile on his face, eager to reclaim his spot as baseball’s top third-baseman. Not many New York players have lived up to the expectations set upon them on Day 1; Wright was an exception.

Spinal Stenosis never met such a warrior as Wright, who routinely traveled to the ballpark hours before gametime to ensure he was game-ready. As a college athlete myself, I’m always trying to emulate his gametime mentality: produce on the field, but have fun doing so. And yes, David is 100% the reason I worn No.5 for the last half-decade.

Sam 

As a kid, I idolized two Mets players: David Wright and Carlos Beltran. Obviously, the two went their separate ways when the Mets traded. Beltran in 2011, but growing up they were my favorite Mets. The two were—and still are—talented, humble, and passionate about baseball and that love and dedication really rubbed off on me at an early age. I remember growing up, my first shirsey was a pink Beltran shirt. I also had two posters on my walls of them, which just speaks to how much I admired them. The two played together on the incredible ‘05 and ‘06 teams and as a little 5 and then 6 year old, I was in awe of their talent.

Michelle

Is is possible to be a ’90s kid and not choose Mike Piazza? I was just seven years old when he debuted with the Mets and man, did he change the game for me. He came to the Mets, worked hard, led the team to victories, showed us that catchers can hit, and that you don’t have to let fame get to your head. It was evident to anyone watching Piazza that he loved the game and that he was constantly hungry to win. As a kid, this was contagious. It made an impact. Plus, there was also that feeling of hope that he provided — you were hopeful and comforted any time he stepped up to the plate. It just made everything better, especially while growing up.

Marshall

I’ll gladly date myself for this response but is an easy choice for me. Tom Seaver (and Joe Namath) were the only idols I ever had in my entire life. Tom Terrific spoiled me every fourth or fifth day with his dazzling performances. He, along with my dad, of course, taught me the game. I just got spoiled very early in life because as an 8 year old, the Mets won the World Series. I had to wait awhile to my next championship, but that mattered little because I was hooked. Tom made be bleed orange and blue and I just hope and pray he grows old peacefully with his loved ones. To me, if it wasn’t for The Franchise there wouldn’t be a franchise.

The post MMO Roundtable: Player Who Made Me Fall In Love With Baseball appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Baseball is being played all around the world, even if we may not realize it. As a Greek-American, I didn’t even know about the Greek National Baseball team until recently. But, I am sure you can imagine how ecstatic I was to learn more about it and to share more about it with you all.

I spoke with Dimitri Kourtis, a right-handed pitcher for the Greek National Team, originally hailing from Atlanta, Georgia but with Greek roots in Alexandroupolis. Kourtis has been on the team since 2016, so you can say he knows a thing or two about the team.

Oh, and pitchers can’t hit? In 2019 European B-Pool vs Israel, Kourtis went 5-5 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs vs Israel. But I won’t use this to start a debate about the universal DH happening in Major League Baseball (even though you all likely know by now that I’m against it).

Now back to the Greek National Baseball Team — unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the main tournament that the team would normally play in has been cancelled. However, this makes it a perfect time to learn more about the team and to root for Greece in the future.

Baseball in Greece?! Not many people know that baseball is played in Greece. How long has the Greek National Baseball team been around? How did it start?

The Greek National team was formed unofficially in 2003 before the 2004 Athens Olympic games. The owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Peter Angelos, took the initiative to build a team to play in the Olympics in Greece. Greece then formed a local league in Athens that lasted until around 2015 before the Greek government shutdown all Olympic baseball fields to start construction for a new retail and tourism project. So currently there is just a 4-5 team little league in Athens.

How does the league work? Is it similar to America’s MLB? How is it different?
Prior to being shutdown, it was more of a “men’s league” and not professional in terms of players being on salary. The league was made up of local players who either just started playing or had been playing pick-up games unorganized. The league reached a point of eight teams and was super competitive. The Greek government has not been very supportive of baseball in Greece and has made growth extremely difficult.

What types of tournaments do you have? Who does the Greek National Baseball team play against? Any wins?

The National team plays typically one tournament a year in the European Championships during the summer. There are three levels: A, B, and C pool. Greece was in A pool in 2016 with the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc. Then we were demoted to B pool where we have been the last three years playing against Ireland, Israel, Russia, Serbia, Lithuania etc. Most recently Greece finished 3rd in the 2019 European championship qualifier after losing to Russia and Israel.

Have any notable baseball players played for the Greek National Baseball team?

Most notable alumni are Nick Markakis, George Kottaras and Clay Bellinger (Father of Cody Bellinger). There are numerous minor league players who played over the years. Mike Moustakas has expressed significant interest in helping the National team and growing the game in Greece. We have not figured out specifics but he does cherish his Greek heritage and wants to play for Greece if we ever get invited to a World Baseball Classic.

Is there a big baseball fandom in Greece? What is the feel at the ballpark for games?

Baseball is not a popular sport but there are numerous MLB fans. We currently do not have any stadiums remaining as they were torn down recently for construction. We had three stadiums that were built for the Olympics.and then one little league field that is currently used by the little league but it is not in very good shape.

How are players recruited to the team? I noticed on the roster there are a lot of American-born players (with Greek heritage, of course).

Players are recruited usually by coming across their Greek names throughout the year as we have several people who will report to us any names that they see and are talented enough to play for the National team. Most of the roster is Greek-Americans and Greek-Canadians as baseball development in Greece is very limited. All players on the team are required to have or obtain Greek citizenship, which is a difficult process.

Has the Greek National Team had any interaction or involvement with America’s Major League Baseball? If so, what has it been?

Greece and MLB used to have a strong relationship after the 2004 Olympics as numerous owners and officials have expressed their love for the city of Athens. Prior to baseball in London, Athens was the preferred destination for MLB to host their international series. The Greek government did not have much interests in investing money and resources to hosting these games unfortunately as they believe the support amongst the locals was not big enough. This stance has hindered the progress of baseball in Greece, as we have struggled to get an invitation to the World Baseball Classic qualifier because MLB believes Greece is not a market they are willing to invest in.

What’s one thing you want baseball fans in America to know about baseball in Greece?

There are a lot of kids and adults who love the game, but are extremely limited in terms of resources to learn and play the game. Most kids love it as soon as they are introduced but knowledge and coaching is almost non-existent but that is slowly changing as we are putting a lot of effort into growing the game again. We welcome any and all support to help grow baseball in Greece. We are currently looking into fundraising to build a mini two-field complex in Athens for the little league.

I did see that Greece also has Little League! Is it popular amongst kids? How does that work?

It is definitely growing! We have about 50-60 kids in the league. The enthusiasm is high and the effort is there. We just don’t have the proper infrastructure and support to make it high-level as we are always looking for equipment donations etc.

Of course, due to COVID, this year’s baseball season is different. Is baseball happening in Greece this year or is it postponed until 2021?

The little league was shutdown due to COVID. The national team’s tournament in Croatia was cancelled as we were looking to qualify for A pool and is rescheduled for sometime in 2021.

If someone is visiting Greece in the future and would like to attend a game, how would they go about that?

Hopefully in the coming years, we can get an adult league built and going again whenever the government decides to help fund and support the game of baseball! It has become a dream of mine to open up a baseball academy in Athens to develop and grow Greek baseball players. I would love to be able to coach and teach baseball in Greece.

For anyone who is interested in learning more, they can visit the website www.GreekBaseball.com and we have a lot of information on the history of baseball in Greece!

The post International Baseball Spotlight: Greece appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We all love those Mets giveaways, as evidence by the long lines whenever there is a good promo happening (we’re looking at you Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom bobblehead days). As we already shared with you what our most obscure and what our favorite pieces of Mets memorabilia are, now we wanted to share this with you all — the best Mets giveaway we have ever gotten.

Sal 

The best Mets giveaway I’ve ever received at a game was the 1986 replica World Series ring in 2016. Mets were playing the Dodgers (got to see Clayton Kershaw pitch in person for the first time) and that weekend was the festivities for the 30th anniversary of the 1986 team. They had ‘86 themed giveaways all weekend, but the one was the replica ring on Sunday. When I saw that was the Sunday giveaway, I immediately bought tickets.

So now it’s Sunday, and I head to the ballpark over two hours early, thinking that would give me plenty of time to be one of the first 15,000 fans to get the ring. Well, I was wrong…. it was packed outside of the stadium and the lines to get in were by the old home run apple out front. I got online, waited and waited until I finally got to the front, and I see there are still a few boxes of the rings left — only to be told I was in the WRONG LINE because I had an electronic ticket. So what did I do? Well, for those of you who may watch Impractical Jokers, I pulled a “Larry!!!”, and cut across about three other lines to the front of the of correct one yelling that I was told by security to do this. As you could imagine, folks were NOT happy about my obvious cut job, but I never looked back at the angry mob of Mets fans — I just got my ticket scanned, walked through the turnstile, and received one of the last rings they had left to give out, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Once it was secured and I was in the stadium, I can’t even count how many people came up to me and offered me $50, some even over $100 to buy this fake ring, but I caused too much trouble to be selling it! It still sits proudly on my desk till this day and remains my favorite all-time stadium giveaway.

Matt

Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS gave me an item I still use today. Whenever’s there’s an important Mets game on, I usually whip out my rally towel and start waving it, imagining my chair being part of a thundering Citi Field crowd. Even I can’t be in Queens at that pivotal game, I try my best to emulate the atmosphere I’d expect at a game.

Michelle 

I am not going to lie to you — I have so many I don’t even know where to begin. My old room at my mother’s house is literally filled with bobbleheads spanning decades (including a Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy bobblehead). As a huge Star Wars fan, the Mets Star Wars bobbleheads are always a favorite, as was the Syndergaard Game of Thrones one. As a homeowner, I am a huge, huge fan of the Mets fleece blankets they used to always give out (until recently for some odd reason, bring that back Mets) and the bowls they gave out two years ago (seriously, they are great quality).

Jack

I think the best giveaway I got was the Spider-Man bobblehead they handed out last July. I don’t have a lot of superhero collectibles or anything, but it’s so different from the baseball memorabilia that I do have. It takes my breath away every time I look at it.

Mojo 

Well my dad has a Jacob deGrom garden gnome, and I have a Brandon Nimmo garden gnome, so I guess I’ll go with that! I had Brandon Gnomo constantly staring at me from my shelf in my dorm room during this past school year.

Marissa 

I haven’t been fortunate to go to any Mets giveaway games so I’m going to have to go with the gift I got for guessing Juan Lagares right in one of the Twitter competitions. The Mets gave me a Mets drawstring bag, deGrom free shirt Friday shirt, and a keychain (which is currently being used!).

What is your favorite giveaway? Comment below or tweet a picture to us @MetsMerized.

The post MMO Roundtable: Best Mets Giveaway You Ever Got? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo via Wall Street Journal

I was about six-years-old when my father threatened to throw me out of the house. The reason was simple. I told him I was going to be a Yankees fan.

It was the early 1970s and I knew nothing about baseball. But still, I was going to root for the Yankees. Why? As my dad watched the local news one night, the sports came on. I was close by, doing whatever a typical six-year-old does. The Yankees catcher, Thurman Munson, did something or other.

My ears perked up. I was only six and I didn’t hear “Thurman Munson” but instead heard “Herman Munster,” the father on the old TV show, The Munsters. That settled it. Herman Munster plays for the Yankees!!! How cool is that?

My Yankee loyalty lasted all of maybe five minutes. At six-years-old, I was not ready to live on the streets in the Bronx. My father made it clear he would not live under the same roof as a Yankee fan. And so it began. My somewhat-initially-blackmailed allegiance to the Mets.

At seven, my father taught me not just the game but the “game within the game.” I fell in love immediately with the beauty, magic, and wonderment of this thing called Baseball, a love that has lasted for over 35 years now. I soon learned that you can actually SEE these games live, not just on TV.

It was Helmet Day when I first came upon this huge stadium in Flushing. I’d never seen anything so big, so massive. It was like the Roman Coliseum – but in Queens. “They play in there???” Walking in, I’d never seen grass so green. I’d never seen so many people gathered in one place for the same reason: To root the Mets to victory over the Expos.

But it was unseasonably cold, very windy and overcast. This was my very first ballgame and if I was to catch a cold my mom would never let my dad take me to Shea ever again!

So, I followed as my dad talked to this guy, talked to that guy, talked to some other guy. Next thing I knew we were sitting in the press box, just two booths down from the broadcast booth. I was maybe 25 feet away from Lindsey Nelson, Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy. We went to another game later that year. Imagine the horror I felt having to sit with “regular” fans. Doesn’t every kid get to sit in the press box?

The year was 1973, a good first year. I wore my little Mets hat and my little Mets jacket every day. But as the season wore down and the Mets appeared to be going nowhere, floundering in last place, my classmates – who were mostly Yankee fans – teased me. I can’t even remember how many times I came home from school after being picked on all day, only to get reassurance from my seemingly all-knowing father.

“We’re gonna win, right Dad?”

“Sure, don’t worry about it,” he confidently told me.

“Okay, good.” And I walked away.

My mom turned to my dad and asked, “What will you tell him if they don’t?”

“I’ll worry about it then.”

As the Mets made a miraculous September run and won the pennant, I wondered to myself if somehow, someway, my dad maybe…did something.

My dad always has been an optimist when it comes to the Mets.

As he taught me the game, he advised me, “The Mets NEVER lose. Sometimes we just run out of innings.” He went to the second game the Mets ever played, a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh at the Polo Grounds. He was also in attendance on Father’s Day 1964. The game moved to the ninth inning and Jim Bunning was one out away from throwing only the fifth perfect game in history.

Mets fans cheered the Phillies pitcher, hoping to witness one of baseball’s rarest feats. But not my father. He was still cheering for his Mets. When someone next to him asked, “Don’t you want to tell people you were at a perfect game?” my dad responded, “No, I’d rather tell them I was at the perfect game that got broken up with two outs in the ninth.”

As recent as 2006, when the Mets moved into first place, I’d wake up every day to an e-mail from my dad that was counting down the magic number. 94, 93, 92 (Yes, he started that early.)

Like most kids, my relationship with my dad has not been great. Better than some, worse than others. He’s disagreed with many decisions I’ve made in my life – jobs, career, girls, even to this day how I drive. But the one thing we could always come back to was baseball. And the Mets.

But even that has caused some disagreements. My dad insists the ’69 team was better then the ’86 club. My dad loves David Wright, but he will never be as good a third baseman as Ed Charles in ’69. While Endy’s catch was great, it was “No Agee.” No matter how great Johan is, Koosman will always be the best left-handed pitcher in our history.

Before I was even born, it had been predetermined that I would root for this team. My father had been a Brooklyn Dodger fan, just like his father. This love for New York, National League baseball went back to the 1920s.

While New York was in awe of Ruth and Gehrig, my grandfather was a Dodgers fan rooting for guys like Zack Wheat and Dazzy Vance. When my dad was old enough, he too kept up the family tradition and became a Brooklyn fan.

Although it’s been close to 60 years since “The Shot Heard Round The World,” my dad still refers to the Giants outfielder not as Bobby Thomson but as “Bobby *^%$@# Thomson.” To this day, my dad insists the final called strike in Don Larsen’s perfect game in the ’56 series against Brooklyn was “outside.”

The year was 1957 when the Dodgers and Giants vacated New York for the barren wasteland of California 3,000 miles away. The heart of every little boy in New York was broken, including my dad’s.

It was not until 1962 when NL baseball returned to New York with our Mets. But in those five years, my dad’s life had changed. He graduated high school, started college, met my mom and got married. He went from a teenage boy to adulthood. But when it was announced that a new team would be created named The Metropolitans – shortened to Mets – my dad immediately became a fan, as did many old Dodgers and Giants fans.

My dad looked at the 1962 Opening Day roster and, as always, felt confident that we could finish at .500. His dad, my grandfather, followed the Mets, but never really became a fan. He had rooted for Brooklyn for 40+ years. But by 1962, he was becoming older and his health was failing. After rooting for Duke, Gil, Jackie, Roy and Pee Wee, it was hard to get enthused about Choo-Choo Coleman, Felix Mantilla and Marvelous Marv.

My dad tried to convince his dad that this new team, the Mets, may be pretty good in a few years. He even joked, “Give it some time. Within a few years, we’ll be in the World Series.” My grandfather shook his head and nonchalantly commented, “I won’t live to see it.” My grandfather’s innocent remark was correct. He passed away in May 1969.

To this day, my dad wonders if somehow, someway, maybe….

The post A Mets Father’s Day Tale appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Once again it falls upon all Americans to take a pause from the daily grind in remembrance of all the brave men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for our country. We at Metsmerized Online honor their lives on this Memorial Day.

“There is no greater act of love than to lay down one’s life for others.”

We also honor all the men and women of our Armed Forces who have served or continue to serve our country and defend the American way of life. God Bless all of you for your unwavering patriotism, integrity and courage.

The post Honoring The Fallen On Memorial Day appeared first on Metsmerized Online.