Kiké Hernández hit his 15th postseason home run (200 at-bats) and Shohei Ohtani hit a 410-foot, three-run blast as the Dodgers spoiled the first NLCS game at Citi Field in nine years with an 8-0 victory over New York to take a 2-1 series lead. The Mets’ offense was held to four singles. In NLCS Game 1, the Mets were held to three singles.

The Mets left eight men on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Down 2-0 in the second inning, the Mets loaded the bases with one out, but Walker Buehler fanned Francisco Alvarez and Francisco Lindor to get out of it.

Ohtani has 17 hits in his last 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position going back to the regular season. That’s the most by any player over any 20 at-bat span with RISP in the last 50 years, according to StatsPerform.

Jose Quintana (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 innings) will look to help the Mets even the series Thursday when he goes up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 5.63 ERA, eight innings). Quintana hasn’t allowed an earned run in five of his last six starts. Yamamoto hasn’t pitched more than five innings in a start since June 7. Game 4 is at 8:08 p.m. ET on FS1.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Carlos Mendoza said post-game that he doesn’t think he will change his lineup a lot for Game 4. He wants right-handed hitters to play because Yamamoto has reverse splits, meaning he’s tougher on lefties. He said Alvarez will start and Jeff McNeil won’t.

Kodai Senga is likely to pitch in Game 5, but Mendoza said it won’t necessarily be as the starter. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Jack Flaherty will start Game 5.

Free agent RHP Shintaro Fujinami, who struggled in the minor leagues for the Mets organization this year, plans to play in the Puerto Rican Winter League with the hope of attracting an MLB offer for next season, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Sources told journalist Francys Romero that 19-year-old Cuban RHP Yoandri Gonzalez has a deal with the Mets. Romero reports that the deal will be official in the coming days. Romero posted a video of Gonzalez pitching on X.

If there is a Subway Series, Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks will be rooting for different teams.

Latest MLB News

Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 4 2/3 innings) faces Guardians LHP Matthew Boyd (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 2/3 innings) in Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland at 5:08 p.m. ET. The Yankees lead the series 2-0.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, 88, is open to selling the team, sources told Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. He is in discussions with a group led by retired pitcher Dave Stewart. Reinsdorf is the second-longest active owner in MLB, trailing only the Steinbrenner family.

Three-time batting champ Luis Arráez of the Padres underwent thumb surgery and posted a photo on X from his hospital bed. He said he played in pain for “half of the season.” The procedure was a success and he is “focused on healing and getting back.”

Latest on MMO

Alexis Farinacci watched to the bitter end and recapped the Mets’ Game 3 loss to the Dodgers.

Brian Wright wrote a wonderful piece on the anniversary of the Mets winning the 1969 World Series. It was a miracle, just like the moon landing.

Michael Mayer wrote about Mets outfield prospect Drew Gilbert‘s first Arizona Fall League home run.

On This Date in Mets History

1999: Robin Ventura‘s “grand slam single” wins Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 15th inning, Ventura hit the ball over the wall in right center. Todd Pratt, the runner on first, lifted up Ventura before he reached second base and the celebration was on. Ventura never touched home and is credited with a single in the record books.

2013: The Dodgers claimed ex-Met Mike Baxter of Whitestone, Queens, off waivers.

2015: Matt Harvey strikes out nine in 7 2/3 innings and Daniel Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud homer as the Mets beat the Cubs 4-2 in Game 1 of the NLCS at Citi Field.

Born On This Date: Rich Folkers, (1946), Mark Johnson, (1967), Chris Mazza, (1989), Rafael Montero (1990).

The post Morning Briefing: A Bad Case of Dodger Blues appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets came into Saturday night’s matchup against the Angels with their eyes set on a series-clinching win to kick off their west coast trip. However, the Mets’ offense was stifled for the first six innings as Angels pitcher José Soriano shut them out, putting the Amazin’s in a 2-0 deficit going into the seventh.

Having Soriano in the rearview mirror, the bats came alive as J.D. Martinez followed up a pair of walks and a Francisco Lindor base hit with a grand slam to put the Mets ahead. But, after a questionable replacement of David Peterson after only throwing 82 pitches, Huascar Brazobán gave the lead right back up in the bottom of the frame. Brazobán gave up back-to-back baserunners before conceding a three-run blast to Zach Neto, which would be the decisive blow. The Mets are now 0.5 GB of the third Wild Card spot, which is held by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Amazin’s look to bounce back from Saturday night’s 5-4 loss with Josè Quintana (6-6, 3.89 ERA) on the mound, going up against Griffin Canning (3-10, 5.25 ERA) of the Angels at 4:07 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

After striking out 11 batters in a row, while striking out 13 total in five innings, the Mets promoted RHP Brandon Sproat to Triple-A Syracuse, per Chase Ford of MiLB Central. To learn more about the promotion, click here.

Reed Garrett has joined the Binghamton Rumble Ponies as he plans to start his rehab assignment. Garrett was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation on July 10. Click here for more information on his comeback attempt.

The Mets officially released LHP Jake Diekman, who was recently DFA’d after finishing his Mets tenure with a 5.63 ERA. 

Shintaro Fujinami looked good in Syracuse on Saturday: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 25 pitches/16 strikes.

Latest MLB News

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Max Fried will be activated off the IL and will pitch for the Braves on Sunday, per Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Fried had been on the IL since late last month with forearm neuritis.

The Chicago White Sox released former Phillies and Brewers closer Corey Knebel, per James Fegan of Sox Machine. 

The Los Angeles Angels announced prior to Saturday night’s game that they are placing utility man Luis Rengifo on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation. 

The White Sox lost yet again on Saturday. With their 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins, they have now lost 19 consecutive games, the longest streak in MLB since the Orioles lost 19 in a row in 2021.

The Detroit Tigers put together comebacks in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings to win on Jim Leyland Day.

The @Tigers score two in the bottom of the 11th to win it! pic.twitter.com/y8v1mB3lWT

— MLB (@MLB) August 4, 2024

Latest on MMO

Metsmerized Online is giving away a Harrison Bader signed card on Twitter/X.

Pete Alonso has been on fire in the second half.

Brandon Sproat is rocketing his way up the Mets system.

On This Date in Mets History

2016: Bartolo Colón becomes the first pitcher to win a Subway Series game as both a Yankee and Met, throwing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the Mets’ 4-1 victory against the Yankees.

2012: Mike Baxter ties the Mets’ franchise record for walks in a game, walking five times against the Padres.

1982: Joel Youngblood makes history, becoming the first player to tally a hit for two different teams in different cities on the same day. Youngblood got a hit for the Mets in Chicago and was then traded to the Montreal Expos that same day. He flew to Philadelphia right away and got a base hit for the Expos.

Birthdays: Steve Bieser (57), Cleon Jones (82)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Fall Out of Wild Card Spot appeared first on Metsmerized.

After months of speculation and weeks of negotiating, the New York Yankees finally completed the trade to acquire star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported last night that the trade was finally official as the Yankees will be adding their second and third outfielders of the off-season. Along with acquiring Juan Soto, they will also be getting Trent Grisham and in return will be sending San Diego relief pitcher Michael King, catcher Kyle Higashioka, and a slew of prospects. The Yankees have now added Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, and Juan Soto to their outfield to pair with former AL MVP Aaron Judge. 

For the rest of the trade details check out our article on the trade here!

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Mets owner Steve Cohen met with Mets free-agent target Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. Andy Martino of SNY gave an update to that report, noting that Stearns was also apart of this meeting as they met Yamamoto and his family. Click here for more information on their meeting!

Pete Alonso‘ agent Scott Boras spoke with the media yesterday and said “I spoke to David, we told him we’re all ears.” in regards to contract extension negotiations between the Mets and their star slugger. You can read more about Boras’ words on Alonso here!

Mark Vientos posted a video of him and Francisco Lindor working on their defense on his instagram page. 

The Mets acquired left-handed pitcher Ryan Ammons from the Texas Rangers following the Rule 5 draft on Wednesday. For all the Mets moves during the Rule 5 draft click here!

Latest MLB News

Former Tigers left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. For more details on the deal, click here!

Jon Morosi of MLB Network came out with a new report on Wednesday that Shohei Ohtani is expected to decide on his free-agent destination before the end of the weekend.

The New York Yankees are going to be meeting with star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the United States on Monday, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The Cincinnati Reds and third-baseman Jeimer Candelario agreed to a deal pending a physical, per Mark Feinsand of MLB Network.

Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register gave an update to the Dodgers meeting with Shohei Ohtani, saying that the meeting was Friday afternoon at Dodgers Stadium. All stadium tours were postposed or cancelled and the team store was closed so there would be no accidental sightings. 

The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they are bringing back Yadier Molina as the Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations. 

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced that broadcaster Joe Castiglione has won the 2024 Ford C. Crick. Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen was also up for the award but fell short for the second year in a row. 

The New York Yankees signed right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training and is expected to compete for a spot in their bullpen, per Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback. 

Former Phillies closer and member of the 400-save club Craig Kimbrel agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The deal also contains an option for the 2025 season. 

Isaac Azout of Fish on First reported that the Marlins plan on experimenting with relief pitcher A.J. Puk as a starter in Spring Training. 

The Atlanta Braves and outfielder Leury García agreed to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

Right-handed relief pitcher Adam Cimber agreed to a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Cimber was formerly non-tendered by the Blue Jays and is one of three bullpen signings the Angels have made in the past couple of days. 

Bryce Harper is hoping to discuss an extension with the Philadelphia Phillies on a deal that would make him a Phillie for the rest of his career, per Scott Lauber of the Philly Inquirer. 

Latest on MMO

Read about Mets rookie Ronny Mauricio‘s hot start in the winter league!

Check in on all the Mets happenings in Wednesday’s rule 5 draft. 

On This Date in Mets History

2011: Tim McCarver wins the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, he is one of four Mets broadcasters to win the award.

Birthdays: Pete Alonso (29), Mike Baxter (39)

The post Morning Briefing: Juan Soto Joins Judge, Verdugo In The Bronx appeared first on Metsmerized.

No-hitters come in a variety of ways. But for the New York Mets before June 1, 2012, it had not been presented to them in any fashion. Then came the 8,020th game for the franchise—started on the Citi Field mound by Johan Santana. It may not have been the best pitching performance in Mets history, but it was certainly unlike any that had preceded it.

Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, and David Cone. Each is a recognized pitcher. Each showcased their talents in Queens. Each threw a no-hitter (or, in Ryan’s case, seven). Each did it for a team other than the Mets.

Despite the wealth of talented arms to pass through Flushing, there was a 50-year albatross. Deliverance came in the form of a two-time Cy Young winner, who eradicated the team’s prolonged wait while also adding a chapter to his own comeback story. Santana battled arm trouble for nearly his whole tenure in New York but had a league-best ERA in his first season (2008) and a 127 ERA+ over 109 five injury-plagued years. He missed all of 2011 recovering from shoulder surgery and served numerous IL stints, including one in August 2012 that all but ended his Mets career. But for nine magical innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, he rediscovered his once-reliable prowess and fortitude—even if some feel this came at a personal cost.

It remains the only solo no-hitter in franchise history. But a no-hitter isn’t accomplished without the help of others. And Santana’s was certainly no different.

Catchers are the unsung heroes for a feat of this nature, and Josh Thole called all 134 pitches behind the plate. Mike Baxter‘s heroics were singular but as tremendous as any play in the entire game. There was one out in the seventh and the Mets were up 5-0. Yadier Molina hit a drive to deep left-center field. Without regard for his safety or the wall, Baxter hauled it in and careened into the fence. He was down on the warning track before exiting with a shoulder contusion, but Santana ensured that Baxter’s stuntman effort was not made in vain.

It would be impossible to discuss the events of this night without mentioning the call made by third base umpire Adrian Johnson in the top of the sixth. Carlos Beltran, returning to Citi Field for the first time since departing the previous July, appeared to have pulled a sixth-inning hit down the line. Except it was called foul by Johnson. Replay was limited in concept and not the full-blown process it is now. Therefore it was not reviewable.

Countless historical moments are coupled with human error. Thus, the Cardinals remained hitless through six following the missed call, after seven following the remarkable play by Baxter, and then into the top of the ninth with the score 8-0.

Despite five walks and a pitch count exceeding the left-hander’s career-high (and much higher than manager Terry Collins would have preferred), Santana started the ninth by getting short fly balls from Matt Holliday and Allen Craig. Then came David Freese. After going to 3-0, Santana got a strike looking, a weak foul ball, and finally a swinging strike to end it.

Fittingly called by the longtime play-by-play voices who are long(er)time Mets fans and might have doubted this day would ever come.

Tuesday’s pre-game ceremony with Santana, Thole, Collins brought back a flood of memories for the principals involved and all those who witnessed it — just like each anniversary has.

The five-man no-no on April 29 against Philadelphia was certainly special in its own right. But you never forget your first, especially since it was 50 years in the making.

The post No-Han: Ten Years Later appeared first on Metsmerized.

On February 2, 2008, the Mets sent outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey to the Minnesota Twins for two-time Cy Young award winner and three-time all star Johan Santana.

To complete the trade, the Mets signed Santana to a six-year, $137.5 million contract. Santana would go on to etch a permanent place in Mets history, though he would have an injury-plagued tenure in Queens that never fully lived up to expectations.

As a Met over just four seasons, Santana posted a 46-34 record, with an ERA of 3.18 and an ERA+ of 127. Santana struck out 607 hitters in 717 innings pitched. His best season as a Met was his first one in Flushing, 2008, when he led the National League with a 2.53 ERA. In that season, he had a bWAR of 7.2, good for fifth in the league. His ERA+ in 2008 was also an outstanding 166.

One of Santana’s most memorable moments as a Met came on September 27, 2008. The Mets were home at Shea Stadium against the Florida Marlins, one game out of a wild card spot with two to play. Santana was pitching on only three days of rest, after throwing 125 pitches on September 23 against the Cubs. Santana fired a complete game, three-hit shutout against the Marlins, and later it was revealed that he did so with a torn meniscus in his left knee. The Mets would tie the Brewers for the wild card that day, but lost the next day and missed the playoffs.

Santana had another solid season in 2009, going 13-9 with a 3.31 ERA and 130 ERA+ and would be selected to the National League’s All-Star team that year. Santana’s 2009 season ended on August 25 when he was diagnosed with bone chips in his pitching elbow, which required season-ending surgery.

Santana’s 2010 season would mirror his 2009 campaign. He pitched to a record of 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA and a 131 ERA+. His season would once again be cut short, this time on September 2, when after the game against the Braves he was found to have a torn capsule behind his left shoulder that would require major surgery.

In July of 2010, Santana showed that he could provide some thrills with his bat as well, slugging this home run against the Reds on July 6.

Santana’s shoulder surgery would cost him the entire 2011 season, and he would return to the Mets as the Opening Day starter in 2012. On June 1, 2012, Santana would forever mark his place in Mets history. In a game at Citi Field against the St. Louis Cardinals, the 8,020th game in Mets’ franchise history, Santana threw the team’s first no-hitter. A team that had been adorned with great pitching, the likes of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan (very early in his career), Dwight Gooden,  and Ron Darling had never achieved the feat until that Friday night.

Santana walked five hitters in the game, threw a career-high 134 pitches, was saved by a great catch by Mike Baxter, and actually gave up a hit (that was called foul) to, of all people, Carlos Beltran. But when the game was over, Santana had done it. He had broken a franchise drought that defied logic. As Gary Cohen famously exclaimed, “it has happened!”

Santana was never the same after that game. It did not make medical sense to have a man coming off major surgery throw 134 pitches in just his 11th start back, but for many reasons, it made baseball sense. Manager Terry Collins looked unsettled as the game went on and the pitch count grew, but he allowed Santana to have his shot at history, and Santana capitalized.

Santana, who will be 42-years-old in March, required repeat shoulder surgery in 2013, and attempted two comebacks with the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays that did not materialize.

Johan Santana will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Mets fans who were taking in the game on June 1, 2012. While he never led the Mets to the postseason, he remains a fan favorite, and there are many number 57 shirts on display during games at Citi Field.

The post On This Day In 2008: Mets Acquire, Extend Johan Santana appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good Morning, Mets fans! Sandy Alderson met with the media yesterday. It was announced, among many announcements and topics, that Luis Rojas will be back as the Mets’ manager in 2021.

Latest Mets News

Per Anthony DiComo, executive vice president and chief revenue officer, Lou DePaoli, one of the Mets’ highest-ranking executives, will be leaving the organization at the end of the year.

Mike Janela is joined by Mike Baxter to discuss Baxter not coming out to the on-deck circle in the seventh inning of Johan Santana’s no-hitter.

Dominic Smith and other players share their stories. on “The Culture and Journey of the Black Baseball Player.” Watch live in the MLB Film Room today at 1:00PM ET.

It was announced on Monday that Luis Rojas will be back as the Mets’ manager in 2021.

Latest MLB News 

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, free agent right-handed pitcher, Spencer Patton, who pitched for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars over the last four seasons, is drawing interest from MLB and NPB teams early in the offseason. The Rangers, who he pitched for from 2014-2015, are one of the teams monitoring Patton’s market. Per Metsmerized’s Michael Mayer, the Mets are another team that have shown interest in Patton, who has a mid-90’s fastball with high spin rates. He is the third foreign pitcher in NPB history with 100 career holds.

Per former MLB pitcher, Dontrelle Willis, he went to Starbucks yesterday and the person in front of him paid for his drink and told the counter, “he used to kill my Mets, but he was fun to watch.”

Eno Sarris of The Athletic discusses four free agent pitchers who could be intriguing on one-year deals.

Per MLB Trade Rumors, RHP Michael Wacha is drawing interest in free agency despite struggling in 2020 with the Mets.

Per PitcherList.com, Statcast’s best contact-suppression metric is more descriptive than home runs and almost as sticky as walks. It’s called HardHit/9. Alexander Chase breaks down the new metric and how it’s used.

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Major League Baseball announced yesterday that the Field of Dreams game presented by GEICO, featuring the White Sox and Yankees, will now be played on August 12, 2021 in Dyersville, IOWA. MLB on Fox will have the broadcast of the game.

Per Sahadev Sherma, the Chicago Cubs announced yesterday that Jed Hoyer has officially agreed to a new five-year deal that runs through the 2025 season to be the team’s new president of baseball operations.

Per MLB Insider, Hector Gomez, St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher, Carlos Martinez was taken into custody yesterday by the National Dominican Police in Puerto Plata. Martinez had a massive activity in Puerto Plata’s seaside avenue “Malecon,” violating all the social distancing protocols and the mandatory use of masks.

Per a source, as reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network, free agent, Eric Thames is drawing interest from MLB, KBO, and NPB clubs after posting a .825 OPS over the last four Major League aseasons. Thames, 34, played for the NC Dinos in Korea from 2014 through 2016.

Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Network, sources have stated that the Tampa Bay Rays are open to trading left-handed pitcher, Blake Snell.

Per Jason Coskrey, it appears that the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are going to post both Kohei Arihara and Haruki Nishikawa.

Per MLB Trade Rumors, the Atlanta Braves are showing interest in right-handed pitcher, Charlie Morton

Latest on MMO

Josh Finkelstein discusses why George Springer would make perfect sense to join the Mets.

Matt Musico discusses what the Mets failed to do for the first time in nine years.

On Episode 13 of “The Pleasant Good Evening Podcast,” Jack and Sam discuss why Robinson Cano should just go.

Michael Mayer interviewed Mets’ Minor League Sidearm-pitcher, Josh Hejka in an MMO Exclusive interview.

Michael Mayer discusses that the Mets may or may not hire a President of Baseball Operations during the offseason.

Per Michael Mayer, Baseball America mentioned Mets right-handed pitcher, Matt Allan, as one of the best 19 players during instructs this year.

Stay tuned for Rob Piersall’s interview with Sam McWilliams. His interview will be posted to MetsmerizedOnline.com later this week. In a Tweet on Monday, Piersall thanked McWilliams for taking time to speak with him.

Patrick Glynn discusses the announcement that Luis Rojas will be the Mets Manager in 2021.

Per Patrick Glynn, the Mets have not talked contract extension with Michael Conforto yet.

Tim Ryder discusses Sandy Alderson’s stating that “limited access” kept the Mets from hiring a President of Baseball Operations.

Casey Nepivoda discusses Sandy Alderson stating that he hopes the universal DH continues in 2021.

Tim Ryder discusses the Tampa Bay Rays being “open” to trading Blake Snell.

Rich Mancuso review’s Tom Seaver’s book, “A Terrific Life.”

On This Day in Mets History

2000: The Mets’ former closer John Franco signs a three-year pact as a set-up man to stay with his hometown team, foregoing an opportunity to close for the Phillies. The 40 year-old Staten Island resident, who needs 59 saves to break Lee Smith‘s career record of 478, lost his closing job to Armando Benitez during the 1998 season.

2005: The Marlins cut their payroll when the team sends last season’s premiere free agent Carlos Delgado (.301, 33, 115) and $7 million to the Mets for Mike Jacobs (10 homers in 100 at-bats), minor league infielder Grant Psomas and Yusmeiro Petit, a highly touted pitching prospect. In January, the free-agent first baseman left Toronto after 12 years of service to sign a four-year deal worth a reported $52 million to play for Florida.

Birthdays: Jason Jacome (50), Bob Friend (90),

Let’s go Mets!

The post Morning Briefing: Sandy Alderson Speaks To Media appeared first on Metsmerized.

MLB will be streaming Johan Santana‘s June 1, 2012 no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on social platforms as part of their #MLBATHOME series. The historic moment in Mets history was the franchise’s first no-hitter.

The moment was made possible largely in part to an incredible seventh-inning catch by left fielder Mike Baxter, in which he hit the wall and subsequently landed on the injured list with a displaced collarbone and fractured rib cartilage.

In 134 pitches, the most of Santana’s career, he was able to no-hit the Cardinals, who were holding the first place spot at the time. Santana finished the game with five walks and eight strikeouts to secure an 8-0 win. Rewatch the magic on MLB’s YouTube channel at 7:00 pm EST.

MLB The Show will also be streaming a simulation of the Mets at the Houston Astros Tuesday night. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling will be back in the (virtual) booth to call the game. In the simulation, the Mets are off to a 2-7 start, with Michael Conforto coming back Tuesday night from the oblique injury he suffered in spring training. Yoenis Cespedes will also be making a return to the lineup. Jacob deGrom will be facing Justin Verlander in a Cy Young pitchers’ duel. Tune in on Twitter and YouTube at 8:00 pm EST.

The post MMO Game Thread: MLB The Show and No-Han appeared first on Metsmerized.

“They’ve indicated that they have extra first basemen, and we have a need,” Melvin said. “Again, it’s all about keeping your options open. … Nothing imminent, and I don’t anticipate anything imminent. But first base is one of our needs, they have excess first basemen, so you can tie two and two together — and come up with three.”

The Mets have a need in the outfield and tradeable assets at first base, while the Brewers are in the opposite situation. Both Lucas Duda and Ike Davis are young and under affordable team control for the foreseeable future, so the Brewers could have interest in trading for one of the two. In return, the Mets could ask for one of Milwaukee’s solid outfielders. Carlos Gomez would be unrealistic unless the Mets were willing to sweeten the package, but Norichika Aoki could be a fair return in exchange for Davis or Duda.

Aoki is a solid player and is definitely an upgrade over the likes of Mike Baxter in the outfield, but I wouldn’t trade Ike Davis for him. Davis reportedly has a good amount of value on the market this winter, and given that he is only a season removed from a 32 HR campaign and quite solid in the field, the Mets should be in no rush to move him. I’m all for moving Davis if he can be involved in a deal to bring us a game-changing power bat in the outfield or at shortstop, but the Mets have no reason to just give him away unless the right deal presents itself. I would trade Ike (and a bit more) for Gomez, but I wouldn’t consider swapping him for Aoki. Duda is another story. He is worse in the field and has less potential at the plate than Davis, and he has less value on the market. I would be happy to get a solid—not great, but solid— outfielder such as Aoki back in exchange for Duda.

However, if Aoki is our biggest splash of the offseason, or even just our biggest splash in the outfield, I will be quite disappointed. Again, Aoki is a solid player, but the Mets need game-changing bats, and Aoki does not fit under that category. If Alderson can swap Duda for Aoki, it would be a nice first step to rebuilding the outfield and the lineup. But if that trade were to happen, it would only be the first of many measures that must be taken Alderson and the Wilpons to put a competitive team on the field in Flushing.

The post Brewers GM Doug Melvin Sees Mets As Good Trade Partner appeared first on Metsmerized.

MLB Trade Rumors posted their arbitration predictions today. Daniel Murphy stands to be the biggest winner nearly doubling his 2013 salary to $5.8 million dollars.

Guaranteed Contracts

David Wright – $11.0 million (2013), $20.0 million

Jon Niese – $3.0 million (2013), $5.05 million

Arbitration 1

Dillon Gee – $527,375 (2013) $3.4 million

Ruben Tejada – $514,701 (2013), $1.0 million

Justin Turner – $504,547 (2013), $800,000

Eric Young Jr. – $492,000 (2013), $1.9 million

Lucas Duda – $504,000 (2013), $1.8 million

Arbitration 2

Ike Davis – $3.125M (2013), $3.5 million

Daniel Murphy – $2.925M (2013), $5.8 million

Bobby Parnell – $1.7M (2013), $3.2 million

Omar Quintanilla – $527,375 (2013), $900,000

Arbitration 3

Scott Atchison – $700,000 (2013), $1.3 million

Assuming each player is tendered and these arbitration estimations from MLB Trade Rumors are correct, that’s about $24.5 million in raises without adding any new players.

The total payroll for these 12 players comes to $48.7 million.

If you’re wondering what players could be non-tendered and added to the free agent pool this offseason after the non-tender deadline on December 2, here is a list from MLBTR.

The post Mets Arbitration Predictions and Non-Tender Candidates appeared first on Metsmerized.

With the retirement of 68-year-old Jim Leyland, and the departure of Charlie Manuel in recent months, 64-year-old Terry Collins becomes the oldest manager in the majors, writes Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.

Collins has invested almost 43 years into the game in various capacities, and while he’s the elder statesman for now, he;s never had a first place finish as a manager.

 1994  Houston Astros  66-49  .574  2nd
 1995  Houston Astros  76-68  .528  2nd
 1996  Houston Astros  82-80  .506  2nd
 1997  Anaheim Angels  84-78  .519  2nd
 1998  Anaheim Angels  85-77  .525  2nd
 1999  Anaheim Angels  51-82  .383  4th
 2011  New York Mets   77-85  .475  4th
 2012  New York Mets   74-88  .457  4th
 2013  New York Mets   74-88  .457  3rd

Nobody would ever accuse Terry Collins of being a very good in-game strategist and perhaps that’s the biggest knock on him, but not the only one.

Collins is notorious for opting to play under-performing veterans instead of younger players who have more upside. In some cases these younger players even outperform the veterans that Collins allows himself to get too close to.

You’ll hear plenty of veterans like Carlos Beltran and Marlon Byrd rave abut Collins, but you don’t hear as much coming from younger players like Juan Lagares or Zack Wheeler who have been challenged publicly by their manager this season.

The reason the Mets waited so long to act on Ike Davis was because Collins was his biggest proponent. His attachment to veterans sometimes precludes him from doing what’s right.

Collins also has this unexplainable obsession with giving excessive PT to below replacement level players like a Justin Turner or Mike Baxter. He’ll oftentimes go with the more inferior player because he “likes their fire” as he likes to say.

All of that said, Collins is a nice guy. He’s come a long way from his days with the Angels where he suffered a public meltdown after losing control of his clubhouse. He now goes out of his way to get the buy-in from his clubhouse veterans, but almost to a fault. He wants to be liked.

Collins will be here for the next two seasons, but he’ll have to ramp up his game if this team is ever going to have a shot at contending for a post season berth.

In the end his job is predicated on wins and losses and so far it’s been mostly losses.

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