This season won’t feature any drastic ballpark experience changes, such as a giraffe from the Bronx who mysteriously loses every race. But it will add numerous new food items, beverages, promotions, and transportation routes for the 2026 season.

Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The headlining addition came via Mookie Wilson and his family. Legacy Catering, started by Wilson and his family, will have a catering spot on the promenade level and Hudson Whiskey NY Club, where they will offer a smoked pulled chicken slider.

Chiddy Cheesesteak’s will also add a delicious item to the menu. They’re offering a cheesesteak pizza along with their famous sandwiches, which will be available in sections 410, 132, and 402.

The Mets also introduced new modes of transportation to the ballpark for 2026. For those who take the LIRR to Citi Field, the Mets are offering a promotion to take five dollars off tickets to the game. You can receive the promotion by going to MLB.com and requesting the code for the discount for the date of your game.

For Connecticut residents, the club will offer a new ferry route that leaves from Stamford. This new route will provide CT residents a direct route to the ballpark that was never an option unless you drove to the park. Seastreak will launch the Stamford route soon, which includes prices and times for Mets games.

The final new transportation method will be direct shuttles to Citi Field from direct locations in Queens, New Jersey, and the Bronx. This will allow families to park closer to home and take a low-cost coach bus to Citi Field. The locations will be listed below.

New Jersey 

Newport Centre Mall

Paramus Park

Long Island

Walt Whitman Shops

Roosevelt Field Mall

Bronx

The Mall at Bay Plaza

And for those who drive to the ballpark, some changes have been made to the pricing of parking. Game day parking will now cost $50 upfront, but will be the regular $40 if you prepay before gametime.

The promotion giveaways for this season were also announced at “What’s New.” The Mets have a long list of incredible giveaways, including a couple paying homage to the 1986 World Champion team.

The most notable giveaways listed were a replica World Series ring given away on March 28, a 1986 World Champion retro t-shirt on May 26, and a Hello Kitty bobblehead on June 13.

Lastly, the Mets announced a plethora of events to take place at Willets Point at the What’s New event. The New York City FC will square off for five games in 2026, Gotham FC will host the Washington Spirit on July 15 for The Queens Classic, Noah Kahan will perform at Citi Field on July 18 and 19, Fuerza Regida will stop by on August 7 during their first-ever stadium tour, and My Chemical Romance will arrive on August 9.

The Mets are primed to provide another exceptional experience at the ballpark in 2026. Below will be a list of all the new additions to the park.

Promotions (March – June)

March 26 – 2026 Magnet Schedule

March 28 – 1986 World Series championship replica ring

March 29 – 5-borough race kids puzzle

April 11 – Juan Soto 40/30 bobblehead

April 25 – Mr. Met at the Unisphere light-up bobblehead

May 26 – 1986 world champions retro t-shirt

May 29 – Bobby Valentine disguise

June 11 – Mets soccer jersey

June 13 – Hello Kitty bobblehead

June 14 – Crayola color your own Mrs. Met bobblehead

June 22 – Mets purse

June 23 – Mets chain necklace

June 24 – Marcus Semien replica jersey

June 25 – Juan Soto baseball card bobblehead

June 26 – Mets pride sleeveless jersey

Willets Point Entertainment 

New York City FC – 2026 Matches

• Saturday, April 4, 2026 vs. St. Louis City SC
• Saturday, April 18, 2026 vs. Charlotte FC
• Sunday, May 3, 2026 vs. DC United
• Wednesday, May 6, 2026 vs. Los Angeles FC
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026 vs. New England Revolution

Gotham FC Match – July 15, 2026

Noah Kahan – July 18 and 19

Fuerza Regida – August 7

My Chemical Romance – August 9

Mets Kids Club

The Mets are offering three different memberships for the 2026 Mets Kids Club season, making the program accessible to young fans of all ages. New this year, the Mets introduced a Kids Club Premium membership, which has already sold out for the season, alongside the returning free membership and the paid Kids Club essentials membership, which are both still available. The Kids Club essentials membership includes a welcome kit with exclusive Kids Club merchandise, a fast pass for the Mr. and Mrs. Met Dash, two ticket vouchers redeemable for select games, a collectible hat with charms, and presale access to Kids Club events. The sold-out Kids Club Premium membership also includes access to exclusive player Q&A sessions, in addition to all the benefits of the Essentials membership.

The Mets Kids Club also has a brand-new main location at Citi Field in Section 431 on the Promenade Level, conveniently located near where many families sit. Kids Club will continue to operate a satellite location in Section 131 with activities and activations, while all membership check-ins and prizing will take place at the new main location in Section 431.

Following select Sunday games, all Kids Club members age 12 and under are invited to run the bases postgame (weather permitting) during the Mr. and Mrs. Met Dash. All participants in the MR. and Mrs. Met Dash must be registered Kids Club members. More information on Mets Kids Club can be found at Mets.com/KidsClub

Food 

Legacy Catering – Promenade Level – Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House – Clover Level – Clover Home Plate Club

Chef Kwame’s Patty Palace – Promenade Level (Section 415) – Clover Level (Clover Home Plate Club)

Adam Richman’s Burger Hall of Fame – Field Level – Section 105

Seoul Bird – Excelsior Level – Metro Market

Napoli’s Pizza Co. – Field Level (Section 102) – Excelsior Level (Heinkeken Dimaond Lounge $ Metro Market) – Promenade Level (Section 414) – Clover Level (Clover Home Plate Club)

Shake Shack – Field Level – Taste of the City

Eat in the Cave – Promenade Level (Hudson Whiskey NY Club) – Clover Level (Clover Home Plate Club)

Prime Kosher Sports – Field Level – Sections 141, 119, and 408

Pig Beach BBQ – Field Level – Section 135

Amazin’ Deli – Field Level (Section 139) – Promenade Level (Section 414) – Clover Level (Home Plate Club)

Amazin’ Chicken Co. – Field Level – Taste of the City

Metropolitan Fry Factory – Field Level – Taste of the City

Roast Pork – Field Level (Section 105) – Clover Level (Clover Home Plate Club)

French Dip – Field Level – Section 132

Wok N’ Roll – Field Level – Taste of the City

Citi Field Sweets – Various Locations on Promenade Level – Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Dole Whip – Field Level (Taste of the City) – Excelsior Level (Heineken Diamond Lounge)

Willets Point Brewery – Seaver Way – Adjacent to Right Field Gate

Big Apple Blend Seasoning – Field Level (Taste of the City) – Grill Stands (All Levels) – Field Level (Swingin’ Wings + Section 103)

The post What’s New at Citi Field in 2026 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

10. Marathon in Oakland

Game 2 of the 1973 World Series against the A’s was (for 23 years) the longest played by time. It remains one of the craziest as well. This game lasted four hours and 13 minutes and featured a fair share of miscues on both sides. Even the umpires were prone to mistakes, none more famous than a missed call when Bud Harrelson tried to score on a fly ball to left field.

Fortunately for the Mets, they salvaged a split with a 10-7, 12-inning victory. The blinding sun did no favors to fielders trying to make otherwise routine plays. Not even Willie Mays, in his final appearance, was immune. The A’s Mike Andrews contributed two errors in the late stages, which led to him being forcibly dismissed by owner Charles O. Finley.

9. Subway Series Victory

After coming agonizingly close to beating the Yankees in the first two games in The Bronx, the Mets could claim a win once the series got back to Shea Stadium. The Yankees, as usual, didn’t make it easy.

The Mets rallied to tie it in the sixth on a Todd Zeile RBI double. Then, in the eighth, Zeile singled and Benny Agbayani drove him home with a go-ahead double. Bubba Trammell added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly. John Franco earned the win and Armando Benítez closed the door, snapping the Yankees’ incredible 14-game World Series winning streak.

8. Carter’s Two Homers

The Mets evened the ’86 World Series with the Red Sox behind two home runs from their future Hall of Fame catcher, Gary Carter, who was making his first World Series appearance after 13 big-league seasons. The first blast came in the top of the fourth against Sox starter Al Nipper, and the second was a mammoth shot over the Green Monster on a curveball from reliever Steve Crawford.

Carter’s three RBIs and multi-homer game were the driving force behind the Mets’ 6-2 victory at Fenway Park.

“All I got on my mind is getting that World Series ring,” he said in the postgame interview. Carter was ensured he’d get that ring a few days later.

7. Wright Has the Power

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to make the Fall Classic. He had spent many months just hoping to be healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, David Wright sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center.

6. Dykstra Provides a Spark

Being down 2-0 in the series following a pair of losses at home, the Mets were in desperate need of a quick start in Boston. How’s a leadoff homer in the top of the first? Lenny Dykstra went deep against Red Sox starter Oil Can Boyd on the third pitch of the game.

Dykstra’s homer kicked off a four-run inning and helped swing the momentum in New York’s favor. Bob Ojeda took it from there, delivering a wonderful start against his former team as the Mets cruised to a 7-1 victory.

5. Seaver, Swoboda Save the Day

The Mets’ ace didn’t pitch like one in the 1969 World Series opener with the Orioles. He did on this afternoon, however, with New York holding a 2-1 series edge.

Tom Seaver went all 10 innings and allowed just a run on six hits. But he had some help. With the Mets up 1-0 in the ninth and runners on the corners, Brooks Robinson drove a sinking liner to right field. Ron Swoboda was not a great defender, but he was here. In fact, he made a catch that’s still unbelievable. His diving, backhanded grab before the ball touched the ground prevented the O’s from taking the lead.

The Mets won in the bottom of the 10th on a controversial error made on a J.C. Martin bunt, giving New York the chance to close it out at home.

4. Agee Takes Over

Is it possible for one player to win a game by himself? The Mets’ center fielder put that question to the test in the first World Series game at Shea Stadium.

Tommie Agee was known best for his glove, and he showcased that with two incredible catches. In the fourth inning with men on first and third, Agee made a backhanded running catch at the 396-foot mark on a ball off the bat of Elrod Hendricks. Then in the seventh, with the bases loaded and Nolan Ryan pitching, Agee dove by the warning track in right-center and hauled in a liner by Paul Blair.

Those two defensive gems overshadowed his leadoff home run against Jim Palmer. Agee saved five runs and created one for his own team in a 5-0 Mets victory.

3. “The Dream Has Come True”

The Mets were supposed to be World Series champions from the beginning of the 1986 season. They fulfilled that promise. The way in which they did it showed that for all their dominance, they had character and resolve when it mattered most.

For all the dramatics that played out in Game 6, the winner-take-all Game 7 was anything but a sure thing for New York. Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held it into the sixth. That’s when the Mets’ offense finally got to Bruce Hurst. It loaded the bases for Keith Hernandez, who delivered the biggest hit of his career when he drove in two with a single to center. New York went on to score eight runs over the final three innings — including MVP Ray Knight‘s seventh-inning homer off Calvin Schiraldi and Darryl Strawberry‘s cherry-on-top blast in the eighth.

Jesse Orosco prevented the Red Sox from evening it in the top half of the inning, holding the tying run at second. He got the final three outs in order and initiated a celebration that was some six months in the waiting.

2. The Miracle is Complete

In April 1969, humans were hundreds of thousands of miles away from setting foot on the moon just as the Mets seemed far away from a World Series title. By October 15, both distances had been covered and both feats had been achieved.

With the Orioles up 3-0 and poised to take the series back to Baltimore, Cleon Jones was hit by a pitch (the famous “shoe polish” tactic from manager Gil Hodges). Donn Clendenon belted his third homer of the series to pull New York to within a run.

Al Weis, emblematic of the unlikely nature of the Mets’ unexpected success, delivered in the seventh with a game-tying home run — the only round-tripper he hit at Shea all year — to finish off a fabulous .455 batting average over the five games. Two doubles and two Oriole errors in the eighth led to a 5-3 Mets lead.

It was an advantage the Mets’ superb big-game pitcher would protect. Jerry Koosman allowed just one hit over the final six innings while his hitters mounted their comeback. The final out came off the bat of Davey Johnson and landed in the glove of Cleon Jones in left field.

1. Game 6

It’s been talked about, shown, and debated a million times over (at least). In film, in books, and in spoken word, October 25, 1986, is among the greatest days in the history of the universe for Mets fans and (for a while) among the worst for Red Sox fans.

Wally Backman and Hernandez flew out to start the bottom of the 10th with New York down two runs. It brought Boston within one out of its first title since 1918 and the Mets to within one out of their season being a colossal disappointment.

The rest is a sequence of events that remains unbelievable. A Gary Carter single, a Kevin Mitchell single, a Ray Knight single, a wild pitch by Bob Stanley, all leading up to Mookie Wilson‘s grounder.

The post The Top 10 Mets World Series Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets, who are hosting their first version of fan fest in nearly five years on Saturday, released their star-studded lineup for the day. Amazin’ Day, where fans will be able to hear from and meet current and former Mets players, will have some of the biggest names in the franchise’s history available. Some of those names include Mike Piazza, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Mookie Wilson, Edwin Díaz, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo. It should be an exciting day in Queens as the club will also be releasing its new road uniforms for the 2025 season.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Jeff McNeil says he’s “a little surprised” Pete Alonso is still a free agent and hopes his “good buddy” re-signs with the Mets, per Anthony Rieber of Newsday.

The Mets announced that they will be revealing a brand new road jersey at Mets “Amazin’ Day” on Saturday. 

Latest MLB News

Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will launch a hitting competition called “Sluggball”, per The AP. The competition will focus entirely on situational hitting, with no fielding or running required.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are shopping some of their surplus of players in order to get add their new acquisitions to the 40-man roster, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. One player possibly on the chopping block is reliever Ryan Brasier, who is owed $4.5 million this season. 

On MLB Network, Jon Heyman of the NY Post went into detail on how the Toronto Blue Jays could be an ideal destination for former Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.

Former all-star shortstop Tim Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. 

The Cleveland Guardians signed former Met Paul Sewald to a one-year, $7 million deal with a mutual option for 2026.

The Oakland Athletics hired former World Series MVP and Athletics Hall of Famer Dave Stewart as a Special Assistant to Player Development for the 2025 season.

MLB Network will broadcast the 2025 Caribbean Series in English starting January 31.

Former Seattle Mariners pitching coach Bobby Cuellar passed away at 72 years old. 

Infielder Jon Berti agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs on a contract, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

Latest on MMO

David Wright stays on the HOF ballot!

Billy Wagner finally gets the call!

Four Mets prospects land on Baseball America’s top 100 list.

On This Date in Mets History

1975: Ralph Kiner is selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his final year of eligibility.

Born on This Date: Robert Carson (1989), Charlie Greene (1971), Bob Moorhead (1938).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Set Amazin’ Day Lineup appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Friday, Andy Martino of SNY announced that the Mets will send a contingent of David Wright, Mike Piazza, Daniel Murphy, and Mookie Wilson to London for the team’s upcoming series in the city with the Phillies. The four Mets icons will serve as ambassadors for the team.

Murphy will also participate in a home run contest in London’s Trafalgar Square with Chase Utley, who will be representing the Phillies.

Latest Mets News

The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 10-9 on Friday night. The Diamondbacks got out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but the Mets scored four right back and held a 10-5 lead entering the ninth inning. Two consecutive home runs allowed by Reed Garrett made it 10-9, but he was able to record the final out and give the Mets their second consecutive win.

The Mets made a flurry of roster moves on Friday. The most notable were Brett Baty and Christian Scott being sent down to Triple-A. Scott’s stay in the minors is expected to be short and is a move to allow the Mets more flexibility with the way their upcoming schedule is structured.

In corresponding moves, the Mets called up Jose Iglesias to give the team another middle infielder, as well as Dedniel Núñez to add another arm to the bullpen.

Additionally, the Mets traded cash considerations to the Yankees for catcher Luis Torrens and designated Omar Narváez for assignment.

With Darryl Strawberry getting his number retired prior to Saturday’s game, Eric Davis, who has played with and against Darryl since the two were kids, will be in attendance.

Shintaro Fujinami, who has spent the 2024 season with the Mets in Triple-A, is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury. The Mets are hopeful that Fujinami can avoid surgery.

The Mets granted Jiman Choi his release from Triple-A Syracuse. Choi had a June 1st opt-out in his contract.

Latest MLB News

Zac Gallen, who exited Thursday’s game against the Mets with a hamstring injury, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Slade Cecconi was recalled from Triple-A to replace him on the roster.

The Blue Jays placed starting pitcher Alek Manoah on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.

The Orioles announced that starting pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells will miss the rest of the season after undergoing UCL surgery.

Anthony Tandron, a prospect on the Giants’ DSL team, received a 56-game suspension after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance enhancing drug.

The city of Seattle announced Friday as “Alvin Davis Day.” Davis, nicknamed Mr. Mariner, threw out the first pitch during the team’s game on Friday.

In other Mariners news, the team dismissed bench coach and offensive coordinator Brant Brown. Brown joined the team this past offseason.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer highlights Luke Ritter hitting his 10th home run of the season in the latest minor league recap.

Michael Famulari breaks down the four-hit night of Francisco Lindor on Thursday following Wednesday’s players only meeting.

Jack Markowski takes a look at the Mets’ bullpen options during their recent struggles.

On This Date in Mets History

2012: Johan Santana pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history on this day 12 years ago. It took 50 years for the franchise to experience its first no-hitter, and it’s still the only complete game no-hitter in the team’s history. Santana threw 134 pitches, striking out eight and walking five in the historic performance.

The post Morning Briefing: Four Mets Legends Named Team Ambassadors To London appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets suffered a crushing loss on Wednesday night as a bang-bang play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth was the final blow for the Amazins. Pete Alonso‘s hand bounced up before the plate, allowing the tag to be placed before he scored and subsequently ending the game. However, an even bigger story is how the Mets’ offense has continued to struggle over the past week. 

During the Mets’ winning stretch in the middle of April, it seemed as though everything was clicking; Brett Baty was hitting his stride, Francisco Alvarez was getting timely hits, and the Mets’ offense minus J.D. Martinez was grooving. Now, losing four of their last six games, the Mets’ offense has hit a blockade. Being blanked last night, and not having many opportunities until the ninth inning, the Mets need a breakout game desperately.

This homestand hasn’t been kind to the Mets, and this series with the Cubs especially has been frustrating from a hitting standpoint, only mustering up five runs in three games. However, the Mets’ offense will look to get back on track as they face Cubs’ Ben Brown with Adrian Houser on the bump for New York for a 1:10 p.m. start at Citi Field.

Starling Marte. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Francisco Lindor left last night’s game in the third inning due to flu-like symptoms. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said there is a virus going around the clubhouse and caught up to Lindor.

The Mets want the fans input on what the club’s new service dog should be named! The options are Doc (for Doc Gooden), Buddy (for Bud Harrelson), and Mookie (for Mookie Wilson).

Ji-Man Choi declined his opt-out with the Mets and will stay with the organization, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.

The Mets traded Zack Short, who was recently DFA’d, to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.

Pete Alonso wins Mets hitter of the month. Click here for the other April awards.

Latest MLB News

The MLBPA announced the launch of a new mental health and wellness program for major and minor league players and their families.

After a masterful bee-keeping performance at Chase Field, Matt Hilton signed a deal with Topps. Both base cards and signed editions will be available for the public to purchase.

After being released from his minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, Dominic Smith signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox and was added to the major league roster prior to Wednesday night’s game.

The MLB issued suspensions for the Brewers-Rays brawl this past weekend. For the Brewers, Abner Uribe, Freddy Peralta, and Pat Murphy are suspended for six, five and two games respectively. For the Rays, José Siri is suspended for three games. 

Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to April 30th, with right shoulder inflammation. 

Latest on MMO

DJ Stewart continues to rake when it matters most.

Read up on Mets pitching prospect Blade Tidwell.

Check out who MMO handed out the Mets’ monthly superlatives to!

On This Date in Mets History

2022: The Mets DFA Robinson Canó after playing in 168 games spanning three seasons; he also missed 162 games in 2021 due to a PED suspension. 

2021: After trailing 4-2 to the Phillies in the eighth inning, the Mets put together a six-run inning to take the lead. The Mets would hold on to win after a Rhys Hoskins home run was called back due to replay.

1995: Edgardo Alfonzo records the first hit of his major league career.

Birthdays: Jonathan Villar (33), Erasmo Ramírez (34), Joe Crawford (54)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets’ Offensive Woes Continue appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

While the ’86 Mets won the series in five games, the ’76 Mets put up a fight. Ed Kranepool powered the Mets to victory in Game 4, and if not for a blown save late in the series, the ’76 Mets could have pulled ahead of the World Champ ’86 squad.

Mets’ Mookie Wilson hits a slow grounder up the first base line that gets by Red Sox first basemen Bill Buckner scoring Ray Knight from second to give the Mets the walk-off victory in the bottom of the 10th inning during Game 6 of the World Series at Shea Stadium Oct. 25, 1986.
Mets Vs Red Sox 1986 World Series

Game 1 

Tom wasn’t so terrific in Game 1.

The Franchise struggled against the might of the 1986 lineup and allowed nine earned runs in three innings. He was relieved from that point as the 1976 Mets couldn’t get their offense going against Doc Gooden.

Game 2

The 1976 Mets punched back and recorded their only series victory in Game 2

Both sides started southpaws, with Sid Fernandez taking the mound for the ’86 Mets and Jerry Koosman for the ’76 Mets. Each starter had respectable games, as Fernandez allowed four earned runs in six innings pitched and Koosman with four allowed in 7 1/3 innings pitched.

While Fernandez was solid, the ’86 Mets’ bullpen was not. Randy Myers came in and allowed a bases-clearing double to Jerry Grote in the seventh, which gave the ’76 Mets a 6-2 lead. Then, Roger McDowell followed suit and allowed three earned runs in the top of the ninth. The ’76 Mets finished the night with a 9-4 win.

Game 3

Howard Johnson got the Mets back in the win column in Game 3.

The switch-hitting third baseman went 2-for-5 in Game 3, driving in a run and setting the tone at the top of the lineup. Meanwhile, Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez kept the line moving at the bottom of the order. The two captains both went 3-for-4, taking care of starter Jon Matlack who allowed 11 hits and five runs in six innings.

Bob Ojeda took care of the other side of the ball for the ’86 Mets. He went five innings, scattering five hits and striking out five for a scoreless outing. The lefty then handed the ball to Myers and John Mitchell, who allowed one run in four combined innings.

Game 4

Carter carried the ’86 Mets on his back in Game 4.

The catcher started his terrific night in the top of the fifth inning, driving in Mookie Wilson with an RBI double. The extra-base hit gave the ’86 Mets a 1-0, which they surrendered in the bottom half of the inning when Bruce Boisclair drove in two runs with a double of his own.

The score held at 2-1 going into the top of the ninth. The ’76 Mets turned toward their closer Skip Lockwood and needed only three outs to tie up the series. However, Carter had other plans. The former Expo clubbed a two-run homer to the ’86 Mets a 3-2 lead, and eventual win after Jesse Orosco completed his two-inning save.

Game 5

The ’76 Mets turned to Seaver for Game 5 to keep them in the first round of Mets Madness.

However, like in Game 1, Seaver struggled. The righty allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings pitched, putting his offense in a hole they couldn’t recover from. The bullpen wasn’t any better and Lockwood had another horrific outing, allowing four earned runs in the ninth inning.

Gooden once again was reliable for the ’86 Mets. He struck out five batters across five innings but got an early hook from his manager. The ’86 Mets opted for a bullpen game, throwing five different arms in their 9-1 win in Game 5.

The offense was powered by Wilson and Hernandez, who went 5-for-7 combined with three runs batted in and scored. Wally Backman also had a stellar game and went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in from the eighth spot in the lineup.

MVP

Carter was the MVP for the ’86 Mets in their series against the ’76 Mets.

He went 5-for-8 in Games 3 and 4 combined, which propelled the ’86 Mets to a 3-1 series lead. In fact, if Carter hadn’t clubbed a go-ahead homer in Game 4, the ’76 Mets would have tied the series at 2-2 and thrown Seaver out for Game 5.

While Carter went 0-for-4 in Games 2 and 5, his performances in Games 3 and 4 were enough to award him the most valuable player for the ’86 Mets.

On Deck 

The ’86 Mets will move on to round 2 of Mets Madness, where they face off against the 2022 Mets. Unlike the ’76 Mets, the ’22 Mets have a dangerous and potent lineup. Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, and Brandon Nimmo will be a tough top of the order and will certainly be tough on the ’86 rotation. Their rotation isn’t shabby either, as Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt will get their shot at the ’86 lineup.

Here are the previous recaps from round one:

• 2019 Mets beat 2000 Mets
• 1998 Mets take the 2015 Mets seven games
• 1973 Mets sweep the 2007 Mets
• 2006 Mets dominated 1985 Mets
• 1969 Mets win in 7 games
• 2022 Mets win a series

Round one is officially over. Bring on round two.

The post Mets Madness Recap: 1986 Mets Beat 1976 Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The College Baseball Foundation revealed the latest inductees into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, and among the 12 honorees is Ron Darling, a former Met and the current broadcaster for the team. Darling, who was a student at Yale from 1979 to 1981, is set to be officially inducted during the ceremony scheduled for February 15, 2024.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

Jay Horwitz tweets that former Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson and his wife, Rosa, are currently in England for the week, actively promoting the Mets London Series alongside the Phillies, scheduled for June 8-9 at London Stadium.

Mookie Wilson and his wife Rosa are spending the week in England promoting the @Mets London Series with the Phillies, June 8-9 at London Stadium. We couldn’t have a better representative. https://t.co/dNayBp8g8Q

— Jay Horwitz (@Jay_HorwitzPR) December 7, 2023

Latest MLB News

Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweets that the Washington Nationals have signed outfielder Nick Senzel to a one-year, $2 million contract with $1 million in performance bonuses.

According to information by Will Sammon from The Athletic, the Milwaukee Brewers are making a staff change by transitioning Charlie Greene, the assistant director of player development, to the role of bullpen coach on their major-league staff. Greene has garnered respect for his contributions to player development. Notably, this move follows the shift of Jim Henderson from bullpen coach to assistant pitching coach.

Gillian Tan for Bloomberg reports that David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group Inc., is reportedly in discussions to purchase the Baltimore Orioles, as per anonymous sources familiar with the matter. While talks are ongoing, no final agreement has been reached, and the possibility of the negotiations collapsing still exists.

As reported by Chandler Rome from The Athletic, the Houston Astros have officially signed reliever Wander Suero to a minor league contract, as indicated in their transaction log.

As reported by Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have confirmed the signing of left-handed pitcher Angel Perdomo, whom they non-tendered. Perdomo’s agreement is a one-year, non-guaranteed split deal. Additionally, Evan White has been outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, resulting in his removal from the 40-man roster.

The Los Angeles Dodgers tweet and congratulate the family of outfielder Chris Taylor for the birth of his son, Theo.

Latest on MMO

Rivka Boord goes in-depth on the mindset of David Stearns and what was revealed.

Mets Madness Series Preview: 1969 Mets versus the 1997 Mets.

The Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes comes down to the Mets and Yankees.

On This Date In Mets History

1961: On December 8th, 1961, the New York Mets acquired Richie Ashburn from the Cubs. Serving as the Mets’ inaugural All-Star, Whitey concluded the final year of his illustrious Hall of Fame career with the ’62 team. He achieved an impressive .306/.424/.393 line and hit a career-high seven home runs, with some assistance from the Polo Grounds.

Birthdays: Alex Torres (36)

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Jacob deGrom in a Texas Rangers uniform. That’s going to take some getting used to. Actually, it may never really look normal. But this kind of scenario is nothing new. There have been a few occasions in which the combination of ex-Met player and team doesn’t sound — or look — right. Here are some of the strangest examples of famous Mets wearing the jersey of another team.

Jerry Koosman as a Phillie

Soon after the sight of Tom Seaver in Cincinnati Reds colors made Queens queasy, the other powerful pitching half made his exit. Jerry Koosman was traded to his native Minnesota to join the Twins before moving to the White Sox and eventually back to the NL East for his final two seasons. In 1984, at age 41, Koosman posted his lowest ERA and WHIP since departing New York. Koosman faced the organization which eventually retired his number six times while with Philadelphia — winning once with a 6.75 ERA.

Mookie Wilson as a Blue Jay

A mainstay of the Mets of the 1980s, Mookie Wilson was there at the lowest point of the decade and was also there for the highest moments. His popularity was unmatched, making the trade to Toronto in July 1989 hard to take — coupled with Lee Mazzilli also flocking north. Wilson hit .331 in August 1989 for Toronto while also driving in 12 as the Jays closed in on the division-leading Baltimore Orioles. Toronto eventually overtook the O’s, and won the AL East with Wilson regularly in the starting lineup. Wilson’s trip to the playoffs with the Jays was the third of his career. He stayed on for two more years (with one more appearance in the playoffs) before retiring.

Keith Hernandez with Cleveland

If you blinked, you missed it. Leg and back injuries severely curtailed what would be Keith Hernandez’s final year in 1990. He appeared in just 43 games for Cleveland and didn’t play after July 24. Hernandez’s durability, a hallmark of his career with the Mets and Cardinals along with his fielding excellence and hitting consistency, waned during his final two seasons in New York and the trend continued in Cleveland. He batted only .200 with one home run (seen below) and eight RBIs.

Darryl Strawberry as a Giant

Darryl Strawberry‘s personal issues had a significant effect on him once he moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1991 and then to San Francisco in May 1994. Strawberry’s stint with the Giants comprised only 92 at-bats over 29 games.  He saw limited playing time and hit only four home runs with 17 RBIs. At the start of the 1995 season, he was suspended after testing positive for cocaine. Straw eventually was picked up by the Yankees, where he made an impact on their ’96 World Series run and played until 1999.

Dwight Gooden with Cleveland

Like Darryl, Dwight Gooden temporarily revitalized his career with the Yankees. After a no-hitter and another ring, Gooden faltered in 1997, and over the winter was picked up by the defending AL Champs, Cleveland. Gooden improved in 1998, posting  a 3.76 ERA (despite his strikeout-per-nine-innings staying steady at 5.6) and made two starts in the postseason — the second coming in the ALCS against his former team. Gooden remained in Cleveland for one more season that didn’t go nearly as well.  In 1999, Gooden posted a 6.26 ERA in 22 starts. The last three stops of his career came in 2000, including a return to the Bronx that was preceded by two unusual one: short stints with the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

John Franco as an Astro

Although John Franco has strong connections to  New York City, the start of his big-league career began in Cincinnati for the Reds from 1984-89. The St. John’s alum came to the Mets in a swap for fellow closer Randy Myers  and went on to span several eras for the franchise. Franco went through several transitions in Queens, going from closer to set-up man to captain. His Mets career concluded in 2004, but his major-league career did not. The Houston Astros got on him on a one-year deal in 2005, but he couldn’t last that long. By July of that year, Franco was released, and he eventually retired as the all-time saves leader among lefties.

Mike Piazza and the A’s

Mike Piazza had three stops in California in his career — starting in Los Angeles and later ending up in San Diego in 2006 after his Mets career. The final Golden State club Piazza played on was the most forgotten. While Piazza excelled to an All-Star level with the Dodgers and had a decent 2006 season with the Padres, his wearing of green and gold in Oakland in 2007 was a blip in his hall-of-fame career.  A shoulder injury in early May resulted in an 11-week stay on the disabled list, and he was only able to play in 83 games that season. Piazza eventually finished with a slash line of .275/.313/.414, eight homers, and 44 RBIs.

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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.

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Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

We have heard about the 2023 Major League Baseball rule changes for a while. Next season, there will be a pitch clock, larger bases, and restrictions on shifting, to name three. For the next couple of seasons, MLB will be in an evaluation period, assessing if the rule changes bring about the desired results of shorter, more action-packed games that increase fan interest. As the cliché goes, time will tell. Let’s take a look at how the game may be a bit different next April.

Larger Bases

The cushions will now be 18 inches by 18 inches, as opposed to the traditional 15 inches by 15 inches. This will result in the distance between bases being reduced by four and one-half inches. Will this encourage more stolen base attempts, one outcome that Commissioner Rob Manfred is seeking, to increase action on the field? Well, the answer is yes, it should. In an article in The Athletic by Jayson Stark, the author points out that in the minor leagues, where the larger bases were used in 2022, there were 2.83 stolen base attempts per game, versus 1.36 attempts in the major leagues during the same year.

Does four and one-half inches less of a distance make that much of a difference? Sprint speed is recorded on Baseball Savant. Using that metric and source, the fastest player in MLB last year was Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks. His sprint speed is an elite 30.7 feet per second. Assuming a ten-foot lead (considered average), it would take Carroll 2.60 seconds to get to second base (80 feet). With the larger bases, Carroll’s time to second with the same lead is 2.59 seconds. The Mets’ fastest runner by sprint speed is Brandon Nimmo, at 28.7 feet per second. At that rate of speed, it takes Nimmo 2.79 seconds to go 80 feet, and 2.77 seconds to travel 79 feet, 7 and one-half inches. The differences are minuscule, but think about how many times stolen base plays are so close that they go to review.

Another factor, that may have a greater impact on stolen bases, is how balks will be called in 2023. A pitcher will be allowed two “disengagements” from the pitching rubber when a runner is on base.  Unless something changes, runners will have free rein on the base paths once the “disengagement” maximum is reached. Sure, Carroll will be able to display his sprint speed, but it may not matter so much if pitchers unsuccessfully try to pick him off.

Put this all together, and there probably will not be a rush to sign or trade for base stealers, radically affecting roster construction. But the stolen base will very likely become more common in 2023, harkening back to baseball of the 1980s when players like Vince Coleman, Tim Raines, and Mookie Wilson were able to impact a game’s outcome more often than speed merchants have in recent years.

Shift Restrictions

This rule, where two infielders will be required to be on each side of second base and on the infield dirt, has also been used in the minor leagues. From Stark’s article, an interesting angle of this is that there are no such restrictions on outfielders, meaning, a team could slide their left fielder over to play a right field “short field”, leaving the left side of the outfield open. Wow! Imagine if Daniel Vogelbach floated one into the left-field corner with no one there, and we had the opportunity to see him get as far as he could around the bases.

Stark also points out that shifts have had a disproportionate effect on left-handed hitters. From his article:

*percentage of plate appearances versus shifts from Statcast

As shifting goes up, batting average on ground balls by lefties goes down. With a shift restriction, left-handed batters stand to benefit significantly. These numbers do not change significantly with exit velocity, showing just how good teams have become not only at shifting, but positioning defenders within a shift. Former Mets’ hitting coach, and current Phillies’ hitting coach Kevin Long  suggested the following (from the article in The Athletic):

“There are going to be guys where their average skyrockets. I think Kyle Schwarber is going to be one of the biggest. Anthony Rizzo is going to be another one. Brian McCann, when he played, would have been a huge one, because those guys don’t run.”

So, if we are looking for impact on roster construction, this may be the hot zone. If left-handed hitters, particularly slow-footed ones, stand to benefit most from the shifting restriction, might teams place a higher value on them? Could that have factored in the Yankees’ thinking on bringing Rizzo back? How about the Mets’ decision on Vogelbach? If so, why not place a higher value on Dominic Smith?

This is the assessment phase. The rule changes will alter the way game is played (this article did not even touch on the pitch clock, which will push veteran hurlers out of their comfort zones). How different things will be, and how teams may change their valuation of players will evolve over time.

One more thing, Manfred has hinted at more (as yet, undisclosed) changes in 2024 (or beyond). Baseball is going to continue changing. To some, that’s a bad thing, and to others, it’s a welcome thing. Either way, we don’t have a choice. Let’s try to enjoy the ride.

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