When it began in 1997, it was more than just a novelty. City bragging rights were on the line, and the stakes were heightened further when the teams met in the World Series just a few years later. The energy is almost always electric, and this weekend is certainly no exception, providing another chance to etch new moments into Subway Series history.

June 16, 1997

The inaugural regular-season meeting turned into Dave Mlicki‘s finest hour.

The 29-year-old started this historic meeting and proceeded to become the only Met to throw a shutout at Yankee Stadium—current or previous. Although he allowed nine hits and two walks over 119 pitches and managed to record a 1-2-3 inning just once, he struck out eight and avoided trouble.

Bernard Gilkey scored three times, with his initial run coming on a John Olerud first-inning double off Andy Pettitte as the Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead. They added two more on Olerud’s seventh-inning single and another on Gilkey’s ninth-inning sac fly. The Yankees had more traffic on the bases in the ninth, but despite three singles, Mlicki preserved his scoreless effort—striking out Derek Jeter to finish off the 5-0 victory.

July 10, 1999

Mariano Rivera and the Yankees had won 124 straight times after taking a lead into the eighth. That wasn’t going to stop the Mets, even if they had to overcome six home runs.

A Mike Piazza 482-foot moon shot in the seventh was countered by the power of Yankee bats.

Down to their final out and behind by a run, Matt Franco helped defy the odds. His bases-loaded single to right field brought in Rickey Henderson and Edgardo Alfonso to put an exclamation point on a 9-8 win that remains arguably the best Mets victory of the Subway Series era.

June 27, 2008

Carlos Delgado came out of a slump in historic fashion by setting the Mets’ single-game record for RBIs in a 15-9 rout. This was the opener of a cross-town, two-stadium doubleheader, but Delgado helped make Yankee Stadium feel like Shea. With the score tied at four, Delgado drove in two with a fifth-inning double into the right field corner. His next opportunity came in the sixth with the bases loaded. One swing turned a relatively close game into a blowout on a no-doubt grand slam to right center.

His 443rd career homer put him ahead of Dave Kingman on the all-time list, the same man who previously held the single-game franchise mark for RBIs. The contest was 12-5 in the eighth, but Delgado didn’t ease up. Locking in on a LaTroy Hawkins pitch, he rocketed it into the right field stands that were now half-empty, and many of those who remained were happy.

June 12, 2009

You know the Subway Series has weight when a regular season loss still stings. I needed a drink just to help while researching on Baseball Reference. For those who saw it, I’m sorry. For those actually at Yankee Stadium, I’m really sorry. For those who were lucky to miss it, don’t watch. Here it is in excruciating detail.

The Yankees trailed by one and were down to their last out with runners on first and second as Francisco Rodríguez graced the mound. Alex Rodriguez popped it up in the vicinity of second baseman Luis Castillo, who drifted to his left for an easy game-ending catch … not.

It clanked off the heel of his glove. Jeter scored, as did Mark Teixeira. Yankees 9, Mets 8. The career of Castillo, as well as the ’09 season, never recovered.

May 28, 2013

Matt Harvey continued his stellar first full season with ten strikeouts and one run allowed, but encountered tough luck.

Hiroki Kuroda’s seven shutout innings, followed by David Robertson’s easy eighth, made Harvey prime for a loss. That Yankee lead disappeared after a rare spurt of Amazin’ offense, however. The Mets honored Rivera in his farewell season by having him toss out the series finale’s honorary first pitch. He also threw the last pitch—but this time, the only ceremony was to initiate a Mets win.

He came back onto the Citi Field mound with the Yanks up 1–0 in the ninth. When he left, the Yankees had lost 2-1 and Rivera didn’t record an out. Three straight hits by Daniel Murphy, Wright and Lucas Duda engineered the game-ending rally.

September 12, 2021

This game rekindled the tension and combativeness of the Subway Series. The Mets opened the three-game set with a 10-run outburst, followed the next night by an emotional 8-7 Yankees victory on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Then came the finale: also known as Francisco Lindor‘s first signature Mets moment.

For all his struggles during his initial season in Queens, this night was a turning point. His home run in the second turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. His next long ball in the sixth increased the Met lead to two. After exchanging words with the opposition (with support from Javy Báez) an inning later, Lindor backed up the talk with more action: a tie-breaking blast to deep right field that put his team in front for good in the eighth.

June 25-26 & July 23-24, 2024

The Yankees hold a 84-67 advantage dating back to ’97. The Mets, however, have had the edge of late, including last season’s four-game sweep. Outscoring them 36-14 and hitting 13 homers, it was just the second time the orange and blue went unbeaten against the Bombers in a single season.

How well did it go for the Mets? Lefty reliever Jake Diekman, sporting an ERA of 5.63, was given the chance to face Aaron Judge in the ninth inning of a 3-2 game…and struck him out. Just like we all thought he would.

The finale was a Mets party in the Bronx: a 12-3 victory at Yankee Stadium in which Gerrit Cole was inefficient for the second time on the year while Lindor hit two homers and drove in five.

The post Big Apple Battles: Greatest Subway Series Moments appeared first on Metsmerized.

Cohen’s plan includes turning 50 acres of land, currently used as the Citi Field parking lot, into a multi-faceted attraction, with a live music section and a “Taste of Queens,” food hall. The centerpiece of the plan would be a casino, run by Hard Rock Entertainment.

According to an article recently published in amny.com, Cohen is locked in a battle to win the opportunity to execute his plan, which would require earning a casino license. The problem for Cohen is that only three such licenses will be award to downstate interests, and two of them are expected to go for “racinos,” which have horse racing and and slot machines, but no table games. Competition is stiff for the sole license to be awarded for a full casino.

Other celebrity bidders are also seeking to build casinos in Times Square, Hudson Yards, the United Nations, Coney Island, and the former Trump Links golf course in the Bronx, among other spots. To enhance his chances, Cohen is offering to build 20 acres of new public parks and five acres of new community athletic fields, accessibility upgrades at the Mets-Willets Point 7 train stop, improved roadways and cycling paths, and a $163 million “community impact fund,” that would provide grants to local Queens nonprofits.

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

As one might imagine, the entire concept has drawn significant political attention. State Senator Jessica Ramos opposes the idea, citing that her constituents are not in favor. Other local politicians, including Borough President Donovan Richards, are in favor of the idea of turning the unsightly area around Citi Field into something more functional.

Ramos’ lack of support does not necessarily mean the project will not go forward. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Park, Karl Rickett,  said the following, from the cited article:

“The state never intended any one person to have the ability to single-handedly stop or approve a project, which is why this process is designed to engage the community and elected officials every step of the way,” said Rickett. “We have plenty of time and other avenues to get this done and feel confident given the overwhelming support from elected officials, unions, and the local community, that we have the best overall project. We are all in.”

Parking is already an issue at Citi Field. With last season’s National League Championship Series appearance and the excitement from the Juan Soto signing, attendance will likely be up in 2025 and for years to come. Metropolitan Park will offer fans attending a game a diverse experience, and also help the area aesthetically. However, the parking situation will need to be addressed, provided the political hurdles are cleared and Cohen actually wins the sole license to build a casino downstate.

One of things we learned (or was confirmed) from the Soto process is that Cohen does not like to lose. The smart money may be on Cohen bringing Metropolitan Park to fruition. But, only time will tell.

The post Checking In On Steve Cohen’s Casino Plans appeared first on Metsmerized.

After winning the first two games of their series against the Marlins, the Mets were well on their way to what would have been an important sweep.

Instead, a lack of offense doomed this team again in a 3-2 loss on Sunday. Given the Braves also won on Sunday, New York’s failure to finish the sweep could prove costly.

And, on that note, let’s dive into the latest version of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports

3 UP

SHUTOUT GEM

Luis Severino has no doubt been the Mets’ best pitcher this year. Easily. And he backed that up with an all-time gem on Saturday. The righty pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. He became the first Mets pitcher since 2021 to accomplish the feat. Watching Severino stay out on the mound to complete his heroics will go down as one of the most electrifying moments of the entire year in Queens. Severino has turned back the clock in 2024 to return to the peak of his powers. And Saturday’s dominant outing may very well go down as one of the best of his career.

MVP RACE

Francisco Lindor deserves to be heavily involved in the National League MVP conversation. He just does. What the shortstop is doing right now is jaw-dropping. Entering Sunday, Lindor led the NL with a 5.9 fWAR. He ranks high in a handful of other categories since being moved to the leadoff spot in May. Lindor hit a leadoff home run in Saturday’s win, and he’s willing this team to the finish line on his own. While Shohei Ohtani is probably the NL MVP favorite, what Lindor is doing for the Mets shouldn’t be disregarded. He has kept this team afloat time and time again.

WELCOME RETURN

Starling Marte was activated from the IL for Sunday’s game, and the outfielder’s return proved to be a case of perfect timing. Marte went 1-for-3 with a single against the Marlins while getting the start in right field. Getting the veteran back was always crucial for the stretch run. But, with doubts now lingering over Brandon Nimmo‘s availability (more on that below), having Marte back in the lineup could take on even more importance.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

HOPING FOR THE BEST

Sunday proved to be a mixed day for Brandon Nimmo. The outfielder continued to break out of his slump with a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning. However, he was forced to leave the game due to right shoulder discomfort. Nimmo will now undergo an MRI on Monday. Losing Nimmo for any time would be a brutal blow for the Mets, who need all the help they can get from their big hitters. Therefore, it is time to cross our fingers and hope for the best.

LOST OPPORTUNITY 

With the Padres and the Diamondbacks almost unstoppable, it looks like the battle for the final Wild Card spot in the NL will be between the Braves and the Mets. Therefore, every win will count. As will every loss. Consequently, dropping the finale to the depleted Marlins was a horrible outcome for New York on Sunday. The Mets remain two games behind Atlanta, and life won’t get any easier with a do-or-die chunk of the schedule now on deck. Sunday was a huge missed opportunity. There’s just no other way to look at it.

FAMILIAR SIGHT 

Watching the bullpen implode is hardly a new phenomenon for Mets fans this year. However, that didn’t make Sunday’s ugly ending easier to swallow and digest. Reed Garrett walked three straight batters and allowed an earned run to hand the game to Miami. Garrett has given up six earned runs and five walks in his last five outings. Garretts’ struggles came after Huascar Brazobán had allowed the game-tying run to score. Again, those kind of mistakes could prove fatal comeSeptember.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Fail To Clinch Miami Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

After taking two of three from the Rockies, the Mets are over .500 at 49-46. They are also in sole possession of the third Wild Card berth in the National League.

Granted, New York missed the opportunity to sit pretty at the halfway point with 50 wins after dropping the series finale to Colorado on Sunday. However, it was still an impressive homestand, with the Mets going 5-1. They outscored the Nats and the Rockies by a combined 39-24.

All eyes will now be on the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game – as well as the remainder of the Draft. But before we switch our attention fully, let’s recap the Colorado series in another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

Jul 12, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

MR. CLUTCH

You can always count on Francisco Lindor. The leader of this team can come through in the clutch when his team needs him the most. He did it again on Saturday. With the offense struggling, Lindor stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning and blasted a three-run bomb. It was a dagger to the hearts of the Rockies, effectively icing the game there and then. Star players carry that label because of their ability to deliver in the biggest moments. Lindor did that Saturday, signing the Mets a series win. He’s also done it time and time throughout his time in Queens.

DYNAMIC DUO

Christian Scott was on a short leash on Saturday, pulled after just four innings after giving up a pair of homers. Enter José Buttó, who stepped up out of the bullpen. The starter-turned-reliever delivered 2.2 innings of near-perfect relief work, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Then, in the second installment of a daring double act, Dedniel Núñez came in to finish the job. The righty threw two hitless innings with no walks and three strikeouts to seal the win. It was a much-needed boost for a bullpen that struggled in this series.

UNSUNG HERO

To be successful in the MLB, you need your role players to step up here and there. The Mets have that in Harrison Baderand then some. The Gold Glove defender has been an unexpected but welcome plus on the offensive side of the ball. That was evident in the series opener on Friday when Bader went off offensively. The eight-year veteran – who has never hit more than 16 homers in a single season – blasted two home runs in a single game for the second time in his career.

Both of Bader’s blasts were important. One gave the Mets a 3-2 lead, while the other blew the game wide open. All in all, Bader has been providing consistent contributions from the nine-hole in the lineup all year, and that’s been a vital ingredient in why this offense has been red-hot.

3 DOWN

Jul 14, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

BEATEN UP

José Quintana entered Sunday’s game with a 2.82 ERA over his previous ten starts. Then the wheels fell off. The veteran was shelled for five earned runs on six hits, including giving up four homers. It was the first time in his career that Quintana had allowed four home runs in a single game. As a result, the Mets had no chance of winning the game and missed the opportunity to enter the All-Star break at 50 wins. For Quintana, he will hope Sunday was just a blip as he looks to either raise his value as a trade chip or continue to help this team down the stretch.

SAME OLD STORY

At this point, we may as well reserve a spot in this section for the bullpen. Because, as of right now, we’re guaranteed at least two implosions a series from the pen. Other than Saturday, the bullpen continued its struggles in this series. Jake Diekman and newly-acquired Phil Maton combined to allow three earned runs on three hits on Friday. Thankfully, Edwin Díaz got the job done in the ninth. Then, on Sunday, Adrian Houser‘s recent struggles continued as he allowed two home runs out of the bullpen. He has given up three earned runs in each of his last two outings. The trade deadline can’t come soon enough for this beaten-up bullpen.

SLUMP CITY

J.D. Martinez has cooled off considerably. The DH was in a groove in June but has become entrenched in a slump over the past few weeks. The veteran didn’t record a single hit against the Rockies, going a combined 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in the series. Furthermore, over the last 14 days, Martinez is hitting just .189/.318/.324/.643. As a result, the All-Star break has probably come at the perfect time for the 14-year vet. Sometimes, rest is the best medicine.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Enter All-Star Break Over .500 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Sure, they snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Giants in walk-off fashion on Sunday – their fifth walk-off win this year. It was nice to see some fight from a team in a freefall.

However, one win can’t be a magic cure-all. The Mets have lost five straight series and 22 of their last 32 games. And, with the Dodgers in town looking to snap their five-game losing streak, things won’t get any easier for this ballclub anytime soon.

We’re still in May, and everything feels pretty grim in Queens.

And, with that, let’s dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

SHOW SOME FIGHT 

The weekend wasn’t a complete bust for the Mets in part to some late-inning heroics on Sunday. Trailing 3-1 in the ninth, Harrison Bader came up with another clutch hit to make it a tied game with a two-run double. Then, with runners still on, Omar Narváez came off the bench to deliver the walk-off winner with a broken bat line-drive single. It’s encouraging to see the Mets coming up with clutch hits in the ninth following such a dispiriting stretch. The Mets need to use Sunday as a positive springboard moving forward.

WALK-OFF HERO

When Omar Narváez stepped to the plate on Sunday with runners on and one out, I was preparing myself for a double-play situation. Then, given what we’ve witnessed over the last little stretch, I was fully expecting the Giants to go on and win the game in extra-innings. Instead, Narváez and his broken bat came up with a monster clutch hit to seal a dramatic walk-off win for the Mets. It was a hell of a moment for the veteran catcher, who entered the game 0-for-27 at Citi Field in 2024. Talk about collecting your first hit at home in style. Maybe, just maybe, this could spark a surge in production for Narváez.

SAVING FACE

Adrian Houser deserves some credit. I have gone in on the veteran in previous editions of this feature, so it is only fair I offer up some praise when deserved. And, deserved it is today. Houser came out of the bullpen to pitch the final four innings of Sunday’s game, allowing just one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Not only did Houser keep the Mets in the game, but he also saved the bullpen ahead of what will be a tough series against the Dodgers. It hasn’t been a great start to life in Queens for Houser, but he delivered and then some when his team needed him on Sunday. He may have even saved his Mets career in the process.

3 DOWN

Edwin Díaz. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

MELTING DOWN

I am not getting too carried away in the wake of Sunday’s heroics. After all, it is just one win. The sample size for ineptitude is much bigger with this team. They were 9-22 over 31 games entering Sunday. That was the worst record in baseball over that span. The Mets suffered two ugly losses this weekend and have been the perfect picture of ineptitude for a while now. As great as Sunday was, the overall picture for the 2024 New York Mets looks bleak. We’re still in May, yet we’re running out of reasons to keep watching this team.

IMPLOSIONS GALORE

Man, talk about a mixed weekend for Edwin Díaz. After pitching a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts on Friday, the closer returned to his closer role on Saturday. The Mets set up the perfect situation for Díaz to redeem himself as he jogged out of the bullpen with a 2-1 lead in the ninth.

Instead, the absolute nightmare scenario unfolded. Díaz gave up the tying run, setting the stage for what came next. Sean Reid-Foley then allowed five runs on two hits to seal what was a stunning collapse. To make matters worse, the normally reliable Reed Garrett gave up five earned runs on four hits the night before. The bullpen was mostly responsible for the two losses to the Giants. Given how gassed the pen is, it might be a depressing sign of things to come in Queens.

ALARM BELLS

Okay, now is the time to start worrying about Kodai Senga‘s status for the rest of the year. The ace has suffered another setback, requiring a cortisone shot for tricep discomfort. As a result, the team shut Senga down for three to five days. This is just the latest in a long line of complications for the righty in his journey back from a right shoulder capsule strain. It seems that whenever Senga is close to throwing a bullpen session, another problem occurs. At this point, it sure does feel feasible to start asking if Senga will return at all this year. Even if he does, will he be as effective as the Mets will need him to be? I don’t think you will be able to bank on that.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Giants Hand Slumping Mets Another Series Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

Despite having suffered a torn UCL just days before, Ohtani was almost unstoppable at the plate as the Angels took the first two games of the series at Citi Field. However, the two-way superstar was no match for a locked in David Peterson as the Mets were able to avoid the sweep on Sunday.

Not even a highly-determined pigeon was able to prevent the Mets from snapping a four-game losing streak.

New York now sits at 60-71 on the year and will open up a three-game set against the Rangers at Citi Field on Monday.

3 Up

Peterson’s Gem

A lot of questions have been raised about the state of the Mets’ starting rotation in 2023. Indeed, even more questions have been asked about Peterson’s potential role in it. Well, the lefty perhaps began to answer some of those questions with an absolute dominant outing on Sunday. Peterson was pretty much unhittable, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out eight. Perhaps more significantly, though, was the fact that Peterson recorded his longest outing of the season by throwing a full seven innings. Oh, and Peterson proved to be just the guy to stop Ohtani from causing more damage in Queens, playing a big role in the uber-talented superstar finishing the day 0-for-4.

It was just a hugely encouraging outing from Peterson in terms of both quality and quantity. Since the end of June, he has thrown 45 1/3 innings while posting a very solid 2.79 ERA with 46 strikeouts. More of that down the stretch and Peterson could force his way into a spot in the starting rotation for the 2024 season.

Resilience Personified 

Pete Alonso has endured a slew of pain at the plate this year. He leads the National League in hit-by-pitches with 17 in 2023, with No. 17 perhaps the most painful of the lot. The slugger took a breaking ball by Angels reliever José Soriano right in the neck on Saturday, leading Alonso to land in concussion protocol. It didn’t look good. However, Alonso passed all concussion protocols and was back in the lineup on Sunday where he had two hits, including a clutch game-tying double in the eighth inning that set the stage for a walk-off win. Now, that’s how you respond to getting plunked in the neck. And, as great as Alonso is at crushing homers, he’s also incredibly resilient and tough. He proved that once again this weekend.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

Putting On A Show

Who knows if the Mets will make a run at Ohtani in free agency this winter. There are some who feel the franchise closed the door on that possibility by pulling the trigger on a sell-off at the trade deadline. There are others, however, who believe owner Steve Cohen will still look to bring the best player on the planet to Queens this coming offseason. If the latter proves to be true, then Citi Field got a tantalizing preview this weekend of what could be an everyday spectacle. For the first two games of the series, it was the Ohtani show as the two-way sensation showed that even a torn UCL won’t slow him down at the plate. Ohtani was unstoppable, going 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits, five walks and two stolen bases combined on Friday and Saturday. He even broke the scoreboard with a foul ball on Saturday, leading the Mets video board operators to plead with the star not to break anything else.

While he did go 0-for-4 on Sunday, Ohtani had every single soul inside Citi Field bewitched with his sheer brilliance over the weekend. There were probably more than a few Mets fans dreaming about witnessing this kind of true greatness every single day. Maybe in the owners suite too. Sure, there are a slew of question marks surrounding Ohtani’s future as a pitcher, but he proved this weekend that he still offers superb and unprecedented value as a hitter. And as a pure thrilling spectacle. If Cohen had doubts about still bidding for the pending free agent heading into the weekend, then maybe what transpired went a long way to easing some of those concerns. We will see.

Brandon Nimmo. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3 Down

Time To Say Goodbye?

Carlos Carrasco‘s time as a New York Met may be all but over. We’ve talked plenty about the veteran’s struggles in this space in recent weeks and months, and there are no signs of a turnaround coming anytime soon. In fact, it seems that Carrasco is regressing even more with every start and his outing on Saturday was another rough one. He couldn’t even make it past the second inning as he allowed five runs on seven hits, while recording just one strikeout on 49 pitches. Eleven of the 12 batters Carrasco faced put the ball in play, with all 11 having exit velocities of over 90 mph. Furthermore, Carrasco’s ERA now stands at 6.80 for the season, which is the highest in baseball among pitchers with at least 90 innings. It sure does seem like the end is nigh for Carrasco.

Stranded

As bad as Carrasco was on Saturday, the Mets were still very much in the contest and they had a golden opportunity to split the series thanks to the bullpen. However, the offense had other ideas. The bats left eight on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. On too many occasions the Mets looked to be on the cusp of getting right back in it, including Daniel Vogelbach‘s fifth homer of the month making it a 5-3 game, only for the team’s biggest hitters to come up cold in big spots. If the bats were able to do their job, it would have tied the series heading into Sunday and made the weekend more interesting. The failures of the offense also wasted a gem of an outing from the bullpen, which combined to get the game’s final 22 outs while allowing just two hits in a stunning effort.

Stuck In Two Minds

Brandon Nimmo seems mired in an eternal struggle right now. The accomplished leadoff hitter has been in search for more power, a determined mission that led to a total of 14 homers in 274 plate appearances since June 8. Nimmo has now already secured a career high in home runs with 31 games remaining. However, in achieving the thirst for more power, Nimmo has sacrificed some of the attributes that define him as a player, namely getting on base and putting the ball in play. Per The Athletic, since Nimmo’s grand slam in Atlanta on June 8, the outfielder’s average has dipped to .247, compared to .283 beforehand, and his OBP has fallen from .373 to .350 (stats prior to Aug 26).  And that tradeoff appears to be impacting Nimmo’s overall game as he’s now hitless in five straight games, including going 0-for-12 against the Angels.

Of course, every player will have a slew of mini slumps like that throughout the course of a 162-game season, but you just hope that Nimmo hasn’t disrupted his game too much by trying to alter his mechanics for more power.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Avoid Sweep by Angels appeared first on Metsmerized.

When Jacob deGrom departed for Texas, it was hard to envision the Mets would be able to fill a void that large at the top of their rotation.

However, just two days later, they signed Justin Verlander, and the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has looked the part of the co-ace who can help this team win their first World Series in 37 years.

Verlander took the mound for his third start of the spring on Wednesday, and he put together his most dominant start yet. He threw five scoreless innings against the Cardinals, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. In just 71 pitches, Verlander induced 12 swings and misses, including seven on his fastball.

After a Cy Young 2022 campaign, Verlander has showed no signs of slowing down to this point. In 11 1/3 innings this spring, Verlander has allowed just six hits and two runs with 16 strikeouts. He has also not allowed a single walk this spring.

With Verlander and Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation, the Mets appear to be just as dangerous as they were in 2022 when they won 101 games. Verlander was not shy when asked about winning a championship in New York following his outing.

“I’m not afraid to talk about winning a championship,” Verlander said. “I think establishing a culture where you expect to win a championship is important. You should be able to talk about it. That’s what we’re all here for. You don’t shy away from it.”

Justin Verlander on winning a championship with the Mets:

"For this organization particularly that has been close a couple of times recently and hasn't quite gotten over the hump in awhile, that has a wonderful fan base, those are the stories that live forever."

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 15, 2023

The future Hall-of-Famer is no stranger to the World Series. In his rookie year in 2006, his Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series only to fall short to the Cardinals team that broke Mets fans’ hearts just prior. Six years later, Verlander and the Tigers made it back. Verlander had just won the Cy Young and MVP the year prior, and he ended up just four points behind David Price in the voting to win a second consecutive Cy Young. Despite being at the top of his game, the Tigers were swept by the San Francisco Giants.

It wasn’t until 2017 that Verlander made it back to the World Series, this time as a member of the Houston Astros. In his time in Houston, the Astros were World Series regulars. They won the American League pennant in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022, and won it all in 2017 and 2022.

Verlander is now a two-time World Series champion, and while another championship will look great on his resume, he isn’t one of those veteran players who is searching for his elusive first championship. Despite having two rings, he knows winning in New York is a different animal.

“I was talking to David Robertson about the Yankees’ World Series win, what the parade was like,” Verlander said. “Obviously in that city, it’s iconic.”

At age 40, Verlander’s time with the Mets most likely won’t be a very long-term partnership as Father Time is still undefeated. Even if his time in New York is just the two years he is currently signed for, he will go down in Mets history if he helps bring a World Series title back to Queens.

The post Justin Verlander Eying Championship In Queens appeared first on Metsmerized.

Steve Cohen. Photo Credit: USA Today

It is no secret that Steve Cohen has made such a large impact over the two-plus years as the owner of the New York Mets. Notably, he had spent billions of dollars in ensuring the product on the field is as strong as possible. Well, now he is turning his focus off of the field. Namely, on the surrounding area of Citi Field.

It is well known the area surrounding Citi Field is wasteful and unpleasant. There is tons of empty space just waiting to be inhabited. If you’ve never been to the ballpark, a simple search on Google Earth will show you just that.

To echo just how much room for opportunity there is, Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce explained the following, “Those 45 or 50 acres, whatever that parking lot consists of, truly is wasted and underutilized space.”

Well, to get the ball rolling, billionaire Steve Cohen hosted what is being described as a ‘visioning session’ on Saturday. He welcomed the surrounding public, Mets’ fans abound, and community leaders – including the likes of the aforementioned Tom Grech – to discuss and make their voices heard on potential projects concerning the surrounding areas of Citi Field.

Steve Cohen. Photo by USA Today.

At the event, Cohen posed the question, “How do we connect it to the waterfront and how do we create parkland and opportunities for people to come down and have a good time after the game and before the game?”

Well, given what was discussed at the ‘visioning session,’ the options seem limitless. Of the potential additions, one of the most common is a casino. Reportedly, the state of New York is going to start accepting proposals for three downstate casinos. Could one be coming to Queens?

Other mentioned enhancements are shopping centers,  high-end restaurants, ferry services across the river, green spaces, bike paths, among others. The options are really limitless, and in adding, would not only make Citi Field and it’s surrounding area one big attraction, but also bring countless jobs and help further stimulate the surrounding economy.

As has been well documented, the reign of Steve Cohen as Mets’ owner has been nothing short of spectacular. Not only has he made the team on the field a contending product, but he’s continuing to address areas not on the field as well.

From the Tom Seaver statue, or the surprise retirement of Willie May’s number, to the new scoreboards and the pavilion coming to right field, the off-of-the-field enhancements and recognition of Mets’ greats have been terrific. Now, add a potential whole re-design of an area around Citi Field that desperately needs it, Cohen is cementing himself as the best owner in all of sports.

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Brandon Nimmo has made it clear that his goal was always to return to the New York Mets, and now he wants to focus on winning a World Series with the team that drafted him.

After a career-year in many offensive categories, Nimmo entered free agency as the best outfielder available on the open market behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. A host of teams, including the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, were interested in Nimmo who also held talks with the Yankees.

However, having drafted him with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Wyoming, the Mets were determined to bring back their leadoff hitter and leader in the clubhouse and were able to get a deal done with Nimmo eventually signing an eight-year, $162 million contract. As a result, the 29-year-old should now finish his career where it started in Queens.

Nimmo was re-introduced to the media at Citi Field during a press conference on Thursday, and the outfielder touched on the special feeling he has knowing he will likely spend the rest of his major league career with the team that drafted him.

“To be able to start your career with someone, and to be able to finish your career with the same team, that’s something really, really special,” Nimmo said. Not many players get to do that. Feels good to put this jersey on and know it’s not coming off.”

Nimmo set career-high marks in 2022 in games played (151), runs (102), hits (159), RBI (64), and doubles (30). He also tied for the National League lead with seven triples and ranked fourth in the NL in runs scored, fifth in on-base percentage (.367), and 12th in walks (72). Having also improved his glove in the field, Nimmo was a hot commodity this winter but he always had his eyes on returning to a place he has made home.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

“Towards the end, the Mets just made it very, very clear that they wanted me back,” Nimmo said. “And from the beginning of last year, I’ve expressed my interest in staying here, and what it would mean to be able to finish my career being a New York Met. I’m just so thankful to be able to be coming back. Last season, we had a great season and came up a little bit short of the ultimate goal.

“I’m here to try and see it through from start to finish. This organization and the Cohens have made it very, very clear, Billy (Eppler) has made very, very clear the goal is to win here. And that’s a big reason why we decided to stick around.”

It has been no secret that the Cohen family, led by owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alex, have transformed the culture within the Mets organization. They’ve made it a place where players want to go and play, and they’ve also strived to ensure that the fans and former players feel connected to their team once again. It was widely reported that Cohen himself got involved in negotiations at the end to ensure that Nimmo did indeed remain a Met.

“The Cohens have been nothing but family to us right from the top,” Nimmo said. “And, to be honest, I think that’s something harder to find throughout the league with ownership. But the Cohens have been in it right from the beginning.”

Having lost Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers in free agency, Nimmo will take on an even more important role in the clubhouse in 2023 and beyond. He will also continue to be an important piece of this roster and lineup going forward as the Mets try to win a World Series. That ambition was the driving force behind Nimmo’s decision to ultimately commit the next eight years of his career to the one team he’s only ever known.

“Honestly, when I look back on it and finally get a chance to, being drafted out of Wyoming – a lot of chances had to be taken on that,” Nimmo said. “To be able to give me all the tools that I needed to kind of hone that raw ability through the minor league system to now – here we go – we’re signing this contract and gonna be in New York for the rest of our career, and wanting that to culminate in a World Series. You can’t draw it up any better than that.

“This would be – looking down the lineup, looking at the starting rotation – this is somewhere we can go and we can win, and we can continue to win. That’s always a huge motivator in free agency, is ‘where can I go and compete for a World Series Title?’ The great part is I didn’t have to go anywhere.”

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The next big addition to Queens might not be a baseball superstar. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is trying to bring a casino next to Citi Field says the New York Post.

Last week it was announced by city officials that a $780 million mixed-used development project, including a new stadium for the New York City Football Club, a hotel, and 2,500 units of affordable housing is coming to the area.

Cohen has reportedly shelled out a substantial amount to local officials and lobbyists to make this casino plan happen. Cohen is currently working with Hard Rock hotels and casinos as a partner in the gambling venture.

Cohen has competition for the plan. Related Companies, who partnered with former Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon on the Willets Point mega-development, partnered with Wynn Resorts to bring a casino to the undeveloped western portion of Hudson Yards in Manhattan.

Cohen’s newest venture is called “New Green Willets.” He has paid $334,854 to outside lobbyists trying to secure support for the casino.

Cohen has participated in meet-and-greets with New York City mayor Eric Adams. He’s also made substantial donations to Super PACs supporting the mayor. He’s also made sizable donations to the campaign of Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Democratic Party Campaign Committee and the state Democratic Assembly Committee.

The Mets owner’s other obstacle for his casino is where to put it. He has discussed placing it in one of Citi Field’s parking lots but that area is technically designated as “parkland” and he’ll need to get that removed. A multi-level parking garage would be built to replace existing spots lost through the proposal.

Cohen still needs to win the final remaining bid, with the other two expected to go to the Aqueduct and Yonkers race tracks. But he has set in motion a plan to redevelop the area surrounding Citi Field, one of his main goals when he was introduced as owner two years ago.

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