After hitting two home runs in Friday night’s game, Francisco Lindor improved his career total to 260, matching him with Derek Jeter on the all-time leaderboard. Lindor is now tied for the fourth-most home runs all-time among players who spent 60 percent of their career playing shortstop. The Mets’ superstar now has 12 home runs on the year and will surpass Jeter with just one more long ball.

Francisco Lindor

Latest Mets News

The Mets (35-22) defeated the Rockies (9-48) 4-2 on Friday night. Lindor recorded two home runs, Juan Soto had two hits including an RBI double and Edwin Díaz recorded the save with three strikeouts.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Mets sent down lefty Brandon Waddell, who pitched five innings on Wednesday to save the bullpen. In a corresponding move, they called up Chris Devenski.

Carlos Mendoza provided updates on two key injured pitchers. According to Mendoza, Paul Blackburn is “in play” to be activated and start a game in the upcoming series against the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Sean Manaea threw 20 pitches during a live batting practice on Thursday and threw an additional 15 pitches in the bullpen.

Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote about how Juan Soto began a ritual with the Mets outfielders to share an embrace after each defensive half-inning before heading back into the dugout.

Former Met Howard Johnson told Jay Horwitz that he underwent his 19th, and hopefully final, surgery on his foot and is moving around much better than he used to be able to.

Latest MLB News

The Braves signed former Met José Azócar to the major league roster and placed Stuart Fairchild on the injured list. Azócar had been with the Mets as recently as this week and had a .628 OPS in 12 games with the team.

The Angels officially reinstated superstar Mike Trout from the injured list. Trout played in the Angels’ game on Friday and went 1-for-5 while batting fifth.

Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips is undergoing Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. Phillips had not allowed a run in seven games this season.

MLB announced that Opening Day in the Dominican Summer League will take place June 2 at the Boston Red Sox Academy, and that there will be a new playoff format starting this year.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi asks how Ronny Mauricio fits into the Mets’ plans.

On This Date in Mets History

1964: The Mets and Giants played the longest doubleheader in MLB history. It took nine hours and 52 minutes from the start of the first game to the conclusion of the second game, with the nightcap lasting a whopping 23 innings. The Giants won both games.

Born on This Date: Gerson Bautista (1995), Joe Orsulak (1962), Dwight Bernard (1952).

The post Morning Briefing: Lindor Ties Jeter on Home Run Leaderboard appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets’ highest-ranked prospects were Gilbert and Williams at No. 52 and 54, respectively — contrary to MLB Pipeline, which put Williams at No. 45 and Gilbert at No. 53.

The Mets acquired Gilbert last summer in the Justin Verlander trade, along with Ryan Clifford. He was a first-round pick by the Astros in the 2022 draft. Gilbert, who had only been putting up a modest .713 OPS for Houston’s Double-A team, broke out with a .325 average and .984 OPS in 35 games for Double-A Binghamton. Between three levels and two organizations, Gilbert posted a .289/.381/.487 batting line last season. He swatted 18 home runs in the process.

FanGraphs mentioned in its write-up that Gilbert had surprised the writers with how well he’s performed, particularly in the power department.

“Before the 2022 draft, Gilbert was written up here as a potential top-of-the-order catalyst who I thought was more likely to be a good fourth outfielder due to modest power,” Eric Longenhagen and Tess Taruskin wrote. “So far in pro ball, Gilbert is performing more like a do-everything player with a balanced hit and power skill set, and just enough center field defense to project there in the big leagues.”

Gilbert is only 5-foot-9, but FanGraphs noted his plus speed in the outfield, in addition to his ability to attack pitches low in the zone. Gilbert is one of the Mets’ most well-rounded prospects, thus earning the nod of the team’s best prospect from the FanGraphs crew.

Coming two spots later was Williams, who’s also listed as a center fielder. Williams was drafted as a shortstop, and has primarily played there so far in the Mets’ minor league system. But he played 180 innings in center last season, and it’s possible the Mets see him as a fit there going forward. FanGraphs wrote that “Williams simply mishandles the baseball too much to be a good shortstop right now and doesn’t have a ‘from the hole’ cannon.” The write-up compared his defense to Roman Quinn and Billy Hamilton, players who once had similar scouting reports as Williams and ended up in center field.

A first-round pick in 2022, Williams had a strong season for Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn. He posted a .422 OBP — higher than his .410 slugging percentage — in 79 Single-A games, then batted .299 with a .451 OBP in 36 High-A games. He added some power during his stint with Brooklyn too, hitting seven home runs with a .567 slugging percentage. He walks nearly as often as he strikes out, and had more walks than strikeouts with Brooklyn (33 to 32). He struggled upon his call-up to Binghamton, but only in a six-game sample.

“It’s too soon to call him a do-everything, five-tool prospect, but Williams isn’t far off, ” Longenhagen and Taruskin wrote. “He has a sizable hole in his swing at the top of the strike zone, which is atypical of a compact hitter like this. But his feel for the strike zone is excellent, his hitting hands are super explosive, and Jett can adjust to breaking balls by bending in his lower half in a way that is rare even for good hitters.”

Then, coming in near the bottom of the list at No. 96 was Rodriguez, a Dominican prospect the Mets acquired in the Tommy Pham trade. Rodriguez is only 17 years old, but FanGraphs said he has an “unusually high floor for a teenage prospect thanks to his defense and bat-to-ball ability.”

Longenhagen and Taruskin cited Rodriguez’s strong 2023 season in the Dominican Summer League as a reason for his increased stock. At the time of the trade, he’d batted .246 with a .740 OPS in 38 games. In 13 games for the Mets’ affiliate, he batted .422 with a 1.247 OPS and 11 walks compared to only four strikeouts. He put up a .411 OBP and .878 OPS overall. FanGraphs wrote that his contact rates were high and chase rates were low, which profiles well going forward. He “tracks pitches with bird-of-prey precision” and can defend well at shortstop, too.

The last Mets prospect in the top 100 was breakout pitcher Christian Scott. A former Florida Gator, Scott was drafted by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. He had modest success in 2022 before rising to another level in 2023. He put up a 2.28 ERA in six starts for Brooklyn, then a 2.47 ERA in 12 starts for Binghamton. He struck out 11 per nine innings compared to a minuscule 1.2 walks per nine.

FanGraphs mentioned that his velocity was up to an average of 94-95 mph. He has “violent” mechanics with a “pretty nasty head whack,” but the writers said they feel good about projecting him as a mid-rotation starter in the future. He’s also tweaked his changeup and turned it into more of a splitter that sits in the mid-to-high 80s.

Not making the list were two other prospects the Mets acquired last summer, Clifford and Luisangel Acuña. Both were placed in MLB Pipeline’s ranking, with Acuña all the way up at No. 66. In any case, the Mets have significantly boosted their farm system with the trades they made in 2023.

Former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong was ranked at No. 20, despite going 0-for-14 in his debut for the Cubs last season. Right above him at No. 19 was River Ryan — brother of former Mets prospect Ryder Ryan, who the Mets acquired for Jay Bruce in 2017.

Jackson Holliday was FanGraphs’ No. 1 prospect in baseball, and was the only prospect to get a future value grade of 70.

The post Four Mets Ranked in FanGraphs’ Top 100 Prospects appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Bud Harrelson, Ed Kranepool.

We’re looking back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by reviewing the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We continue with the only person in uniform for both of the franchise’s World Series titles and remains one of the most beloved Mets ever. 

Look at the stat sheet for Bud Harrelson and you won’t see his true impact. The Mets of the late 1960s and early 70s were heavily dependent on superb pitching and solid defense. For where he played in the field, Harrelson was a valuable component of the team’s mindset.

And if you saw his 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame standing at shortstop, you might not immediately think of toughness. But that’s what Harrelson brought on a daily basis. He had to earn everything—and fight for it (literally) when needed. By the time his time in a Mets uniform was finished more than 25 years after it started, he’d have two rings and been a part of the most successful teams in franchise history.

While Harrelson’s limitations at the plate were undeniable—a 16-year career batting average of .236 with seven home runs—his importance as a fielder was tremendous. The glue that kept the Mets’ infield together and the glove his pitchers could trust, Bud finished with a lifetime fielding percentage of .969.

As Tom Seaver once said, “Having him playing at shortstop every day is like having a top-notch pitcher. It keeps you out of a losing streak.”

Harrelson’s outstanding glove work and significance to a team built on pitching and run prevention were gaining attention as the Mets rose out of the pits and into prominence. In 1970, he set a then-major-league record of 54 consecutive errorless games at shortstop—the same year as his first All-Star selection. He’d make the Midsummer Classic again as a starter in 1971 and ended the year with a Gold Glove award.

But it wouldn’t be long before Harrelson was finding it difficult to withstand the rigors of a full season. He missed 300 games over the next six years due to damaged hands, sternum, back, and knees. He never played in more than 118 games and just once in that span did the Mets return to the playoffs, which also happened to be the year his feistiness and unwillingness to back down gained notoriety.

Harrelson was swept up in the tidal wave of injuries that threatened to cast the Mets’ 1973 season adrift. His presence—or lack thereof—in commanding the infield was noticeably felt. During two separate stints on the disabled list, the Mets were 23-36. With Harrelson, they were 59-43. Luckily for New York, he was there when it mattered, and so were most other key contributors. Propelled again by great pitching and sturdy defense, the Mets won 19 of 27 in September and took the NL East despite an 82-79 record.

Held hitless in the NLCS opener with the Reds, Harrelson produced a single and an RBI in a 5–0 win that evened the series. That was more than could be said for Cincinnati’s entire Game 2 output. He chided afterward that Reds hitters more resembled him than the Big Red Machine. And that was the impetus for what would transpire in the fifth inning of Game 3.

The Reds sought to get even in Game 3, and Rose was set to carry out that vengeance when he slid hard into Harrelson covering second base on an inning-ending double play. Bud instantly objected to the malice. Rose shoved. Harrelson shoved back. It was on from there. Both teams hustled to the scene. A few punches were thrown. Some uniforms were dirtied. Several feelings were hurt. But nobody was ejected.

The closest either came to an early departure was when the Shea crowd pelted Rose with litter as he took the field in the inning following the fight. The insanity in the stands subsided enough for the continuation of the game—a 9–2 Mets win that put New York one victory from the pennant.

Rose’s 12th-inning homer the next day extended the series to its limit, but the Mets prevailed—meaning a meeting with the defending champion Oakland A’s. It offered Harrelson another chance to put his feisty demeanor on full display.

Harrelson prepared to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th of Game 2 on a Félix Millán fly ball to left field. As he approached home plate, he resisted the slide and evaded the tag of catcher Ray Fosse.

Umpire Augie Donatelli thought otherwise, prompting Harrelson and a cavalry of Mets to angrily dispute it. As instant replay showed they had every right to vent their frustration, and since this was 1973 and not 2023, the Mets could only stew in their disdain—though not for long.

Harrelson began the top of the 12th with a double—his third hit in six at-bats—moved to third on Tug McGraw’s bunt single, and scored on Willie Mays’s single. The Mets added three more to prevail in what was, at the time, the longest game in World Series history.

After the series loss to Oakland, it would be 13 years before the Mets made another playoff trip. Bud would be there for that one too, serving in a much different role as third-base coach. He’d eventually become the bench coach and manager by 1990.

Harrelson remains on the team’s top-10 list in games played, at-bats, hits, triples, and stolen bases. He succeded in his many battles on the field. His current opponent, Alzheimer’s disease which was diagnosed in 2016, is as difficult as they come. But as we’ve learned for more than 50 years, Bud Harrelson doesn’t go down without a fight.

The post Spirit of ’73: Bud Harrelson appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

During Friday night’s game, Francisco Lindor broke his own record for the most home runs in a season by a Mets shortstop with 27. The previous record of 26 was set last year by Lindor, trumping the 23 that Asdrúbal Cabrera hit in 2016. Now, just three years into his Mets tenure, Lindor has easily solidified himself as one of the great shortstops in Mets history and will continue to break records as he continues his illustrious career.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

The Mets fell to the Phillies for the second night in a row on Friday, 5-4. Tylor Megill allowed three runs over six innings and Brett Baty hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning despite the loss.

The Mets were officially eliminated from postseason contention following their loss Thursday. The Mets failed to make the postseason two years in a row, which they have only done twice in team history (1999-2000, 2015-2016).

The Arizona Fall League rosters were announced on Friday. For the Mets, prospect Kevin Parada highlights a group of nine prospects set to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

The Mets’ VetDog, Shea, completed his training with America’s VetDogs and will be honored in a ceremony before the Mets game on September 28.

Latest MLB News

With the Red Sox still searching for their head of baseball operations, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports that Brian O’Halloran, who had served as Boston’s GM, has accepted a new role as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.

Per OptaSTATS, Ronald Acuña Jr. is now the only player in MLB history to have a 40-home run season and a 60-steal season at any point in his career. Acuña is two steals away from becoming the first player in major league history to have 70 stolen bases and 40 home runs in the same season.

Per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald, Sandy Alcántara felt forearm tightness during his rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville and is heading back to Miami to be with the team.

Cubs manager David Ross told reporters on Friday that Marcus Stroman will start for the Cubs on Saturday. Stroman had pitched his last two outings out of the bullpen as he makes his way back from injury.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Brandon Lowe will be out 4-6 weeks with a fracture in the area of his kneecap. Lowe, who has 21 homers and a .771 OPS this year will now miss most, if not all, of the postseason.

Reliever Sean Doolittle officially announced his retirement on Friday.

Latest on MMO

In the latest Mets Minors Recap, Sean Kenny writes about strong pitching performances from Dominic Hamel and Mike Vasil.

Michael Famulari writes about Mark Vientos as he continues his best stretch at the plate in his brief major league career.

John Sheridan breaks down the Mets’ Arizona Fall League roster.

Michael Scotto looks into some of the Mets’ pitchers who will be battling for a spot in the backend of the rotation in 2024.

On This Date in Mets History

1967: Tom Seaver set the then Mets’ single-season record 16th victory with a win over the Astros. The record stood for less than a year, as Jerry Koosman notched 19 wins the following season.

Birthdays: Trevor May (34), González Germen (36), Pete Harnisch (57)

The post Morning Briefing: Lindor Breaks Mets’ Shortstop Single-Season Homer Record appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Good morning, Mets fans!

On Friday, Buck Showalter indicated that Ronny Mauricio could start to see more playing time at different defensive positions including first base, third base, and the outfield. This came on the same night that Mauricio started at second base for Triple-A Syracuse, the first game in his minor league career that he started at a position other than shortstop. If Mauricio performs well defensively at other positions, it might allow him a quicker path to the major league team as he has been tearing it up offensively to start the season.

Latest Mets News

The Mets defeated the Giants on Friday night in a 7-0 shutout. Joey Lucchesi threw seven brilliant innings while Pete Alonso hit his tenth home run of the year and recorded four RBIs for the second straight game.

The Long Island Railroad announced that they are making Mets-Willets Point a full time station.

Latest MLB News

Drew Smyly came six outs away from throwing a perfect game for the Cubs on Friday, with his lone blemish being an infield single off the bat of David Peralta. The Cubs wound up defeating the Dodgers 13-0, improving to 12-7 on the year.

The Royals announced that pitcher Kris Bubic has decided to undergo UCL reconstruction surgery.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer wrote about Ronny Mauricio playing second base for Triple-A Syracuse last night.

John Sheridan wrote about Joey Lucchesi being called up and the current state of the Mets’ rotation.

Rich Sparago took a look at some of the new rules being implemented in the Atlantic League.

On This Date in Mets History

1970: Tom Seaver threw a complete game against the Padres in which he struck out 19 batters including ten straight to end the game. Seaver’s ten straight strikeouts were an MLB record that remained untouched for 51 years until both Aaron Nola and Corbin Burnes matched the feat in 2021.

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Might Explore Mauricio’s Defensive Versatility appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to the NL East, Trea Turner.

The shortstop position in the NL East went through some major changes during the 2022-2023 offseason. The Phillies signed Turner to a massive 11-year, $300 million contract after winning the pennant. Meanwhile, the Braves lost Dansby Swanson to the Cubs after the Atlanta native won the 2022 Gold Glove at shortstop. With familiar faces returning and young guys trying to establish themselves, MMO has ranked the shortstops in the NL East division.

No. 5 – CJ Abrams, WSH

CJ Abrams was one of the many pieces traded over to the Nationals last summer in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. While he played in 44 games with the Padres before the trade, going to Washington allowed Abrams to play full-time at shortstop. However, in the 90 games he played in, Abrams struggled in 2022. The rookie shortstop slashed a meager .246/.280/.324/.604 and recorded a 76 OPS+. He barely made hard contact as well, recording an 85.2 average exit velocity and .077 ISO. While these numbers aren’t impressive, Abrams showcased his game-changing speed. Abrams was in the 91st percentile for sprint speed in MLB and has the potential to be a threat on the base paths in the upcoming future. The only issue is Abrams has a hard time getting on base. In 2022, Abrams had an abysmal 1.7% walk rate and hit the ball on the ground 50% of the time.

Another knock on Abrams’ game is his defense. He was horrible in every way, committing 11 errors and recording a .941 fielding percentage. The advanced metrics were ugly too, as Abrams had a -9 OAA, which landed him in the 4th percentile for OAA.

While nothing worked out for Abrams in 2022, there is still hope for the young shortstop. He slashed .310/.360/.480/.840 in Triple-A during 2022 and will be 23 for the entire upcoming season.

No. 4 – Joey Wendle, MIA

The Marlins made an interesting move when they traded away clubhouse leader Miguel Rojas to the Dodgers. While many expected former shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move to shortstop, the Marlins announced that he would move to centerfield, creating more questions surrounding the position for 2023.

As of now, the Marlin’s depth chart has Joey Wendle as their starting shortstop. While Wendle has primarily played second and third base in his career, he has played 89 games at shortstop and held his ground. He played 34 games at the position in 2022 for the Marlins, recording two OAA and six defensive runs saved.

Offensively, Wendle is an upgrade over the departed Rojas. In 2021, his last full season, Wendle recorded a 108 OPS+ and was an All-Star. Wendle also demonstrates discipline at the plate and holds a career .322 OBP. Unfortunately for the Marlins, Wendle dealt with hamstring injuries throughout the 2022 season and slashed .259/.297/.360/.658 in 101 games.

No. 3 – Vaughn Grissom, ATL

Vaughn Grissom was one of the many Braves rookies that were called up in 2022 and impressed. In 41 games, Grissom slashed .295/.353/.440/.792 and recorded a 121 OPS+, demonstrating his ability to get on base and hit for a high average, though his numbers got worse as the season went on. The one concerning part of Grissom’s bat was the inability to hit the ball hard, as he recorded an 84.6 average exit velocity.

While Grissom has proved that his bat is major-league caliber, his defense is still in question. He started 39 of 40 games at second base last season and was not particularly good, recording -3 defensive runs saved at the position. The move over to shortstop doesn’t look quite as promising either, though Braves coach Ron Washington has spent time this offseason with Grissom working on his defense.

Grissom has the potential to be an impact bat in the line-up for the Braves this upcoming season, but his job isn’t secure. On Intentional Talk earlier this offseason, Alex Anthopulous stated that Orlando Arcia will compete with Grissom for the starting spot. While his bat isn’t in the same tier as Grissom’s, Arcia has proven he can hold down shortstop defensively, which the Braves will need after losing Swanson’s Gold Glove to the Cubs.

No. 2 – Trea Turner, PHI

The Phillies filled the only hole in their lineup this offseason after locking down Turner for the next eleven years. Not only is Turner phenomenal, but he’s been debatably the best shortstop in MLB. In 2022, he slashed .298/.343/.466/.809, recorded a 121 OPS+ and 6.3 fWAR. Turner also demonstrated he’s more than a leadoff hitter last season after he hit 21 home runs and drove in 100 runs.

A true five-tool player, Turner separates himself from other shortstops by showing off his speed. The former National was in the 99th percentile of sprint speed, leading him to 27 stolen bags in 2022 and 230 for his career.

While Turner’s bat is exceptional, his defense is pedestrian. He ranked in the 48th percentile for OAA and committed 16 errors at shortstop last season. Turner’s arm wasn’t great either and he ranked in the 39th percentile for arm strength.

No. 1 – Francisco Lindor, NYM

Francisco Lindor had a desperately needed bounce-back season for the Mets in 2022. He slashed .270/.339/.449/.788, clubbed 26 home runs, drove in 107 runs, and recorded a 125 OPS+. Lindor looked more comfortable at the plate as well, and as a result, his slugging percentage raised by 30 points in 2022, resulting in nine more doubles, three more triples, and six more home runs.

Lindor also had another outstanding defensive season. He recorded 13 OAA, landing him 98th percentile of OAA, and had a 4.2 UZR. The only knock on Lindor’s defense was his arm, which was listed in the 37th percentile in baseball, but his .985 fielding percentage and nine errors proved it didn’t hurt the Mets throughout the season.

Putting Lindor over Turner wasn’t an easy decision, the two shortstops had similar numbers in 2022 and Turner is coming off four years of averaging a 131 OPS+. However, the outlier last season was defense, and at shortstop, defense holds a lot of value. Turner’s 16 errors, zero OAA, and -0.7 UZR demonstrated that he played average defense with no range. Meanwhile, Lindor’s 13 OAA, 4.3 UZR, and nine errors showed that he was a top defender at shortstop in 2022. Defense matters, and as a result, Lindor recorded a 6.8 fWAR compared to Turner’s 6.3 fWAR.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Shortstop appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency. The regrettable list includes names such as Jeurys Familia, James McCann, and most recently Jed Lowrie. Next was the Mets’ failed attempt at finding the next superstar from Japan.

If only every game could be like his first. Kaz Matsui led off Opening Day 2004 as the prized addition of the Mets offseason hyped and the latest Japanese hitting talent coming over to North America.

The initial pitch he saw went off his bat and 429 feet over the center-field fence at Turner Field. It was the beginning of a 3-for-3 night in which he reached based on each of his five trips to the plate.

Whatever high expectations were laid upon Matsui coming into this game went up tenfold after it.

From 1995-2003 with the Seibu Lions, he hit .300 or better in seven consecutive seasons, averaged more than 26 home runs and stolen bases over a five-year stretch, and won the league’s Gold Glove Award four times.

The Mets were hoping he’d follow in the likes of Ichiro Suzuki with the Mariners and Hideki Matsui with the Yankees as players whose success in Japan translated into immediate impact with their respective major-league clubs.

To be fair, not many in baseball history are like Ichiro. But Kaz Matsui, who signed a three-year contract worth $20 million, was well below any hopes the Mets or Met fans had for him.

Like most things that take place on Opening Day, they turn into overreactions. For Matsui, it was all downhill from that night on. In two-plus seasons, he batted .272 with 125 hits, 11 homers, and an OPS+ of 75. Not only did his performance hurt the team, but his insertion as the starting shortstop hindered the progress of José Reyes — who was forced to transition to second base for his first full year in the majors.

It might have been more tolerable if Matsui was a solid fielder, but he wasn’t. Actually, he was a total liability. And it’s what took this experiment from a failure into a disaster.

By comparison, his first season in New York was his best. He slashed .272/.331/.396 and stole 14 of 17 bases. It was his defense that was a determent as he committed 23 errors while seemingly like he’d never played shortstop.

The Mets rightfully decided to move Reyes into his natural position while Matsui would play second. And in a whack-a-mole-like scenario, Matsui’s defense improved but his offense regressed significantly. In the first three months, Kaz appeared in 58 games, hitting .234/.284/.321. By midseason, he was replaced as the starting second baseman. A combination of injuries and poor play resulted in him appearing in just 29 games during the second half.

Matsui made the Mets’ roster out of spring training in 2006, but playing time was scarce. After 139 plate appearances hitting .200/.235/.269 with one homer, the Mets cut ties with a player they once envisioned as a future cornerstone. In June, he was dealt to the Colorado Rockies for Eli Marrero.

The only consistent aspect of Matsui’s Mets career was how he began each of his three seasons. After the 2004 home run, he took ex-Met Paul Wilson deep as the year’s second batter. And then in 2006, following a three weeks’ absence because of a knee injury, Matsui (batting eighth) got another homer — this one of the inside-the-park variety at San Diego’s Petco Park.

When a reporter asked him to gauge his chances of hitting a home run prior to his big-league debut, Matsui responded: “No chance.” That would’ve only been true if he was forecasting that his time in New York would be a success.

The post Mets Worst Free-Agent Signing No. 4: Kaz Matsui appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that the New York Mets and Carlos Correa‘s camp have been quiet over the Christmas holiday, all while a possible deal has been in flux due to complications from an injury Correa sustained in 2014. First appearing on his physical with San Francisco, both San Fran and the Mets have expressed concern over an ankle injury and subsequent surgery from 2014. Although other teams have reached out to Correa’s camp, they remain focused on completing a deal with the Mets. For more, Nate Mendelson goes in depth on the latest report on Carlos Correa.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest MLB News

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Atlanta Braves have brought back pitcher Jackson Stephens to a split contract. Last season, Stephens pitched in 53 2/3rd innings, with a 3.69 ERA. Hitters slashed .238/.322/.325/.647 in 39 games against Stephens out of the pen.

Latest on MMO

Shaun Huntley goes into detail on the release of the 2022 Topps Stadium Club card set.

Brian Wright discusses the best Mets’ best free agent signing of all time.

Mathew Brownstein chats with Mets and Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in an MMO Exclusive interview.

On This Date in Mets History

2001: Big Mo’ comes to Queens. In an effort to add more power to the lineup, the Mets sent pitcher Kevin Appier to the Angels in exchange for slugger Mo Vaughn. Right after, they signed Vaughn to a three-year, $46.5 million contract, but only got one season plus one month out of him due to lingering injuries. Vaughn, who had sat out the previous season with said injuries, sustained a knee injury early in May 2003 that would sideline him for the rest of his Mets tenure and would never play again. Vaughn’s time with the Mets was brief but did have one notable moment when he hit a monster home run off half way up the Shea Stadium scoreboard against the Atlanta Braves in June of 2002.

Birthdays: Rick Porcello (34), Addison Reed (34), David Aardsma (41), Jeff D’Amico (47), Raul Gonzalez (49), Bobby Klaus (85)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets, Correa Still Quiet On Deal appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday night in Queens, where the Mets and Pirates were honoring the late Puerto Rican legend Roberto Clemente, Francisco Lindor came to the plate in the bottom of the third tied for the Mets’ single-season record for home runs hit by a shortstop.

Lindor would proceed to blast a two-run home run into the Coca-Cola Corner and give the Mets some cushion room in their eventual 7-1 victory.

With his 24th home run on the season, Lindor now holds the Mets’ single-season shortstop home run record that was set by Asdrúbal Cabrera back in 2016. This milestone comes in the same season that Lindor passed Jose Reyés for the Mets’ single-season RBI record for a shortstop.

The 2022 season has been drastically different for the Mets shortstop this year. Lindor has been an anchor in the Mets lineup, playing in all but one game so far this season and batting third in 125 of them. In high-leverage situations this season, Lindor is batting to a slash line of .312/.400/.610. Lindor has also driven in 94 runs this season, passing his previous career-best mark of 92 back in 2018.

Lindor’s greatness spans outside of New York as well. According to FanGraphs, Lindor leads all MLB shortstops with 6.2 WAR this season. Lindor is also top five in home runs hit, runs batted in, wRC+, runs, and OBP for MLB shortstops.

While these milestones are nothing to scoff at, Lindor seems to be focused on the bigger picture. After Thursday night’s game, the Mets shortstop had this to say about his home run record, “It would mean a lot more to me to win the World Series than to be the all-time leading shortstop in home runs.”

With the Mets set to play 17 more games this season, and three substantial ones against the Atlanta Braves from September 30 to October 2, Lindor will certainly have an opportunity to lead his team towards a division title and through the postseason towards a World Series.

The post Francisco Lindor Sets Mets’ Single Season Home Run Record By A Shortstop appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

One by one, the players who helped establish and sustain Mets success in the late 1960s and early 1970s departed. Rusty Staub in 1975. Tom Seaver in June 1977. Jerry Grote in August 1977. Jerry Koosman in 1978.

All were traded, either due to front office negligence, player request, or some combination of the two. Harrelson’s turn came during spring training of ’78. The beloved shortstop which helped New York to a pair of World Series appearances made it known he wanted a new home after it was clear he’d be a backup on a team without identity or optimism.

“I feel unwanted here,” he said.

The Mets answered his request, trading him to a perennial contender in Philadelphia which already had a shortstop in Larry Bowa but at least gave him a chance to win. In return, the Phillies sent minor league infielder Freddie Andrews and about $50,000.

So after 11 seasons, Harrelson said goodbye to the only baseball organization he’d ever known.

At 5-11, 160 pounds, toughness defied his small stature. While the limitations at the plate were undeniable — batting .236 with seven home runs over a 16-year career — his value as a fielder was tremendous. Harrelson’s importance wouldn’t have been felt had he played on a club less dependent on pitching and defense. From the late 1960s through the mid- 1970s, the Mets cherished a reliable glove as much as a potent bat.

Harrelson had the glove his pitchers could trust — finishing with a lifetime fielding percentage of .969. In 1970, he set a then-major-league record of 54 consecutive errorless games at shortstop — the same year as his first All-Star selection. He’d make the Midsummer Classic in 1971 as a starter and by year’s end was awarded his first (and only) Gold Glove.

However, it wouldn’t be long before Harrelson’s frailty couldn’t stand the rigors of a full season. Bud missed 300 games over the next six years due to damaged hands, sternum, back, and knees. In none of those seasons did he suit up for more than 118 contests.

The trade to Philadelphia ended Harrelson’s Mets playing career at 1,322 games. But it by no means ended his Mets career.

Harrelson served as coach, broadcaster, and minor league manager before moving back to the parent club as part of Davey Johnson’s staff, where he became the only man to wear the orange and blue for both world championships. Harrelson got a firsthand perspective of the 1986 World Series and helped escort Ray Knight home from the third-base coaching box in the winning moment of Game 6. When Johnson was let go in May 1990, Harrelson got his opportunity as manager — and held it until late in the 1991 season.

Even though he spent time with other teams — first the Phillies, then briefly on the Texas Rangers — Bud Harrelson will always be a Met for life.

The post OTD 1978: Bud Harrelson Traded to Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized Online.