The New York Mets needed to make some adjustments to their active roster prior to Wednesday’s game, as their trade deadline acquisitions were set to join the club.

Over the last 48 hours, there had much debate as to how the Mets would accommodate the additions of Todd Frazier, Robinson Chirinos and Miguel Castro, with many wondering if promising young infielders Luis Guillorme or Andres Gimenez could be optioned to the alternate site. Instead the Mets chose to keep a very deep bench and revert to an eight-man bullpen instead.

Last night’s pitchers Ariel Jurado and Franklyn Kilome were both optioned to the alternate site, with backup catcher Ali Sanchez set to join them as well.

Frazier will be in the starting lineup for this afternoon’s game, as he is set to bat cleanup against Orioles left-handed starter John Means.

The post Mets Option Jurado, Kilome and Sanchez For Deadline Acquisitions appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Metropolitans return home to open up a ten game home stand after a tough road trip that saw them drop six out of their 10 games.

Noah Syndergaard struggled on Sunday as he was tagged for six runs, four of which were earned over five innings of work. The Cardinals took the rubber match by a score of 6-4.

Steven Matz and the Mets will look for some revenge against Jake Arrieta and the Philadelphia Phillies tonight as the two teams open up a three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and can be seen on SNY as well as heard on WCBS 880.

Latest Mets News

Jacob deGrom was seen playing catch today on the field as the Mets’ ace seems to be progressing well and on track to make his return when eligible to come off the injured list on April 26th sans an MRI.

Manager, Mickey Callaway favors playing J.D. Davis at third base and Jeff McNeil in left field when both players are both in the starting lineup.

Latest MLB News

Yankees manager, Aaron Boone advised that Aaron Judge has sustained a “pretty significant” strain of his oblique and will miss a significant amount of time.

Jacoby Ellsbury continues to struggle to get healthy as he has had some issues pop up that have slowed his ability to perform baseball activities.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, Matt Shoemaker was diagnosed with a torn ACL and will sadly miss the remainder of the 2019 season after a strong start.

After 1,337 plate appearances, Texas Rangers outfielder, Joey Gallo, hit his first sacrifice fly on Sunday.

Latest NL East News

Corey Seidman of NBC Sports looks at the success that Bryce Harper has had against left-handed pitching.

Gabriel Burns of theAJC writes on the optimism surrounding the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen.

The Washington Nationals are not too keen on the open roof at Marlins park in the Washington Post.

Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald gives an analytical look at the Miami Marlins offensive woes.

Latest on MMO

Tim Ryder believes the Mets should be looking at the San Francisco Giants’ relievers.

This Day in Mets History

On this day in 2009, the Texas Rangers claimed Darren O’Day off waivers from the New York Mets.

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Set to Open Up Ten Game Home Stand appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo: Connecticut Post

After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets, is a unique retrospective about the greatest Cinderella story in baseball history. One of those miracle men, outfielder Art Shamsky, wrote the book with author Erik Sherman. It eschewed from the purely play-by-play, game-by-game overview of the magical series of events that occurred a half-century ago — in which the Mets went from cellar-dwellers to the penthouse in what seemed like a New York minute.

The book centers around a pilgrimage to meet with Tom Seaver by his California vineyard along with Sherman, pitcher Jerry Koosman, shortstop Bud Harrelson, and outfielder Ron Swoboda.

BW: How did that meeting come about and what were the unknowns that surrounded the trip?

AS: When I sat down with Erik (about two years ago), who has written several books on the Mets, we discussed doing something about the 50^th anniversary of the 1969 team. I didn’t want to do a game-by-game reminder of what happened. There have been so many books written about this team. So we just wanted to do something that was a little bit different. We knew at the time that Tom Seaver wasn’t doing well and wasn’t going to be traveling anymore. We didn’t just want to do an interview with him over the phone. And we thought about possibly going out there.

The logistics of it were very difficult. First off, we had to see what players might be available and what their situations were. But the real problem we had was with Tom’s health. When I tried coordinating with his wife, Nancy, she said, “He has good days and bad days. You guys might fly all the way out here and it might be a bad day.” So we really rolled the dice. But we really wanted to sit down and reminisce with everyone. Long story short, it was a great time. It was a real revelation for me and all the other players. That’s the crux of the book – the trip out there.

But the book isn’t just about Tom Seaver. It’s about the relationships all of us had. In part, because of how bad we were before, how we were able to come together as a team and win a championship. And, in subsequent years, how we became friends and stayed friends. This book is about the love we have for one another as we got older. Sadly, we’ve lost ten members over the years – including our great manager, Gil Hodges. But it was a wonderful experience for us to write it.

BW: One of those who we lost, but you got to talk with before his passing last year, was your veteran third baseman Ed Charles.

AS: He was such a wonderful guy. We were close friends and it was tough to hear the news that he passed. I knew he had been ill, but it’s always a shock when someone close to you passes. Eddie was really the glue in the clubhouse. He was the kind of guy who would calm you down. He had lived a life that, in retrospect, was very difficult. He grew up poor. He didn’t get the chances to play in the majors like others because he was black. But he had the unique ability to put things in perspective. He could calm you down and make you understand that going 0-for-4 wasn’t the end of the world. The camaraderie he created in that clubhouse was so important.

BW: You touched on the health problems Seaver has been going through recently, which date back to his contraction of Lyme Disease in 1991. We recently found out of his dementia diagnosis and retirement from public life. As sad as that was, it wasn’t completely surprising considering everything we had heard and read before regarding his health. What were your initial thoughts after hearing the news?

AS: We all knew that he wasn’t really 100 percent. And when we decided to do this book, we knew he wouldn’t be traveling anymore – which gave me an indication that he had problems. I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know all the ramifications of Lyme Disease, but I can imagine it’s taken a toll on him. But he did say to us that he would no longer be traveling, that he was going to enjoy being time with his family and the wine business he’s built. He’s got a beautiful home in the Napa Valley. And that’s all he wanted to do. He’s resigned himself to no longer doing any baseball activities.

It was great to hear him talk about things that he did remember. All of us were thrilled to be out there to see him. And because Buddy Harrelson was in the early stages Alzheimer’s, it was really therapeutic for him and Tom to get together. They were roommates and friends for a long time and they shared a lot of memories. It was something very, very special.

BW: For someone who changed the identity of the Mets as drastically as Tom Seaver did, it’s long overdue for him to get a statue outside Citi Field and receive additional tributes from the team.

AS: History will show that he’ll be at the top of the list among the greatest starting pitchers ever. I saw Tom as a rookie in 1967 when I was with the Reds and you could tell he was going to be terrific. And during the years I played with him in New York, every time he went out the mound you knew it would be a quick game. It was likely going to be a shutout or, at least, a victory. He was always going to give you a chance to win. I was there for the near-perfect game (in July 1969) and so many other great performances. He was a wonderful tactician on the mound.

BW: You came over to the Mets in a trade before the 1968 season, which was also the first year for Gil Hodges as manager. Seaver was already established as an All-Star pitcher, even in his second season, and Jerry Koosman had a great rookie year. The team showed signs of improvement but finished ninth in the National League. What was the attitude around the team? Did you feel you were on the verge of a big improvement in 1969?

AS: I remember the first day of spring training, Gil Hodges told us “you will not be the same old Mets.” I hadn’t been there, but I knew what he was talking about. Even though we didn’t play great baseball in 1968, there were signs we were an up-and-coming team. We finished a half-game out of last place, so nobody in the spring of 1969 thought we were going to have the year we did have. But you knew, listening to Gil – the way he managed, the way he ran the team – it was going to going to be all business.

BW: Speaking of Gil Hodges, it’s hard to think of another manager that had a greater impact on a championship team. Tom Seaver, Bud Harrelson, Jerry Koosman, Ed Kranepool all talk about what Hodges meant to them. What lasting effect did he have on you?

AS: My relationship with Gil was one of total respect. We weren’t the best of friends, but I respected his decisions. He was so knowledgeable about baseball. He knew how to get the most out of his players, which is the secret to managing. It’s not about when to bunt or when to hit-and-run or when to do certain things, it’s about having the pulse of the guys in the dugout and knowing when to make personnel moves that you think will help your team win.

He was a strict disciplinarian, he demanded your best ability on the field. He wouldn’t yell at you. But when he addressed you and looked you right in the eye, you knew he was serious. Gil’s greatest ability was that he was able to maximize everyone on that team. Even after I was traded from the Mets in 1971, I respected him. I maintain a great relationship with Mrs. Hodges (Joan, Gil’s widow) and Gil Jr. to this day.

BW: What are your thoughts as his candidacy for the Hall of Fame next year (through the Golden Days Committee)?

AS: When you look at his stats as a player, he’s very comparable to Orlando Cepeda, Ron Santo, and Tony Perez who are all in the Hall of Fame. One interesting thing that most fans forget – there was one year in which he was eligible and he missed out by a small margin and the four people behind him in the balloting each eventually made the Hall. He should have been voted in one way or another – by the writers or the Veteran’s Committee. There’s no doubt in my mind that what he did as a player and as a manager suggests he definitely should be in.

Photo: Cincinnati Post

BW: The 1969 season for you was quite successful, but began very painfully with a back injury that placed you on the disabled list in spring training. What possibility was there that you may not even be able to play during the year?

AS: My year went full circle. I was taking ground balls at first base at the old Miller Huggins Field in St. Petersburg and I hurt my back really bad. They put me in bed for most of spring training and I started the year on the disabled list. I just did not know what was going to happen. And to turn it around, be on a championship team, have a good year at the plate – hitting .300 and being second on the team in home runs – made it all worthwhile. Someone watched over me and made sure I was healthy.

BW: Was there a particular game, a play, a moment during the 1969 regular season that started to make you a believer and make you think you all could win more than just a division title?

AS: I don’t remember one particular game. But I do remember that in August, we were nine games behind the Chicago Cubs (for first place) and something clicked. We began winning all these close games that, before, we’d find a way to lose. From that point on, we were unbeatable. The Cubs began getting tired from (manager) Leo Durocher playing pretty much the same starting lineup every day in contrast to Gil platooning with our lineup.

I knew that with our pitching and our defense we could win almost every game. We had such terrific pitching with Seaver, Koosman, Gary Gentry, Nolan Ryan, Tug McGraw, Jim McAndrew, and others. But what people tend to forget is how great our defense was. We had the best defensive catcher in baseball in Jerry Grote. We had a great defensive shortstop in Bud Harrelson. We had Ken Boswell and Al Weis at second base and Tommie Agee out in center field. Once we got to six, and then five games back and so on, I think everyone in the clubhouse starting to think something was about to happen.

BW: One of Gil’s great strategies, which we talked about earlier, was the way he platooned the lineup. Winning cures everything, of course, but did that cause some a bit of tension for those, including yourself (switching in right field with Ron Swoboda) who felt they deserved a bit more playing time?

AS: Nobody liked it. Not one player on that team said “oh, I’m not playing today. That’s alright, I’ll be playing in a couple of days.” It was difficult for all of us who were a part of it.

If you put me and Ron Swoboda’s years together, it’s an All-Star caliber year. Combined we had 24 home runs and almost 100 RBIs. But, in my case, I had a really good playoff against Atlanta and didn’t get the start in Game 1 of the World Series in Baltimore. It was very frustrating. But Gil’s ability to manage and make us understand that this was the best thing for the team got us through that. And it was working. So I’d never complain about it. Ron and I pulled for one another. As did the other guys who were affected by the platooning. We all felt, by doing that, it would benefit everyone. And, of course, it worked out as well as anyone could have imagined.

Gil managed by feel. He was a guy who knew his players. He played the game that he was taught. He learned from the great Walter Alston when he was playing with the Dodgers. It probably wouldn’t work today, but it worked then.

BW: This team’s legacy spans generations. It was impactful on New York during a time in which the Jets and Knicks were also winning and an important team for the country amid a turbulent era in the United States. Looking back, now 50 years, what do you see as the legacy of the 1969 Mets?

AS: Fifty years later, people can still remember that team for a couple of reasons. First, because of how bad they were before – known as lovable losers – and how they turned it around and defeated a great Baltimore Orioles team that won 109 regular season games. And the other thing to remember is that it happened during some dark times. The world was upside down. The war in Vietnam was tearing this country apart. New York was going under financially, socially, and spiritually. And I think we made people feel better about themselves for a brief period of time. I’ve had people over the years, who weren’t even born in 1969, tell me how much we meant to their parents or grandparents.

If you can affect people in a positive way as we did, and you helped others get through some tough times, what’s better than that? That’s what makes this team very, very special. We may not have been the greatest team to win a World Series, but we were one of the most iconic teams in the history of baseball. Because of that, the 1969 Mets will be remembered forever.

The post MMO Exclusive: Art Shamsky Revisits the Miracle of 1969 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

As many of you know by now, the starting lineup in the Midsummer Classic is merely a popularity contest. Inspired fans can vote several times for their favorite players resulting in some very questionable decisions.

As Mets fans, I think we all remember 2013 when San Francisco Giants fans stuffed the ballots pushing Pablo Sandoval ahead of our beloved David Wright. It was clear that Wright deserved to start; he was sporting a 1.013 OPS when the votes were counted compared to Sandoval’s .848 OPS.

Based on merit, this was a clear mistake by the fans. However, the blame for All-Star snubs should not always the fall on the voting system; the reserves, selected by the players and Major League Baseball as a whole, also host their own assortment of snubs.

Just this year, we saw the system being called out by Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher, Chris Archer. He called out the players for the commission of his teammate, Blake Snell, who did not crack the AL squad when it was clearly deserved. Snell ultimately got on due to other players not being able to participate, but the frustration is still warranted.

Today, we are going to compare the stat-lines of the All-Stars that are on the roster compared to the players that deserve to be on the roster.

Starting Lineup:

Catcher:

All-Star Starter: Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs)

Deserving Starter: J.T. Realmuto (Miami Marlins)

Based on purely the offensive numbers, Realmuto is a clear choice. Both players have similar on-base skills but Realmuto significantly outflanks Contreras in the power department. With more home runs in fewer plate appearances, Realmuto has an SLG percentage that is almost .100 higher than Contreras. Both players contribute positively on the defensive end, but the edge here should definitely be given to Realmuto.

First Base:

All-Start Starter: Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves)

Deserving Starter: Max Muncy (Los Angeles Dodgers)

First Base in the National League is an extremely potent position. There are four players who in any given year could have deserved a starting spot including Freddie Freeman, Paul Goldschmidt (who is the DH in tonight’s game), Muncy and Jesus Aguilar, but I am going to give the edge to Muncy and his league-leading 171 wRC+.

In Muncy, the Dodgers have somehow created another star from seemingly nothing; Muncy has a great eye at the plate and an eye-popping .604 SLG percentage. His only shortcoming is that he has significantly fewer plate appearances than Freeman, but due to his significantly better production, I gave him the edge.

Second Base:

All-Star Starter: Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs)

Deserving Starter: Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs)

Baez marks the first time that the fans were actually right, but it was not as clear as it seemed. Baez’s best competition came in the form of Reds second basemen, Scooter Gennett. Scooter sports a significantly higher OBP than Baez, but slightly less power. Based on offensive numbers alone, I wanted to give the spot to Gennett, but that would discount much of Baez’s game. Baez is an elite defender and baserunner. He has even stolen home multiple times this season! His impact as a player goes way beyond his offensive numbers and I think he is deserving of the starting role.

Scooter Gennett (for reference):

Third Base:

All-Star Starter: Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies)

Deserving Starter: Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies)

For third base, Nolan Arenado earned his bid for starting 3B with his second straight starting appearance and fourth straight appearance overall.

He deserves to be our starter but not by a huge margin. Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds makes a good case. He has actually outhit Arenado across the board with a slightly higher OBP and SLG. This is similar to Gennett and Baez where the challenger has better offensive numbers, but the incumbent deserves to remain at the top due to being a more complete player.

Oddly enough, both players have logged a 0 DRS, but Arenado has a 4.0 UZR/150 in comparison to a -5.1 for Suarez. For me, this defensive boost gives Arenado the slight edge over Suarez.

Eugenio Suarez (For reference):

Shortstop:

All-Star Starter: Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants)

Deserving Starter: Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants)

Known as more of a defensive specialist, Brandon Crawford has awakened offensively in 2018 posting a career-best 121 wRC+. His best competition is found in Colorado with Rockies shortstop, Trevor Story. Story hits for significantly more power but is slightly worse in the on-base category. The edge here goes to Crawford for defense. We all know shortstop is a premium defensive position, and Crawford leads Story 6 to 1 in the competition for DRS. This outweighs the power deficit and propels Crawford to the starting position.

Trevor Story (For Reference):

Outfield:

All-Star Starters:

1. Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)

2. Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves)

3. Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals)

Deserving Starters:

1. Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets)

2. Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)

3. Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves)

Our only major change in the outfield comes from our guy, Brandon Nimmo. In everything except counting stats, Nimmo holds the edge. He leads all National League outfielders with a 139 wRC+. Both his OBP and even his SLG outrank Harper. Harper has also had a horrible year defensively with a -12 DRS across the outfield. Nimmo has not been great himself, but he has outdone Harper with -3 DRS. I believe Brandon has a strong argument for starting OF and definitely a spot on the team.

Kemp and Markakis both have produced extremely strongly this year. The only other players really in contention are the Nats’ Matt Adams and the Brewers’ Lorenzo Cain.

Conclusion:

The fans did a decent job in the National League voting this year. Based on my judgments, I think they picked 5 of 9 spots correctly. What do you think? Who deserves to be in the starting lineup? Leave your best comments below.

The post The Real All-Star Team: National League Edition appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Chris Flexen will take the mound for the Mets today against the Philadelphia Phillies and Zach Eflin in hopes of securing the series victory.

Last night, the Mets lost 3-1. The offense remained relatively quiet as Yoenis Cespedes hit a home run in the fourth for one of the Mets three hits. One of the other hits was Amed Rosario‘s first career double. Dominic Smith went 0-for-3 in his second MLB game of his career.

Steven Matz pitched for the Mets last night and started off the game with 4 1/3 no-hit innings before allowing a hit to Maikel Franco. He then proceeded to allow two runs that innings to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Terry Collins removed Matz from the game after 5 2/3 innings in which he allowed only the two runs, but was only able to record a single strikeout. Erik Goeddel allowed a run in the eighth as well.

Latest Mets News 

Neil Walker was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers last night along with cash in return for a PTBNL. Walker was scratched before Saturday’s contest began.

Matt Harvey started a rehab assignment for the Brooklyn Cyclones last night and went one inning, allowed one run, and walked on batter. He only threw seven of his 18 pitches for a strike and recorded zero strikeouts.

Latest NL East News 

Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports that Stephen Strasburg will begin a rehab assignment on Monday.

Nate Latsch of MLB.com writes about how close Matt Kemp is to returning to the team.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports on the confirmation from David Samson that Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter will be purchasing the Miami Marlins.

E.J. Smith of Philly.com talks about former Phillie Ryan Howard and his attempt to make a comeback after signing a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies.

Latest on MMO

Rob Piersall talks about the exciting glimpse of the future we got from the Mets on Friday night.

Viraj Sethi contributed a fan shot to discuss the tenure of Jay Bruce.

This Day in Mets History

1972: Former Mets team President George Weiss dies at the age of 78.

2000: Al Leiter strikes out 12 batters in a 2-0 victory over the Giants.

Birthdays: Hansel Robles turns 27 and Jon Switzer turns 38.

The post Morning Briefing: One More In Philly Before Subway Series! appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If you went into hibernation this winter and set your alarm for the day that pitchers and catchers arrive, you’d probably be surprised to see that Jay Bruce is penciled in to be the Mets everyday right fielder. Or that he’s even still on the team at all.

Most Mets fans clamored all winter for the front office to trade Bruce, and were left disappointed with the news that he would be kept and starting for the Mets in 2017. Even as rumors of what he might bring back to the Mets plunged from a stud reliever to minor leaguers to basically just cash, few people wanted Bruce on the team after his mostly nightmarish two month stint with the Mets last season.

Now that the “trade Bruce” ship has sailed, at least for now, and spring training is fast-approaching, it’s time to convince ourselves that retaining Bruce is not the worst thing in the world for the Mets. It’s not necessarily even a bad thing.

For one, Jay Bruce is proven commodity. Sure, some of what he’s proven is a propensity to strike out a ton and an inability to get on base, but he’s also consistently been among the league leaders in run production. Just last season Bruce hit 33 home runs with 99 RBI and a .506 slugging percentage, placing him in the top 30 in all three categories among all MLB players.

Bruce may very well be on the decline, but he’s played in at least 137 games since 2010 and is still just turning 30 years old, younger than everyone in the Mets projected starting lineup other than Travis d’Arnaud. And a middle of the order featuring Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes has the potential to be downright scary for opposing pitchers.

By contrast, the player Bruce is displacing in the starting lineup, Michael Conforto, is about as big of an unknown as it gets. Conforto showed immense promise in his 2015 rookie stint, quickly becoming a fan favorite. But even the biggest Conforto fan, myself included, has no idea what to expect from him after an extremely disappointing 2016 season. Even with Bruce blocking him, Conforto figures to find plenty of at bats this season given the ages and injury histories of the Mets other outfielders.

If Conforto bounces back, as we all hope happens, the Mets will find themselves with a good problem to have: too much depth. Which brings me to another reason why keeping Bruce for now makes sense – they can always trade him later.

The offseason trade market for Bruce was sparse, given the plethora of outfielders available. Any deal would likely have netted the Mets pennies on the dollar. But that should change during the season, particularly if Bruce is healthy and hitting for power early on. Bruce and his reasonable one year, $13 million contract could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline and make Sandy Alderson look smarter than us for being patient, once again.

Like it or not, Jay Bruce will likely be the Mets starting right fielder in April. He may thrive in his first full season as a Met, like Cespedes, or downright fail, like Jason Bay. But even something in between would be a positive for a team built to win in 2017.

The post Moving From Denial To Acceptance Of Jay Bruce As A Met appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Michael Conforto has a strained cartilage issue in his left wrist the team announced. He met with team doctors on Monday who examined him and administered a cortisone shot in the affected area.

Conforto is not in tonight’s lineup and is considered day to day. He told reporters he expects to be back before the end of the week.

The Mets will play with a short bench while he heals up.

Original Report – June 13

Michael Conforto, who is in the midst of the most significant slump of his career, is also dealing with wrist soreness according to manager Terry Collins.

Conforto, 23, has been dealing with the sore wrist since last Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Pirates, but doesn’t believe the issue is responsible for his lack of production at the plate.

Batting just .153 since May 1, the Mets’ left fielder was not in the starting lineup on Sunday, but struck out in a pinch-hitting experience. His batting average is now down to .233 for the season with 55 strikeouts in 193 at-bats.

“He’s got a little bit of a wrist issue that’s been bothering him,” Collins said before Sunday’s contest. “He said it doesn’t really bother him swinging. He’s scuffling enough that I thought I’d let him have today and tomorrow to catch his breath.”

Assistant GM John Ricco told reporters on Sunday, that Michael Conforto will have his wrist examined by team doctors today.

The post Michael Conforto Received Cortisone Shot For Sore Wrist appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

For just the second time this season, Neil Walker is out of the starting lineup. Walker is out with a sore shin, he told reporters this afternoon.

Walker fouled two balls off his shin last night and his ankle is swollen and discolored, although he said it “isn’t as bad as it looks.” He says he will be able to play again starting tomorrow.

Walker is hitting .261/.299/.514 on the year with nine home runs and a double.

The post Neil Walker Out Of Lineup With Sore Right Shin appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This is getting creepy now… I feel like I’m being stalked… 🙂

Terry Collins spoke to Sandy Alderson this afternoon and effective immediately, the Mets manager will be playing the younger players more. A lot more…

Collins told reporters that Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Wilmer Flores specifically, will begin seeing more playing time and each of them are in tonight’s starting lineup.

I would imagine as soon as Chris Young gets released that Matt den Dekker will get called up and also receive some major playing time.

This afternoon I wrote that enough is enough and this charade about hunting a wild card has to stop. So let me end this post the way I ended that one…

The rest of the 2014 season should be open tryouts for 2015.

#PlayTheKids

The post Collins Will Start Giving More Playing Time To Younger Players appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

June 22

Outfielder Juan Lagares was hitless in four at-bats, while playing his second rehab game in center field on Saturday with the Gulf Coast League Mets.

Lagares continues to make progress as he works his way back to the Mets and rejoin the team at some point this week.

Batting mostly in the lower half of the lineup, Lagares parlayed a solid start to the season into a part-time leadoff role.

He was hitting .295 with a .339 on-base in 42 games before landing on the disabled list with a right intercostal muscle strain.

He is expected to rejoin the Mets at some point next week.

June 18

According to Terry Collins, center fielder Juan Lagares will not be activated from the disabled list when he eligible to come off on June 16.

Lagares, who suffered a strained intercostal muscle, has not attempted any running drills while rehabbing at the Mets complex in Port St Lucie and has been limited to some light exercises.

The 25-year old Lagares was second on the team in batting, slugging percentage and OPS at the time he was injured and had assumed the leadoff duties.

The Mets have lost five of six games sine Lagares went on the DL.

June 2

Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain, the team announced today. In a corresponding move, Matt den Dekker has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Lagares originally felt discomfort in his side Friday night and after a day off felt pain free in batting practice prior to Sunday’s game against the Phillies and was inserted into the starting lineup.

The 25-year old experienced tightness again while running the bases and was subsequently pulled from the game and sent back to New York for an MRI.

In 42 games this season, Lagares is batting .288 with 11 doubles and 18 RBIs.

The post Lagares Set For Return To Mets This Week appeared first on Metsmerized Online.