The slate of postseason games Wednesday contained loads of fireworks as home runs were slugged and tickets were punched. The day started out in Philly, where Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos both sent two balls out of the park on their way to a 10-2 win over the Braves and a 2-1 series lead.

The Diamondbacks took over the nightcap as they lit Lance Lynn up like a Christmas tree, smashing four home runs in the third inning alone en route to taking down the 100-win Dodgers in a three-game sweep. However, the Houston Astros stole the headlines yet again as they moved on to their seventh consecutive ALCS, knocking off the Twins in four games.

This rendition of the Astros’ dominance will meet an obstacle that they’ve never seen before, as they will take on their in-state rival Texas Rangers in the postseason for the first time ever. The Astros and Rangers’ historic lineups will take most of the attention leading up to their battle, but one of the underlying stories is the meeting of former Mets Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Scherzer, who missed most of the last month of play, including the previous two postseason series, is on track to return for Texas in the ALCS. While he will not be built up to go the usual starter length, Scherzer should still be able to give the Rangers some valuable innings throughout the series. Verlander, on the other hand, has been his steady self in his return to Houston, including a scoreless outing as he went six innings in his start in game one against Minnesota. 

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow on Tuesday, per Metsmerized‘s Mike Mayer. Andy Martino later announced from SNY that Lindor had been dealing with this elbow injury all throughout his 30-30 season, which he first felt in Spring Training. The Mets expect him to be fully healthy by the start of 2024 Spring Training.

Latest MLB News

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that Texas Rangers associate manager, Will Venable, has been contacted by multiple MLB teams regarding their managerial openings. The former 9-year major leaguer is highly regarded around the league, but has reportedly told clubs that he is staying with the Texas Rangers. Texas will be playing in their first Championship Series game in over a decade this coming weekend. 

Yuki Matsui, who is a left-handed closer from the Rakuten Eagles of the NPB league in Japan, will be exercising his international free agent rights, per the Yakyu Cosmopolitan. The stud closer holds a 2.43 ERA, 1.107 WHIP and 12 K/9 in his 10-year career and will be looking to pursue an MLB contract this upcoming offseason while he heads into his age 28 season. 

Latest on MMO

Tyler Antonelle found some positives in the Syracuse Mets’ disappointing season. 

Ross Bentley analyzed the Mets organization catcher depth.

With 2023 being the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 miracle run, Brian Wright looked back at Cleon Jones‘ part in the run.

On This Date in Mets History

2015: The Mets play their first home postseason game at Citi Field, winning the game 13-7 and taking a 2-1 lead in the NLDS over the Dodgers. A Yoenis Céspedes three-run home run in the fourth inning sent the New York faithful into a frenzy as Curtis Granderson led the way for the Mets with five RBIs.

2006: Tom Glavine twirls a gem for the Mets, going seven innings of shutout ball in game one of the NLCS against the Cardinals. Carlos Beltrán‘s two-run sixth inning home run off the right field scoreboard would be all the Mets needed in a 2-0 victory, taking a 1-0 series lead. 

2000: In a 5-5 tie in the ninth inning, Jay Payton puts the Mets ahead with a go-ahead RBI single to give the Mets a 6-5 win and a 2-0 NLCS lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.

1969: The Mets win their first World Series game in franchise history behind a marvelous performance from Jerry Koosman, who went 8 2/3 innings while only giving up a single run. Ed Charles, Jerry Grote, and Al Weis string together base hits in the ninth inning to take a 2-1 lead and even the series against the Orioles at 1-1.

Birthdays: José Valentín (54), Sid Fernandez (61)

The post Morning Briefing: Scherzer and Verlander to Meet in ALCS appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Travis d’Arnaud. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

There was a time when the Atlanta Braves didn’t always have the New York Mets’ number when it mattered most. Go back to 1969 and the inaugural NLCS. Atlanta actually came out of the West and were quickly gone in a best-of-five sweep. The first two players on our list of Mets-Braves overlap were part of that, but the ties between New York and Atlanta are few and far between aside from mutual dislike. Here’s a bit of source material for your future immaculate grids.

Gary Gentry – Mets (1969-72), Braves (1973-75)

In the shadow of a rotation headed by names like Koosman and Seaver, there was the 22-year-old rookie who won 13 times in ’69 with a 3.43 ERA and three shutouts. One of those came in the NL East clincher on September 24. He gave up only four hits and set off a wild Shea celebration. The party continued through the playoffs and through the World Series, where he was the winner in Game 3.

His career though did not go on an upward track following the championship year. He more or so leveled out and was no better than a league-average pitcher over the next three seasons. The Mets deemed him and reliever Danny Frisella, who regressed after an outstanding 1971 out of the bullpen, expendable enough to be dealt. It turned out to be a two-for-two swap. One player the Mets got in return was George Stone. The other? See below.

Félix Millán – Braves (1966-72), Mets (1973-77)

It became one of the best trades in the early history of the Mets. As it turned out, Gentry’s career never really recovered once in Atlanta. Millán, meanwhile, became the most underrated piece to the ’73 NL champs. He had already established himself with the Braves—making three All-Star teams and claiming a Gold Glove Award at second base. In a year when regulars were dropping like flies from injury, Millán played in 153 games and helped the Mets turn an NL–leading 179 double plays while hitting .290 and establishing a franchise record 185 hits as the No. 2 batter in the order.

While he could never come close to repeating his 1973, Millán remained steady. He typified the term everyday player and set team records for hits (191) and doubles (37) in 1975.

Joe Torre – Braves (1966-68), Mets (1975-77)

Torre played for the Braves and later played for the Mets. Then he immediately transitioned to managing the Mets before being fired and taking over the Braves gig. He was a superior player in Atlanta due to better surroundings and younger age. From 1963-68, he had an OPS+ of 135 and was an All-Star in all but one season. In a lineup that featured, among others, Hank Aaron, Torre drove in 100 or more runs twice even if his speed contributed to his league-leading double-play totals.

He was a more successful manager in Atlanta due to better surroundings and the lessons learned in New York. Torre took over the reins in Queens just as Tom Seaver was heading out and was given a thankless task. Being fired in 1981 turned out to be a blessing as he led the Braves to a division title in ’82.

Mike Hampton – Mets (2000), Braves (2003-05, 2008)

That Atlanta school system must be really good. Hampton’s only regular season in New York was good, but his postseason was great. From late March to late September, the left-hander had a 3.14 ERA and earned 15 victories. But he really justified in acquisition in October. Hampton strung together 16 consecutive scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, capped by a brilliant three-hit shutout in the clinching Game 5. He was rightfully named the series’ MVP.

Famously citing the superior Denver education system, Hampton bolted the Big Apple for Colorado. From there, he excelled as a hitting pitcher but his actual pitching never improved. His tenure with the Braves was interrupted by a two-year hiatus due to numerous injuries.

Tom Glavine – Braves (1987-2002, 2008), Mets (2003-07)

When thinking of great left-handed pitchers and the Atlanta Braves, it’s hard not to think of Glavine. When thinking of Glavine and the Mets, it’s impossible not to think of his final game. The Hall of Famer had a legendary meltdown in the opening inning of a must-win season finale versus Florida. After allowing seven runs, a five-season tenure marked by a 3.97 ERA and his 300th win just a few weeks ago was overshadowed. The Mets’ chances of a postseason berth went up in smoke and the collapse was all but complete. The frustration was amplified for several reasons, one being his dominance over New York during his time in Atlanta. In fairness, most teams couldn’t beat Glavine. From 1991-2002, he had an ERA+ of 134 and collected two Cy Youngs.

Billy Wagner – Mets (2006-09), Braves (2010)

If he makes the Hall of Fame, the highlights would be more Mets than Braves. That’s due to quantity than quality. By the end of his New York tenure, his arm wasn’t as strong as it was in Houston, Philadelphia, or during his initial years in Queens.

Wagner arrived to the Mets and became one of the best free-agent acquisitions. He saved 40 and pitched to a 2.24 ERA for the division-clinching ’06 club, finishing sixth in the NL Cy Young Award voting. Wagner was an All-Star for each of the next two seasons and ended up with a 10.9 strikeout/9 inning ratio before his 2008 was derailed by a significant elbow injury. An interlude with Boston preceded his joining the Braves, where he came back nicely with a 1.43 ERA over the last 71 games of his career.

Jeff Francoeur – Braves (2005-09), Mets (2009, 2010)

Full disclosure, it feels like Francoeur was on the Mets roster for more than two seasons. Maybe it was because we saw so much of him before then. Francoeur got to witness the successes and failures of New York from afar, then was right in the middle of it during Citi Field’s infancy. He was a decent hitter with a great outfield arm. His production at the plate over 75 games in 2009, coming over from Atlanta in a July trade, exceeded the performance in 2010 when he tailed off and was benched. At least his defense improved—he went from five assists for ’09 to 11 the very next year.

Travis d’Arnaud – Mets (2013-19), Braves (2020-present)

It can’t be forgotten that d’Arnaud was part of a terrific and timely trade with Toronto for Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey that also brought fellow Blue Jay prospect Noah Syndergaard into the Mets’ system. At his best, he helped the Mets win the 2015 National League pennant. At his worst, he was a liability at the plate and in the field.

By 2019, it was clear that d’Arnaud needed a change of scenery. It didn’t happen in Los Angeles or Tampa. Unfortunately for the Mets, the revival happened right within their division. Letting d’Arnaud go wasn’t a mistake by the Mets even as he’s found long-term success in Atlanta, as many seem to do.

The post Big Apple and Deep South: Playing for the Mets and Braves appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

A hitter digging into the batter’s box sixty feet, six inches away from Greg Maddux might not initially be intimidated.

After all, Maddux was listed at six-feet tall and one-hundred seventy pounds, never relying on blazing fastball velocity to put hitters away. “The Professor” often wore glasses off the mound, which almost emphasized his unassuming persona.

However, what Maddux, 56, lacked in velocity he made up for with impeccable command, late movement and changing of speeds.

The Hall of Fame righty pitched to contact, despite his 3,371 career strikeouts, relying on guile to carve up hitters and navigate through lineups at will.

Blessed with good health and longevity, Maddux was the epitome of a workhorse. The eight-time All-Star tossed 200+ innings in 18 of his 23 major league seasons and went an incredible fourteen consecutive years of 200+ innings pitched from 1988 through 2001. Only Don Sutton (20), Phil Niekro (19) and Cy Young (19) posted more seasons with 200+ innings pitched.

His 5,008.1 career innings pitched are the thirteenth-most in major league history, and that doesn’t include the additional 198 innings he tossed in the postseason (the sixth-most postseason innings pitched of all time).

Maddux’s propensity for pitching deep into games and on seemingly so few pitches, is stuff of legend. So much so that baseball writer Jason Lukehart coined the term “Maddux” to highlight a start in which a starter tosses a complete-game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches. No pitcher has recorded more such starts since 1988, the first year of accurate pitch-count tracking, than Maddux with 13.

In that same span, Maddux has recorded 72 starts where he went at least eight innings and threw fewer than 100 pitches. To put that in greater perspective, if you took the six pitchers with the highest number of aforementioned games pitched since 2010, they’d still be three games shy of Maddux’s total since ’88.

Since the inception of the Cy Young Award in 1956, only four pitchers have won the honor at least four times: Roger Clemens (7X), Randy Johnson (5X), Steve Carlton (4X) and Maddux (4X). Of those pitchers, Johnson and Maddux are the only two to win four-straight Cy Young Awards, with Maddux taking home the hardware from 1992-1995.

The Cy Young Award wasn’t the only piece of hardware Maddux took home in 1995, as the Braves won their first World Series since 1957. Maddux posted a 2.84 ERA over five starts that postseason, with a 1.88 ERA in his three starts that included the National League Championship Series and World Series.

Despite the shortened season in ’95 due to the strike that began in August 1994, Maddux posted a 19-2 record, leading all qualified pitchers in ERA (1.63) and WHIP (0.811), while second in fWAR (7.9).

Hitters were rarely given free passes from Maddux, as the control artist was simply masterful on the mound. In fact, of his 740 career starts, Maddux allowed no more than one walk in 463 of them (63% of his total starts), which is the most such starts in major league history.

The Maddux household no doubt features a large trophy case, as the 355-game winner not only won four Cy Young Awards and a World Series ring but also 18 Gold Glove Awards, the most of any player. That included a stretch of 13 straight years of taking home a Gold Glove Award from 1990 to 2002.

Mets fans were well aware of Maddux’s brilliance, as the righty made 66 career starts against the club. Only Steve Carlton made more career starts against the Amazins’ (76). The Mets were the opponent Maddux faced the most during his career, as he went 35-19 with a career 3.36 ERA in 428.1 innings pitched.

What makes Maddux’s career even more impressive is the fact that he pitched during the height of the steroid era, and yet, still excelled on the mound. No pitcher recorded a higher fWAR in the nineties than Maddux (69.8), while he posted the second-lowest HR/9 among qualified pitchers with a 0.42 mark.

Since retiring from the game following the 2008 season, in which he tossed 194 innings and won his final Gold Glove in his age 42 season, Maddux has kept busy. He’s worked as a special assistant in the front offices for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers, and served as a volunteer pitching coach for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while his son, Chase, pitched for the team.

Maddux is back with the Rangers this spring, brought in as a special instructor and aiding his brother Mike Maddux, who was hired as the team’s pitching for a second stint this past offseason.

Following his work with the Rangers this spring, Maddux is gearing up to host a celebrity poker tournament at Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas from April 28-30.

The three-day event, which includes the poker tournament, private dining experience and party, is partnered with the Baller Dream Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2020 that provides various levels of support to alleviate stressors families encounter when dealing with cancer.

Maddux’s daughter, Paige, is the Foundation’s Regional Program Director, having previously worked at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego as the Director of Philanthropy for over five years.

Throughout his legendary playing career and beyond, Maddux and his family have donated considerable time and money to help many different causes. After running a celebrity golf tournament for two decades, Maddux is more than happy to lend his time and celebrity stature for a great cause.

Maddux is indeed a Hall of Famer both on and off the field.

I had the privilege of speaking with Maddux during spring training, where he discussed his game preparation, individuals who aided in his development and the upcoming celebrity poker tournament.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Maddux: All the Reds. I grew up a huge Reds fan, so it was Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver, George Foster and Tony Pérez.

MMO: From past interviews you’ve given, along with your Hall of Fame speech in 2014, one individual you give a lot of credit to early on in your career was Ralph Meder, who was a former big league scout and local Nevada coach. What did Meder impart on you?

Maddux: He taught me my pitching fundamentals which is movement is better than location; location, change of speeds and then velocity.

We learned how to throw a ball with movement on it, sink, run and all of that, as opposed to see how hard we could chuck it.

MMO: Did you grow up throwing what would be your signature two-seamer?

2+ Minutes of Greg Maddux's Front Door Two Seamers. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/h2H2NIxPKy

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) January 12, 2023

Maddux: That was what I threw growing up. Mr. Meder taught me that when I was about sixteen.

When I first started working with him, that was one of the first things he changed. He changed my arm angle from straight over the top to kind of a three quarter-ish type thing. He was trying to teach me a fastball with the most movement.

He kind of changed the arm angle a little bit. I started throwing two-seamers, and it started sinking and moving.

MMO: Was that also the same time that you started focusing on locating your pitches to both sides of the plate?

Maddux: That was later on; I started to learn that in A ball. Jim Wright was the first coach that kind of challenged me to throw a glove-side fastball down and away to righties or into lefties and keep my movement on that as well.

That was the one thing I worked on my whole career. I remember that was the big thing for me was to be able to locate my fastball on both sides of the plate with the same type of movement.

MMO: You debuted with the Chicago Cubs at a very young age (20 years, 141 days old) and had some growing pains your first two seasons. You’ve talked about how going to winter ball one offseason and working with Dick Pole (Cubs’ minor and major league pitching coach) really helped with your changeup and ability to “work slow.” Can you expand on that?

Maddux: The reason I was 6-14 (in 1987) was I didn’t know how to pitch slow. My fastball was okay and my health was good, but I wasn’t changing speeds properly.

I went to winter ball and worked with Dickey on my changeup. That got a little more consistent along with the command of my fastball, and then I was able to have a chance to get hitters out in the big leagues.

MMO: What memories stand out from when you hit free agency following the 1992 season?

Maddux: At first, I was a little upset; I kind of got fired in Chicago. They kind of kicked me out, and I ended up going to Atlanta and got to play with some of the best pitchers in the game and played for one of the best managers in the game. It was a great experience.

I think we won all eleven years that I was there, and they won a couple before and after me. It was just a great experience, great people and created friendships with my teammates and neighbors. It couldn’t have been better.

MMO: There’s so much expanded technologies and improved analytics to better serve organizations and players in today’s game. You were such a student of the game and I’m curious, how would you go about studying and preparing for a start?

Maddux: I’d probably do it the same way: use the analytics to my advantage. The bottom line is you have to pitch with what you got.

I understood myself as a pitcher and things I could and couldn’t do with the baseball, the pitches I could and couldn’t throw. I’d grab some stuff out of it that would probably help me with my pitch selection.

And a lot of the stuff I wouldn’t listen to. I didn’t have a very good slider, so if the hitter has a very low average on sliders, I probably still wouldn’t throw them, man. I’d stick to my strengths and try to get them out the way that was best for me.

MMO: You own the most Gold Gloves of any player with 18. Were you someone that always took defense seriously and worked a lot on PFPs?

Maddux: One hundred percent. It’s part of the game and I felt like if I could make 90 plays a year, that’s thirty innings of scoreless baseball. I looked at it that way.

If I made all the plays I was supposed to make, then my team had a better chance to win, and I had a chance to have a lower ERA when the season was over.

MMO: You tossed 200+ innings in 18 of your 23 major league seasons, including 14 consecutive seasons. What do you attribute your success to staying so healthy and being so consistent for the majority of your major league career to? How important was Keith Kleven (physical therapist/athletic trainer) and his program for your longevity?

Maddux: Keith Kleven helped me out a lot with being able to take care of my shoulder, elbow, legs, everything.

A lot of it was just good luck, a lot of catching a break. Never taking one off the arm or the foot where you break something or twist a knee sliding into second.

A lot of it was just good luck but I did take care of myself, and I tried to prepare myself to pitch over 200 innings every year.

MMO: Did you work with Kleven throughout your whole career?

Maddux: I worked with him from high school all the way until I was done playing.

MMO: I find the mental side of the game so interesting and obviously so crucial to success. I spoke with Bob Tewksbury – who is now a mental skills coach – and he sung the praises of Harvey Dorfman. Did you work with Dorfman during your career, and if so, how did he help you?

Maddux: Absolutely. Harvey was a big part of it. Harvey enabled me to think properly, worry about the things I could control, stuff like that. He helped me a lot off the field with my family life and just how to treat people and teammates. I was very lucky to have him.

MMO: Tewksbury spoke about how he would use visualization techniques on the mound to reset and help clear his head. Is that a technique you utilized?

Maddux: Yeah, absolutely. You had to be able to think properly and you had to recognize when you were nervous and realize that you could still think and pitch when you were nervous. Harvey helped me out with that.

I did do some visualization. You always had a certain couple of pitches that you would go back to. Pitches you threw the right way and just get a quick little snapshot of that before you started your delivery.

MMO: In an interview you gave with MLB Network a few years back, you were discussing some of the differences between your era of pitching and today’s pitchers. I was really fascinated by your quote in which you said, “I tried to get hitters out in the strike zone. I think the majority of pitchers today try to get hitters out, out of the strike zone.” Can you expand a bit on what your pitching philosophy was and how it was so effective for you?

Maddux: My philosophy was to try to keep it in front of the outfield. Very simple. I felt like the team that keeps the ball in front of the outfield the best is the team that’s going to win. It’s going to probably happen in just about every spring training game down here and about every game once the season starts.

The philosophy today is they seem to be looking for guys who get hitters to swing and miss, they want no contact. I think that’s why you see the higher pitch counts, and that kind of limits the innings the guys are able to throw once the season is all said and done.

MMO: On an individual basis, was there a season or two that stands out in your mind as your best?

Maddux: Obviously, the 1995 season when we won the World Series. That one stands out more than all the others because we won, we finally got that ring. That was a pretty special year.

Your first year is pretty special and when you first get called up, but easily the ’95 season.

MMO: What memories do you have from facing the New York Mets and pitching at Shea Stadium?

Maddux: I loved pitching at Shea Stadium. It was a great atmosphere and great place to pitch. Really great golf courses when we weren’t pitching. I enjoyed New York.

It seems like the more you go back to New York, the more you enjoy it even more each time. That was one of the places that kept getting better and better with more time you spent in it.

We played the Mets tough it seems, especially with Atlanta. We had a lot of success against them, so obviously we had more fun playing them.

MMO: And you were close to playing in New York, with the Yankees, when you hit free agency in 1992, is that right?

Maddux: Yeah, real close. I thought I was going to go there and then Atlanta jumped in at the last second.

Back then there was no Interleague [play], and I knew the National League, and I enjoyed hitting and running the bases. I liked the strategy better in the National League. I’d rather face the pitcher than the DH. Those were some of the big reasons why I stayed in the National League.

MMO: Do fans still bring up the “Chicks dig the long ball” commercial you appeared in with Tom Glavine?

Maddux: I still hear that from time to time. We both had won a Cy Young or two at the time and no one really knew who we were. And then we did that commercial and all of a sudden people knew who we were. It was a lot of fun doing that.

MMO: Tell me about the celebrity poker tournament you’re hosting at the end of April. How did you get involved and what can folks expect from the three-day event?

Maddux: My daughter works for the Baller Dream Foundation, and it’s her gig. She asked if I would do it, and I said yes.

I used to run a charity golf tournament for about twenty years, and we no longer do that. She’s doing all of the work, all I have to do is show up and try to round up some celebrities.

It’s for a good cause; I’ve been to a few of her events. The Baller Dream Foundation helps kids with cancer. They do stuff for them, and they help older kids and younger adults. They raise money and they take them on fun trips and things they would like to do, I hate to say it, but before it’s too late.

If they want to go to a ballgame in Seattle or go fishing in Alaska or go to Disneyland, they make sure all their family gets to go and everything as well.

MMO: Is this your first event with the Baller Dream Foundation?

Maddux: It’s the first event I’ve done with them. I’ve supported them for probably the last two or three years. But as far as actually running an event, it’s the first one. It’s also the first one with Circa in Las Vegas.

MMO: You’ve donated a lot of time and money to charity. How long have you been giving back in that capacity, and what does it mean to you and your family?

Maddux: It’s pretty cool. I think we started giving back as soon as we had enough money to give, I’m sure like most people. I think before we had money we gave time and when you have the resources to give back, we’re more than happy to do that and give some time as well.

We’ve usually supported mostly charities in Las Vegas; we like to keep it in the neighborhood. It’s what you do; you always give back. You’re given so much that you like to give back when you can.

MMO: Are you a good poker player?

Maddux: Not really. If I sat down at one of the games in Vegas and if there were ten people there, I might be better than one, maybe two. But they’re pretty good there. With my teammates I was pretty good.

MMO: Which celebrities will be attending this event?

Maddux: Goose Gossage, Wally Joyner, a couple hockey players from the Knights, Tito Ortiz, Roger Clemens, David Wells, Joe Staley, A.J. Cole, Evan Mathis, Derrek Lee, Kenny Lofton, Darren Banks.

We’ll still probably add a couple as we get nearby. You know how celebrities are, they don’t like to look too far in advance. [Laughs.]

MMO: You’re working with the Texas Rangers this spring as a special instructor. What are some of your duties with the club?

Maddux: I’m down here for about twenty days of spring training, and it’s to help my brother pass off his philosophy to the pitchers. I spend time with the pitchers and try to get them to understand the importance of taking PFPs, defense, pitch selection and all of the little things that go around it.

Just kind of an extra coach for twenty days and trying to help out where I can.

MMO: Do you have any aspirations of getting back in the game on a full-time basis?

Maddux: I will say I’m enjoying the time down here. At the same time, I also enjoy retirement. I think we’re doing it the right way.

We did it right in our younger years and we’re starting to enjoy it now. With all the traveling and everything that we’ve been doing now, we’re going to see different parts of the world and enjoy retirement.

MMO: When you look back on your legendary career, what are you most proud of?

Maddux: Probably just the longevity of it and the success. I was able to do something I loved for a long time and enjoyed all 22 years of it. I enjoyed practice and never had to get a real job. I never had to grow up.

It’s pretty special being able to do it as long as I could.

MMO: Thanks very much for some time, Greg. It was great chatting with you.

Maddux: I appreciate it. Thank you.

Follow Greg Maddux on Twitter, @gregmaddux

For more information on the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament, visit here.

The post MMO Exclusive: Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency, particularly their best and worst uses of money. As far as the top signings go, we’ve featured Rick Reed, R.A. Dickey, Robin Ventura, and (at No. 7) Max Scherzer. Next up, it’s another pitcher who, when he signed, was already destined to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Tom Glavine‘s Mets career is remembered for one game, which was also his last start as a Met. It couldn’t have been worse and couldn’t have come at a worse time: seven earned runs allowed in the 2007 season finale against the Florida Marlins and not getting out of the first inning. When he left the mound to a shower of boos from the Shea Stadium crowd, the Mets season was all but over and the late-season collapse was all but complete.

He wasn’t the same Cy Young-caliber pitcher who was a mainstay on a legendary Atlanta Braves rotation and was a future Hall of Famer before putting on a Mets uniform. After regressing in his first two seasons in Queens with a subpar club, Glavine thrived when the franchise made other key additions. He became a major contributor to the first division title in 18 years which brought them to the cusp of a World Series.

Glavine pitched to a 3.97 ERA over five seasons with a 15.3 WAR and was remarkably durable despite his advanced age, averaging 33 starts per season. In three of those five years, he led the team in innings pitched and games started. Glavine added two more All-Star appearances during his time as a Met while bolstering his Cooperstown-worthy resume with a personal milestone.

The Mets were fresh off an underachieving 2002 season. Adding the 37-year-old Glavine on a four-year, $42 million deal (and taking him away from Atlanta) would be a way for the Mets to tip the scales in the NL East—albeit not entirely.

Glavine’s success was well-known: two Cy Youngs, eight All-Star appearances, five 20-win seasons, and a World Series MVP. So too was his pitching style: a mastery of control from a smooth delivery featuring an excellent changeup and pinpointed fastball, he regularly utilized the outside corner of the plate which made him effective versus right-handed hitters.

The level of talent Glavine enjoyed while in Atlanta wasn’t matched initially in New York. Not even close.  The Mets were actually worse in 2003 than the year before. Glavine struggled to adjust, posting his worst WHIP since becoming a full-time big-leaguer.

Glavine returned more to form in 2004 with an ERA of 3.60. His sub-.500 record was a reflection of a team still struggling to win. Fortunately, help was coming. Glavine would soon be supported in the rotation by fellow veteran Pedro Martinez and backed by a lineup that included Carlos Beltrán as well as emerging stars David Wright and José Reyes.

Although he was comparatively better in 2005, it was the ’06 season when he got an opportunity to return to the playoffs. Glavine tossed six shutout innings against the Dodgers in a best-of-five Division Series sweep and then befuddled the Cardinals in the NLCS opener. Glavine went seven, again didn’t allow a run, gave up four hits, and walked two. But with the series tied, Glavine slipped up. He got the loss as he gave three earned and only got through four innings.

Glavine entered free agency prior to the ’07 season, but only temporarily. He re-upped with the Mets for another year and on August 5 notched career victory No. 300 at Wrigley Field. It was a performance reminiscent of many other Glavine starts. When he departed in the seventh inning with a sizable lead, he had held the Cubs to two runs and six hits while only yielding one walk.

It was quite the turnaround for fans to embrace someone who contributed so much to the success of the hated Braves and the misery of the Mets. Perhaps it took one bad outing in a big spot for the fans to revert back to the feelings of the 1990s.

Consider September 28, 2007 the day that changed.

In fairness, those fans had seen a 7.5-game division lead dwindle in 17 games. It was an outpouring of evident frustration. But however justified they were in letting Glavine hear it, the lefty’s comments afterward (saying he was “not devastated”) certainly didn’t ease the anger toward him.

Tom Glavine’s Mets career began shakily, turned very good, and ended disastrously. Overall, he was a much-needed addition to a franchise in search of a veteran pitcher to lead them into championship contention. But the sour taste in Mets fans still remains.

The post Mets Best Free-Agent Signing No. 6: Tom Glavine appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not very often that these two teams are (at least) good at the same time. Taking out the late 1990s and early 2000s, it’s even rarer. But when the quality of the clubs is near equal, the intensity between the Mets and Braves is red-hot. That doesn’t necessarily equate to balance, as when Atlanta reigned as perennial NL East champs, New York was often nothing more than a slight inconvenience. But lately, as in the last couple weeks, the Mets have superiority.

1969 NLCS

What was supposed to be Mets pitching against Braves hitting turned into a one-sided slugfest. New York, adding to a year’s worth of surprises, showed more muscle—outscoring the Braves 27–15 in the inaugural NLCS and swept the best-of-five series. At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the Mets got five eighth-inning runs to give Tom Seaver the win in the opener and followed that with 11 runs on 13 hits in Game 2 in spite of a poor start by Jerry Koosman to leave Georgia with a commanding 2-0 lead. Nolan Ryan tempered Atlanta bats for seven innings in Game 3, a 7–4 victory at Shea that set up a World Series date in Baltimore and a miracle seemed even more real.

July 4 (and 5), 1985

Keith Hernandez hit for the cycle and it registered as ordinary on the scale of events at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. What began on the evening of Independence Day lasted until 3:55 a.m. on July 5 became a regular-season saga unlike any other. There were 29 runs, 46 hits, 37 left on base, 43 players, 14 pitchers, three blown saves, two rain delays, two ejections, the aforementioned cycle, a formal protest, and a game-tying home run in the 18th by relief pitcher (Rick Camp). It finally ended 19 innings after a total elapsed time of 8 hours and 15 minutes. A Ron Darling strikeout put a period on perhaps the wackiest baseball chapter ever, but the festivities weren’t over. The stadium proceeded with the scheduled postgame fireworks. Nearby Residents reportedly made panicked calls to police—some fearing the onset of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

September 25-27, 1998

They went into Turner Field needing to win one of three to keep their season going. They ended up with none. After failing to secure a victory at home versus the Montreal Expos, the Mets put themselves in an uncompromising spot facing a club that had won six of nine against them during the year. Their best chance came in the opener, which ended up a 6-5 loss. Tom Glavine and a series of relievers completely shut New York down the next day. The pitching match-up in the regular season finale? Greg Maddux for Atlanta and Armando Reynoso for the Mets. You can figure out how that went. The ’98 Mets, with a final record of 88-74, overachieved—even after Mike Piazza joined the lineup. But the five-game losing streak to end the year undid most good feelings.

1999 NLCS

In the end, it was always going to be the Braves. Even a lead in the late innings of Game 2 wasn’t going to hold up. Even a superb pitching performance by Al Leiter in Game 3 was for naught in a 1-0 loss, the third straight defeat of two runs or fewer. Even a 15-inning, 5-hour and 46-minute thriller in the rain in Game 5 wasn’t enough to swing the momentum. Even a comeback from five runs down and taking the lead twice couldn’t extinguish the Braves in Game 6. Atlanta showed why it’s better. Regardless, the “Grand Slam Single” remains an iconic moment in franchise history as part of one of the most dramatic games ever played in the postseason.

July 30, 2000

Just when it looked like the end result between the Braves and Mets would be all-too-familiar, New York managed to get the Atlanta’s number. Ten, to be specific…as in the number of runs scored during a ridiculous eighth inning. With a succession of productive at-bats, New York rallied from a seven-run deficit—punctuated by Mike Piazza’s laser beam home run just over the left-field wall. What took place on that Friday night certainly didn’t have the same significance as Game 6 of the 1986 World Series and not quite the depth of recovery from September 1972 at the Astrodome, but the sensational 11-8 victory is arguably the memorable regular-season comeback. The tie-breaking three-run bottom-of-the-eighth blast, the across-the-body right fist pump from Piazza as the ball cleared the fence, and the roar generated by 52,831 drowning out the airplanes departing LaGuardia.

September 21, 2001

Any feelings of contempt were put aside. On this night, the first major sporting event in New York since the September 11th attacks, Mike Piazza lifted the spirits of a broken city with his unforgettable go-ahead home run that gave his team 3-2 win. To Mets fans, baseball fans, and those seeking normalcy in unstable times, it provided a temporary sense of order. The 41,000-plus in attendance, understandably, were more solemn than celebratory. Atlanta held a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth. With one out and none on, Edgardo Alfonzo took a borderline pitch for ball four. Piazza was up, and it was central casting for him to provide a storybook script. On 1-1, Piazza hammered the Steve Karsay pitch to deep center, well over the 410′ mark and into the camera well. Those who hadn’t known when the right time was to express happiness over a simple baseball game found something to cheer about.

September 9, 2012

He played his first game at Shea Stadium, hit his first home run at Shea Stadium, and named his daughter after Shea Stadium. He made a habit out of torturing the Mets, most especially in 1999 when he captured the National League MVP Award. Many in New York affectionally call him Larry, most known him as Chipper Jones. But after 19 stellar seasons and a resume minted for Cooperstown, the career-long Atlanta Brave made his final appearance in Queens. He faced the Mets 245 times in the regular season with a .949 OPS and 49 home runs. Jones received a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd after coming out for a pinch-runner.

September 13, 2015

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On December 5, 2002, the Mets signed Tom Glavine to a three-year, $35 million dollar contract with an option for a fourth year that could raise the total value to $42.5 million.

Glavine’s name alone generally conjures up a visceral reaction from Mets fans, as most choose to focus on game 162 of the 2007 season. You remember the pitching line from that game, .1 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 2 BB. It was ugly, but he wasn’t “devastated”. The Mets were denied post season play after that game, and while it’s easy to single Glavine out, the Mets (particularly their bullpen) collapsed down the stretch of the season.

Looking at Glavine’s Mets career, he went 61-56 over five seasons. He had a 3.97 ERA, and an ERA+ of 107. Glavine’s WHIP as a Met was 1.373, and he had a 4.35 FIP. Putting the numbers in context, the Mets were significantly below .500 in both 2003 and 2004.

In the 2006 post season, Glavine went 2-1. He won game two of the NLDS against the Dodgers, and game one of the NLCS against the Cardinals. He lost a very important game five against the Cardinals, putting the Mets behind three games to two in the series that they would eventually lose in seven games.

Glavine’s best moment as a Met was probably his 300th career win, that came in an August game in Chicago in 2007. The Mets won the Sunday night game by an 8-3 score. Glavine tossed 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, and essentially punched his ticket to Cooperstown.

Glavine went back to the Braves after the 2007 season, and ended his career after one more season with Atlanta, where he had previously spent 16 seasons. Over his 22 year career, Glavine posted a 305-203 record, with a ERA of 3.54 and a 118 ERA+. He pitched 4,413.1 regular season innings, and struck out 2,607 hitters, allowing 4,298 hits.

Glavine was a ten-time all star, and gained his induction into the Hall of fame in 2014 by a 91.9% margin. Though his Mets career was modest in terms of success, and he certainly had a day of infamy, he was part of the Mets staff on the division-winning team in 2006, and was one of the few starters to stay healthy down the stretch.

Glavine does some part-time work in the Braves’ television booth, and currently coaches youth baseball and hockey in his adopted home state of Georgia.

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The 2006 All-Star Game was played 14 years ago today, on July 11th, 2006 in Pittsburgh. It featured three Mets in the starting lineup.

When talking about the 2006 season, Mets fans generally have decidedly mixed feelings.

The team cruised to the NL East title, and swept the Dodgers in the NLDS.

The lineup was powerful, featuring David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and Jose Reyes.

The pitching staff was equally formidable, with Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and Orlando Hernandez.

But then there was the NLCS. That’s a story for another day.

Six Mets made the trip to Pittsburgh to represent the team in the 2006 All-Star Game.

The Mets sent starters Beltran, Wright, and Paul Lo Duca — along with Reyes, Glavine, and Martinez on the squad as reserves.

The All-Star festivities began in entertaining fashion for Mets fans, as Wright competed in the Home Run Derby — and did quite well — finishing second to Ryan Howard.

Some believe that the derby negatively affected Wright’s swing and overall offensive production.

Wright’s OPS did decline slightly, from .961 before the break, to .912  in the second half of 2006.

In the game, Wright provided Mets fans with a thrill, belting a second inning home run off Kenny Rogers (of all people) to tie the game at 1-1.

You can see Wright’s home run in the video below.

Beltran also had a good night in Pittsburgh, going 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The NL would go on to lose the game 3-2, when Trevor Hoffman coughed up the lead in the ninth.

And if you’re like me, you were thinking that Hoffman just cost the Mets home field advantage in the World Series.

July 11th is a fairly popular day for All Star games. Here’s a look at the years during the Mets’ existence when the mid-summer classic has been played on July 11th, and the Mets’ representatives in those games.

2017 Michael Conforto

2000 Edgardo Alfonzo, Al Leiter, Mike Piazza

1995 Bobby Bonilla

1989 Howard Johnson, Darryl Strawberry

1978 Pat Zachry

1967 Tom Seaver

Unfortunately, there will not be an All-Star Game in 2020.

However, July 11th (or Slurpee Day, for those so inclined) is an important day on this year’s baseball calendar.

One week from today, the Mets will play host to the Yankees in a exhibition game, the first time Mets baseball will grace our television sets since mid-March.

For those of us starved for baseball, that truly will be an “All-Star” day.

The post Amazin’ Memories: Mets Shine In 2006 All-Star Game appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning Mets fans! The New York Mets (55-56) won their fourth-straight series on Sunday as they took the rubber game in their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (48-63). They now look to keep the good times rolling as they open a four-game series with the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.

Latest Mets News

The Mets will play a doubleheader with the Marlins which can be followed on SNY, WCBS 880 and ESPN Deportes 1050. The first game is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. EDT and the second game will follow shortly after the conclusion of the first, with a tentative start time of 7:40 p.m. EDT.

Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.78 ERA) will take the mound in Game 1 looking to keep up his outstanding second half. Walker Lockett (1-1, 7.82 ERA) will then toe the rubber in the nightcap of the doubleheader as he looks to build off his first career victory which came about in his previous start against the San Francisco Giants on July 20.

The Mets placed Jacob Rhame on the injured list and recalled newly-acquired Donnie Hart from Triple-A Syracuse.

Robinson Cano left the Mets’ game against the Pirates on Sunday due to a left hamstring strain. He will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Latest MLB News

Richard Morin reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks designated Zack Godley for assignment.

Aaron Hicks was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right flexor strain and J.A. Happ was returned from the paternity list.

Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reported that the Detroit Tigers turned down a couple of trade offers in 2016 for Michael Fulmer that would have worked out very well for them. They turned down an offer from the Chicago Cubs that would have included Javier Baez and an offer from the Houston Astros that would have included Alex Bregman.

The Diamondbacks cleared a spot on their 40-man roster after outrighting Yasmany Tomas to Triple-A Reno, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. He was previously optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Latest NL East News

The Atlanta Braves (66-47) remain atop the NL East standings, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies (58-53; 7.0 games back), Washington Nationals (58-53; 7.0 games back), Mets (55-56; 10.0 games back) and Marlins (42-67; 22.0 games back).

Every team in the NL East lost on Sunday except the Mets. The Braves lost 6-4 to the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies lost 10-5 to the Chicago White Sox, the Nationals lost 7-5 to the Diamondbacks and the Marlins lost 7-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Craig Mish of FNTSY Sports Radio reported that the Marlins are calling up Isan Diaz and Lewis Brinson from Triple-A New Orleans.

The Phillies optioned Maikel Franco to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and reinstated Brad Miller from the 10-day injured list.

The Nationals signed former Met T.J. Rivera to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Double-A Harrisburg according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Latest on MMO/MMN

Rob Friedland discussed five under-the-radar takeaways following the MLB trade deadline.

Tim Ryder broke down Marcus Stroman‘s first start as a Met.

John Strubel wrote a historical piece on the 37th anniversary of Joel Youngblood collecting hits for two different teams on the same day.

Joseph Hill recapped the Mets minor league games which took place on Saturday.

This Day in Mets History

1985: Darryl Strawberry hit three home runs en route to a 7-2 Mets victory against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The win put the Mets into first place in the National League East at the time.

2007: Tom Glavine recorded his 300th career victory with the Mets after limiting the Cubs to two runs over 6 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field.

Birthdays: Chasen Bradford turns 30, John Olerud turns 51 and Mardie Cornejo turns 68. 

The post Morning Briefing: Red-Hot Mets Begin Four-Game Series With Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Last year, the Braves were the surprise team in baseball winning the NL East by an eight game margin over the Nationals. This is a young talented group who has the talent to not only win the division again next year but also go on a run like the Greg Maddux–Tom Glavine–John Smoltz Braves teams.

Freddie Freeman has become an MVP caliber player. Josh Donaldson has won an MVP and has the sixth highest fWAR in all of baseball since 2015. What’s scary to think is they’re not even the Braves best player. That honor probably goes to Ronald Acuna, who is the reigning Rookie of the Year and a real MVP candidate.

What is scary for the Braves is their roster beyond these three is quite questionable.

One of the reasons the Braves were successful last season was Nick Markakis having his first All-Star campaign. It was a turn back the clock season for him as he had been a below league average hitter over the previous five seasons. His 2.6 bWAR was higher than what he posted over his prior two seasons. Expecting him to repeat his 2018 season seems dubious in his age 35 season.

Markakis is not the only 35 year old expected to be a big part of the team. The Braves brought back Brian McCann, who is coming off a season where he hit .212/.301/.339. That’s a drop off from the .271/.332/.444 Kurt Suzuki provided the team last year.

This is nothing to say of Donaldson who had an injury plagued season last year. When he was on the field, he produced. However, it should be noted he did take a step back. From 2015 – 2017, he had a 154 wRC+ at the plate. Last year, he had a 117 wRC+. Defensively, he’s gone from an 11 DRS in 2015 to a 1 DRS last year.

That’s actually a step back from what Johan Camargo provided. Last year, Camargo was a 115 wRC+ at the plate with a 7 DRS at third. With Donaldson, you have the name value, but you lose the upside the 25 year old could provide.

On the topic of the Braves young players, by and large, they have not yet panned out the way many people have expected.

Ozzie Albies did have a 3.8 WAR last season, but he had some issues. For starters, the switch-hitter hit .231/.283/.412 against left-handed pitching (84 wRC+). With the right-handed pitching in the division, he is completely over-matched making him not much more than a good defensive second baseman for the majority of the time.

Ender Inciarte is also a defensive first player, albeit a very inconsistent one. Whatever the reason, Inciarte has been good in odd numbered seasons and Gold Glove caliber in even numbered seasons. For Inciarte to have value, he needs to be a Gold Glover as he already below league average offense has dropped from a 100 wRC+ in 2015 t0 90 last season.

The biggest enigma has been Dansby Swanson. The Braves had purportedly stole him from the Diamondbacks for Shelby Miller. The problem was Swanson has not quite panned out as expected. Last year was a career best year for him, which makes his prospects all the more dubious as he only had an 80 wRC+. He was very good defensively meaning the Braves up-the-middle defense is quite good but very, very questionable at the plate.

In some ways, in what promises to be a very tough National League East, the Braves are going to be reliant on their young pitching to make the difference in the division. Now, there are times this does work like 2003 with the Florida Marlins and 2015 with the New York Mets.

Mike Foltynewicz was the teams’ best pitcher last year, and it’s questionable if he can be that next year. His .251 BABIP was much lower than the .303 he has yielded in his career. If he reverts back to career norms, he may look more like the below average league pitcher (93 ERA+) he had been over the prior two seasons.

The Braves second starter, Sean Newcomb, has also roughly been a league average pitcher (103 ERA+) in his career. Same goes for Kevin Gausman (102 ERA+). That is also what Julio Teheran has been since 2016. That puts a lot of pressure on Touki Toussaint, a pitcher who Baseball America projects to be a middle of the rotation starter partially due to his control problems.

Ultimately, when you break the Braves down, this is a very pedestrian starting rotation, albeit one with plenty of upside. Their top two relievers, Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter, have durability concerns. They’re relying on older veterans to be what they once were, and they’re hoping defensive minded players can unlock offensive potential they have not yet unlocked in over two years in the majors.

If the Braves figure it out, they’re a scary team. However, it’s also possible last year was as good as it gets. That should put them well in the mix for the division and the Wild Cards, but it also likely leaves them one or two pieces short from the postseason.

The post Why Braves Won’t Win The NL East appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting this week, there will be regular season baseball until November. Soak it in.

Meanwhile, today is their final official Spring Training game and it will be against the Marlins at First Data Field. Steven Matz will get the ball for the Mets at 12:10 p.m. The game will be on WPIX.

Latest Mets News

The Mets sent down Zack Wheeler to Las Vegas. They plan on using Wheeler as a starter down. To go with that, Seth Lugo will be the Mets fifth starter until Jason Vargas returns according to Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com. With Wheeler sent down and Vargas starting on the DL, it would appear the final spots on the roster will go to Phillip Evans and Jacob Rhame with Robert Gsellman pitching out of the bullpen.

Dave Eiland told reporters following Wheeler’s demotion: “He had an opportunity to make this team, and to be blunt, he just didn’t get it done.” It’s on him. You can only do so much for players, then it’s on them. It’s not about the potential and their capability, it’s about the results.”

Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports that the Mets want to see from Wheeler while in Vegas.

Mickey Callaway says it is likely that Michael Conforto will be on the disabled list to start 2018.

Hansel Robles was surprised he was sent down, as detailed by Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Latest MLB News

The Chicago Tribune’s layoffs have a direct impact on the White Sox coverage.

The Indians will use Matt Belisle out of the bullpen and Carlos Torres has opted out of his contract with Cleveland.

The Brewers sent down Keon Broxton, Brett Phillips, and Junior Guerra. Guerra was their opening day starter in 2017.

Evan Grant of Dallas Morning News says the Rangers released Bartolo Colon, but are working on ways they can keep him.

The Phillies released Fransisco Rodriguez. “K-Rod” struggled this Spring in his comeback attempt.

The Red Sox extended Christian Vasquez’s contract for three more years. Vasquez is a great defender behind the plate.

The Red Sox dealt Deven Marrero to the Diamondbacks for cash considerations. They also got Michael Ohlman from the Rangers for cash.

The Atlanta Braves released Scott Kazmir.

Latest NL East News

The Nationals also trimmed their roster. They sent Tommy Milone and Edwin Jackson to the minors.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com says it will be likely that J.T. Realmuto begins the year on the disabled list.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com writes about Freddie Freeman‘s future with the team.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes some notes about the Phillies spring.

Latest on MMO

Rob Piersall writes about the potential of Andres Gimenez.

This day in Mets History

1999: Mets sign Orel Hershiser

Birthdays: Tom Glavine turns 52, Lee Mazzilli turns 63

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