The World Series kicked off on Friday night, and if Game 1 was any indication of what’s to come, we have quite the series in store.

Both teams traded punches early, but the Diamondbacks got the better of Nathan Eovaldi and brought a 5-3 lead into the ninth inning. Corey Seager then provided a massive World Series moment with the Rangers down to their final two outs, launching a two-run moonshot off of Paul Sewald to tie the game. The game subsequently headed to extra innings, played without the ghost runner on second base, and it was Adolis García who ended it with a walk-off opposite field homer in the bottom of the 11th to give the Rangers a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 of the series will take place Saturday night at 8:03 p.m. ET on FOX. Merrill Kelly (2-1, 2.65 ERA) and Jordan Montgomery (3-0, 2.16 ERA) are the pitchers in what should be another exciting matchup.

Bruce Bochy. David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports

Latest MLB News

A report on Friday suggested that local taxpayers would have to pay an estimated $4 billion to $6 billion for a new Royals stadium, up from original estimate of $1 billion. The Royals released a statement after this, calling the report “erroneous, misleading, and inconsistent.”

Per Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, the Guardians received permission from the Brewers to speak to Craig Counsell about their open manager position.

According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Cubs are expected to be involved in the trade sweepstakes for Juan Soto.

Rob Manfred said that a vote on the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas is expected to take place at November owners meetings.

Former Met Vinny Nittoli agreed to a deal with the Athletics on Friday, with an invite to spring training. Nittoli was recently non-tendered by the Mets after pitching just 3 2/3 innings with the team this season.

Latest on MMO

Brian Wright takes a look back on Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, which the Mets won 37 years ago Friday.

The MMO News Desk recaps comments made by Tommy Pham, including that the Mets are more talented than the National League champion Diamondbacks.

Sean Kenny breaks down all of the former Mets on the teams playing in the World Series.

On This Date in Mets History

1961: Robert Wagner, the mayor of New York City, and National League president Warren Giles joined Mets’ front office members to officially break ground on the site of what would become Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows Park.

2002: The Mets agreed to a four-year deal with Art Howe to become the team’s new manager. Howe lasted just two years and compiled a 137-186 record.

Birthdays: Josh Thole (37), Braden Looper (39), Tim Bogar (57), Lenny Harris (59), Gary Rajsich (69)

The post Morning Briefing: Rangers Walk Off Diamondbacks In Extras In Game 1 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, Mets fans!

According to Paulsen of Sports Media Watch, there was a record audience of nearly five million viewers for the World Baseball Classic final.  The Fox Sports 1 audience outdrew all but one MLB game on the network last year (including postseason). The game referenced was Phillies vs. Padres NLCS game four with an average of 4.88 million viewers. Tuesday’s Japan vs. United States World Baseball Classic championship game averaged 4.48 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 and 4.97 million viewers when including Fox Sports Deportes.

Now, it is time for the morning briefing.

Latest Mets News

Tim Healey of Newsday reports that Carlos Carrasco will not make his scheduled minor league start on Thursday. Buck Showalter said it is because of “elbow maintenance” that he does periodically. Carrasco will skip this outing and pitch five days later (Tuesday, also a minor-league game).

Edwin Diaz tweeted the following message Wednesday morning (translated): “I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to celebrate another year of life with my loved ones, it’s already 29, we’re going to the third level soon. Regarding my health, I feel super good, positive in rehabilitation so I can return as soon as possible.”

Michael Mayer reports that MLB games on Apple TV will not be free this year. To watch them, you must be a Apple TV+ subscriber. The Mets at Phillies game on June 23rd will be on Apple TV+.

Pete Alonso reflected on his WBC experience via his Instagram by saying, “The WBC was such an incredible experience. It was an honor being able to represent the US with my fellow Mets and also meet and play with some of the best players in the game!!!! Such a wild ride. Until next time WBC.”

Francisco Álvarez was interviewed by SNY Wednesday, saying, “Defensively I felt like I was improving, and I want to continue improving there. My bat wasn’t excelling the way I was expecting it to, but I trust in it. Going down there is going to help me to get the reps that I need.”

Katie Honan of The City NYC reports that a state lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday that would authorize New York City to build on the parking lot at Citi Field. This would help pave the way for redevelopment plans envisioned by Mets owner Steve Cohen that include a new casino.

Tim Healey of Newsday wrote about Kodai Senga abandoning his signature splitter lately and other Mets news.

Latest MLB News

On ESPN’s “Get Up,” Buster Olney said that Shohei Ohtani‘s future contract could be worth 600 million dollars or more because “there’s nobody else in baseball that can do what he can do […] He’s going to have enormous bidding for the best player in the world.”

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that Brewers ace Corbin Burnes has hired BorasCorp to represent him. The former Cy Young winner is a free agent at the end of the season.

Mike Trout wrote his WBC reflections on his Twitter: “It’s hard to sum up into words what these last couple of weeks have meant to me. I had the time of my life representing that USA on my chest! The energy was electric and made the WBC a moment I’ll always cherish. So thank you all so much. It was an honor to be your captain.”

Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that Ranger Suárez will likely not be ready to begin the season. He still has inflammation in his left arm so the team sent him for an MRI Wednesday. He has no structural damage. He will take a few days to rest it. At this point, it appears Matt Strahm could begin the season as the Phillies’ fifth starter.

Evan Drellich of The Athletic wrote an article covering new MLB rule changes.  The MMO News Desk also has more on this story.

Latest on MMO

Dan Quiñones has a recap of Wednesday’s game.

John Sheridan writes about Francisco Álvarez being optioned to the minors.

Rich Sparago talks about the Texas Rangers potentially leaving Diamond Sports.

On This Date in Mets History

1978: A month after Bud Harrelson told the Mets brass that he felt “unwanted,” general manager Joe McDonald traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for infielder Fred Andrews and $50,000 cash.

Birthdays: Dellin Betances (35), Mike Remlinger (57)

The post Morning Briefing: World Baseball Classic Draws Record Number of Viewers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, Mets fans!

The World Baseball Classic came to a close on Tuesday, and crowned Team Japan as they went on to beat the U.S. 3-2.

The U.S. opened the second inning with a Trea Turner solos shot that went 405 feet. Japan then responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own. Munetaka Murakami answered with a solo shot of his own and Lars Nootbaar grounded into a fielder’s choice to give Japan a 2-1 lead.

Kazuma Okamoto added some insurance to Japan’s lead with another solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Schwarber brought the U.S. a bit closer with a solo home run of his own in the top of the eighth to bring the score to 3-2.

To end the game, Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout, his Los Angeles Angels teammate. It was a perfect way to end the WBC and ring in the start of the MLB regular season next week.

Latest Mets News

The Mets are off today, but outfielder Brandon Nimmo was at Clover Park testing his sprained right knee/ankle, according to Mike Puma of  The New York Post. Team officials liked what they saw and deem Nimmo as progressing. It’s still unclear what that will mean for Opening Day on March 30, but Nimmo is staying confident that he will be ready.

Third baseman Brett Baty said he had an “epiphany” last week that changed the way he views defense. Bench coach Eric Chavez said Baty “absolutely” is ready to play third in the majors right now. You can read more about this in Tim Healey’s Newsday article.

MMO‘s own Michael Mayer says Mets right-handed pitching prospect Calvin Ziegler had surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow. Ziegler, 20, had a 4.44 ERA but allowed only 26 hits and struck out 70 last year in 46 2/3 innings for Low-A St. Lucie. Ziegler was the Mets’ second-round pick in 2021.

Latest MLB News

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the World Baseball Classic is “100%” coming back for 2026, according to Alden Gonzales of ESPN. After record attendance and viewership, Manfred made the announcement prior to the start of the WBC final between the U.S. and Japan and wants more star pitchers to participate in the tournament.

The Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said they are not planning on putting outfielder Bryce Harper on the 60-day injured list, according to Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation. This pretty much means there is a possibility Harper comes back before May 29. Harper had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow during the offseason.

The Cleveland Guardians have announced the release of their Ballpark Pass. For $49 a month, any fan can get standing room tickets for all of Cleveland’s home games, including their home opener against the Seattle Mariners on April 7 that is sold out.

Latest on MMO

Michelle Ioannou looks to see who can replace injured Mets closer Edwin Díaz.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: Mets beat Yankees in their first spring training game against New York rivals.

1965: Mets throw a combined no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training.

Birthdays: Edwin Díaz (29), Ike Davis (36), Joe Smith (39), Juan Uribe (44), Jeremy Griffiths (45), Dan Boitano (70), Matt Galante (79)

The post Morning Briefing: Japan Wins World Baseball Classic appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It was a winner takes all night at Loan Depot Park in Miami as Mike Trout, Trea Turner, and the United States took on Shohei Ohtani of team Japan.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly who got the ball for the U.S. against Shoto Imanaga, the left-handed pitcher from Japan.

The United States got off to an early lead, but two home runs by Japan were enough to give Japan the momentum most of the night as the United States’ bats went quiet on Tuesday as Japan went on to defeat the United States 3-2 to end the USA’s reign and claim the title of 2023 World Baseball Classic Champions.

The game ended with Ohtani, closing the championship out for Samurai Japan, facing Mike Trout, his Angels teammate. In what is an instant classic baseball history moment, Ohtani struck out Trout, who whiffed on a 3-2 slider, ending Team USA’s comeback hopes.

Trout vs Ohtani lived up to the HYPE! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/Z8aZAjpDRg

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 22, 2023

Team USA struck first and got on the board early in the top of the second off the bat of none other than the red hot Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit a one-out solo home run to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Japan early. The U.S. kept the momentum rolling with a single by J.T. Realmuto to put a runner on with one out. Two batters later, with two outs, Tim Anderson singled to put two on. Imanaga then forced Betts to fly out to get out of the inning with just one run given up.

Japan immediately answered back in the bottom of the second. Munetaka Murakami led off with a solo home run to right center field to tie the game 1-1. It was his first at-bat after he won the game for Japan the previous night with a two-RBI double. Japan had momentum after that homer. Kazuma Okamoto then singled. Two batters later Sosuke Genda singled and Japan had two runners on with one out. Kelly, struggling, then walked Yuhei Nakamura to load the bases.

After a mound visit by pitching coach and former New York Yankee, Andy Pettite Kelly’s day was done. Pettite and the United States went to their bullpen. They brought in  to replace Kelly on the mound for the USA.

Former Met Aaron Loup came in and forced Lars Nootbaar to ground out, but a run scored to give Japan a 2-1 lead over the United States in the second. Kensuke Kondoh then flew out to end the inning and get the United States out of a jam.

Japan brought in Shosei Togo to replace Imanaga in the third, and he shut down the U.S.—a common theme over the next five frames. Kyle Freeland , on the other hand, came on in relief for USA. His one blip came when Okamoto led-off the fourth inning with a solo home run to left center field off Freeland to extend Japan’s lead over the United States to 3-1.

Along with Togo, Hiroto Takahashi, Taisei Ota, and Kiromi Itoh kept USA at bay in through the seventh, and Jason Adam and David Bednar, kept them in the game.

Things got interesting in the eighth when Japan brought Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres in to hold the tide. Nolan Arenado to open the inning, but then Kyle Schwarber clobbered a solo-home run to deep right center field on the 10th pitch of an at-bat to decrease Japan’s lead to 3-2 in the eighth and get momentum going for the USA.

Devin Williams kept the lead at one and send the game to the ninth when the dream scenario happened. With Japan leading 3-2, they went to their ace and the ace of all aces in the MLB to open the ninth inning in Miami as Ohtani came in to close out the championship for Japan.

Ohtani walked Jeff McNeil (his second walk of the game) to open the inning and put the tying run on for the United States, but Betts grounded into a double play.

Peppering 100 mph fastballs, Ohtani then faced his Angels teammate Mike Trout and struck him out, securing a WBC title.

It was one of the most-watched World Baseball Classics to date and a matchup many had been waiting for in the championship game. But it was Japan who came out on top 3-2 to be named the 2023 World Baseball Classic Champions.

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Via MLB Network Twitter

This Fan Shot was written by former MMO writer Satish Ram.

As a once famed British professional wrestler used to take delight in saying, I am afraid I have some bad news to dole out to some of the fanbase—and that might be a common theme throughout this piece. The World Baseball Classic is the singular best thing for the game of baseball right now. I want to run that by you all again: there is nothing that benefits the game of baseball right now more than the World Baseball Classic.

I want to get a few things out of the way. The Edwin Díaz injury was a rare, freak accident, and has nothing to do with the WBC specifically. Spare me the thoughts that the WBC should be moved to after the World Series, when they must compete against other nationally televised sports and it would be after the rigor of a 162-game regular season plus the playoffs. Participation would likely be at an all-time low. It would be difficult to convince teams to want to leave their players available to do it mid-season, as well. The WBC lasts about two weeks and takes place during spring training, where they would be playing baseball anyway.

Spare me the fact that he might not have been celebrating like that in spring training as we gloss over the fact that the Mets mimicked a World Series Win in March 2021. If you want to patrol every single portion of player’s life, then we can start with banning champagne celebrations since Lance McCullers Jr. got hurt during one, players owning dogs since Max Scherzer received an injury from his, or owning ranches because it cost the Mets time with Yoenis Cespedes.

You might be thinking about quipping back that none of those injuries were that serious, and I can unfortunately point you down the road of Mike Soroka suffering a season-ending injury while walking to the clubhouse or Gavin Lux having a non-contact ACL and LCL tear. These things happen and yes, for lack of more cordial language, they absolutely suck. They suck even more when it happens to someone that we care about on a team that we love, but that does not make them any less of a freak accident.

Watching Sugar go down stings as much as some of the more heart-wrenching losses that I ever had to witness. The issue, however, is people using it as a reason to act like the WBC is not an important part of growing the game of baseball right now. Again, the game of baseball—which extends far beyond just MLB.

Here is another dose of bad news: we do not get to decide what the players or other fans of baseball care about. One man may walk past a dollar on the street as it does nothing for his day, while another scrambles for it because it might mean the difference between his ability to feed himself that night. The reality is, as it was stated on numerous occasions, is that some of these players wanted that WBC win more than they might have ever wanted a World Series. Numerous quotes were provided where players stated their desire to represent their country, as Nelson Cruz went as far as to call it “the real World Series.” While that might seem blasphemous to some, the game of baseball extends far beyond the existence of the North America’s “World” Series, and it will always be that way to many.
The fans from these countries, as well, fed into this narrative.

Did you know, by the way, the most watched baseball game before this tournament was a 1980 World Series game with 54.5 million viewers—and it has already been exceeded more than once in this tournament alone? Japan vs. Korea netted over 55 million viewers and Japan vs. Italy posted 62.5 million. It is quite possible that the game tonight involving USA and Japan could be the most-watched game in the history of baseball. (Hat tip to @BaseballDoesnt on those numbers.)

WHAT
A
FINISH!#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/TuGn1yFyn8

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 21, 2023

If you take a moment and tune in to any of the broadcasts of the games between Latin rivals and just listen to the crowd for an inning, you might be surprised at what you hear. The intensity of any random fourth inning between any of those teams matches the way that American fans get for a World Series. It is beautiful and serves to grow the game in a way that MLB has failed to tap into for decades. It is the environment that MLB has been chasing so long without a single amendment to the game like a pitch clock.

MLB stands here making up rules to try and increase fan engagement in baseball by shortening the games and changing the core gameplay while thousands of fans outside the United States are begging to watch a single game with a player representing their country. How privileged we are to have so much baseball that we are looking to cut down our exposure to it while so many would give anything for a chance to see what we take for granted.

The game of baseball gets a rare chance to grow globally through the WBC and to tap into passionate fans across the world who would not otherwise receive a chance to show their love to the sport that we love too. Baseball represents something different for everyone. In my case, it helped me transition into being a part of American culture as a Caribbean boy who really knew no better. I love baseball with all my heart—and that love inspires me to want to see others learn to love it, too, understanding that they too may come to feel the passion that I feel every time I turn on SNY to watch our Mets.

The Mets may pay the contract of the players, yes, but their hearts and souls lie in other places. The Mets make it possible for Edwin Díaz to live a life better than he may have ever imagined, but inside that star pitcher that we all appreciate is a boy from Naguabo, Puerto Rico, that yearns to represent his home on a stage like the WBC. The Caribbean spawns no child with a weak heart, and the connection we feel to our home is that unlike any other. Think about it for a moment: why would these players willingly risk injury and add to the wear and tear of spring training if it did not mean the world to them all? Why would the fans find a way to fill every seat in those stadiums for an “exhibition” game if it did not mean something more to them than just baseball?

After all, we support the New York Mets, the team that returned to professional sport after 9/11. We understand bigger than baseball itself, do we not? Most of us, dare I say, are more the New York Mets than the New York Yankees. We are fighters, underdogs, and dust ourselves off when we get knocked down. We see ourselves in the Mets, whether we want to admit it or not, and support them through the darkest times. When the Mets win, we feel like we win—and that is what the WBC represents for thousands of people globally. When an underdog takes a win in the World Baseball Classic, thousands of people—children and adults alike—see themselves in that victory. Moments like that will serve the game of baseball for generations and we need to be aware of the power of that.

Think about your younger years and the moment you first fell in love with baseball. Can you remember what it was? Did your father take you out to the park to play stickball? Did you see a home run that decades later you could still remember? For some British children, their moment was watching Harry Ford launch a home run. Growing the game of baseball to a global level will always face some difficulty, and the WBC mitigates that by creating a unique opportunity that we just will never have during the regular season. The financial implications behind the tournament also provide a great help to encouraging the growth of baseball in countries that have never been able to do so in years past.

For far too long, MLB has been seeking to grow the brand and expand its reach with limited success, yet the WBC provides them an opportunity to go global and tap into the fiery hearts of fans across the world that are dying for a sliver of a chance to see what we see multiple nights a week during the regular season. There is no better opportunity for the game of baseball than to put on a show during a global display and attract fans they would never have reached before. Not only does baseball need the WBC to truly grow as a sport, there is no better thing for the game than the World Baseball Classic right now.

To some of you, these are glorified exhibition games with no implications. To many others, it was the push they needed to fall in love with baseball, just like you. Let them have the opportunity that you had… that is all I ask.

* * * * * * *

This MMO Fan Shot was contributed by Satish Ram. Have something you want to say? Share your opinions with the best and most diverse Mets community on the web! Send your Fan Shot to getmetsmerized @ aol.com.

The post MMO Fan Shot: The World Baseball Classic Is Exactly What Baseball Needs appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: Dale Zanine – USA TODAY

Good morning, Mets fans!

Will Sammon of The Athletic posted an article Friday night detailing Edwin Díaz‘s optimism about a potential 2023 return. Mets team physician Dr. James Carr and the team’s medical director Dr. David Altchek were in Miami and were able to take care of and diagnose Díaz quickly following his freak injury at the end of Team Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic. Because of this, they were able to limit the amount of scarring that would have likely added on to the time needed to recover. Missing the 2023 season is still the likeliest outcome for Díaz, but he is in great spirits and isn’t giving up on a 2023 return just yet.

WBC Scores

Puerto Rico 4, Mexico 5

• Francisco Lindor: 2-for-5
• Javier Báez: 3-for-4 with a two-run home run
• Marcus Stroman: 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Latest Mets News

Brandon Nimmo left Friday’s spring training game early after he awkwardly slid into second base. The Mets tweeted during the game that he left with right ankle soreness and will undergo imaging on Saturday. Buck Showalter later said that Nimmo feels “pretty good.”

MMO’s own Michael Mayer reported that the Mets have claimed right-handed reliever Dennis Santana off waivers from the Twins. With the Rangers last year, he posted a 3-8 record with a 5.22 ERA in 58 2/3 innings, though his xERA of 3.89 and his FIP of 3.35 suggest that he pitched better than his ERA.

The Mets also signed pitcher Bubby Rossman to a minor league deal. Rossman recently pitched for Team Israel in the WBC.

Juan Toribio of MLB.com spoke to Eduardo Escobar about Team Venezuela’s undefeated run through pool play in the World Baseball Classic.

Latest MLB News

Per MLB figures, the total number of people who attended pool play games of the World Baseball Classic was 1,010,999. That makes it the best-attended round in tournament history and double the previous high of 510,056 from six years ago.

Bruce Bochy told the media that Jacob deGrom will make his Cactus League debut with the Rangers on Sunday against the Mariners.

Jon Greenberg of The Athletic spoke to Theo Epstein about the new rules in baseball, among other topics.

Baseball America listed 25 players that are standing out to scouts in spring training.

Olivia Pichardo made history on Friday as the first woman to play in an NCAA Division I baseball game.

Latest on MMO

Rivka Boord detailed the significance of losing Edwin Díaz for the season.

Jack Markowski took a look at potential trade options for the bullpen in the aftermath of the Díaz injury.

Michael Mayer wrote about Brett Baty‘s defensive preparation and how that has translated to an impressive spring training from a defensive standpoint.

On This Date in Mets History

2000: The Mets traded a 43-year-old Jesse Orosco to the Cardinals for Joe McEwing. McEwing would spend five years from 2000-2004 with the Mets.

The post Morning Briefing: Edwin Díaz Aiming To Return This Year appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Team Puerto Rico defeated Team Israel 10-0 in eight innings, throwing the first perfect game in World Baseball Classic history.

Four pitchers, Jose De Leon, Yacksel Rios, Edwin Diaz, and Duane Underwood Jr. combined for the feat.

The Puerto Rican national team reached the 10-run mercy rule threshold in the bottom of the eighth inning. Enrique Hernandez singled on a ground ball to left field to score Martin Maldonado.

WALK OFF. PERFECT GAME.

A historic performance for Team Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/FGKQic4cxH

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 14, 2023

Puerto Rico scored three runs in each the first, second, and fifth innings. Francisco Lindor went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Hernandez was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Javier Baez was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Emmanuel Rivera and Eddie Rosario drove in the other two runs.

Puerto Rico Captain Francisco Linder with a bases-clearing triple.

pic.twitter.com/KpqjOgHUVI

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 14, 2023

Of course they couldn’t have done it without the pitching staff.

De Leon pitched the game of his life. Even with the 65-pitch limit, he went 5 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. Rios relieved him to get the final out of the sixth inning, a strikeout.

Diaz made his first appearance in the WBC in the seventh, needing 10 pitches to retire three batters, striking out one. Underwood Jr. closed the game needing 10 pitched himself to get the final three outs.

Puerto Rico is now 2-1 in Pool play and sets itself up well to advance to the quarterfinals.

The post Puerto Rico Throws First Perfect Game In World Baseball Classic History appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Good morning, Mets fans.

According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, Brooks Raley is being replaced on the Team USA roster due to injury, with former Met Aaron Loup taking his spot. It’s not certain what kind of injury Raley is dealing with, or how severe the injury is, but it’s enough to keep him out of the World Baseball Classic which raises concerns. Raley was acquired from the Rays this past offseason and is projected to be the lone left-hander in the Mets’ bullpen this season.

WBC Scores

Japan defeated Korea 13-4.

Chinese Taipei defeated Italy 11-7. Mets minor leaguer Claudio Scotti pitched in the ninth inning for Team Italy.

Latest Mets News

Details of the first ever Amazin’ Day have been announced. On March 25, anyone wearing a Mets hat or any Mets gear will have access to several events and celebrations across New York City.

Buck Showalter told the media Friday night that Brandon Nimmo will make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday. Showalter also said that the team is still gathering information on José Quintana, who has a stress fracture in one of his ribs.

Darin Ruf said that the arthritis in his right wrist is feeling better but is still bothering him.

John Sheridan wrote on MetsMinors.net about Brett Baty and how Eric Chávez sees a lot of himself in the Mets’ prospect.

Steve Gelbs posted a GoFundMe link on Twitter to raise funds for a family who recently lost their home to a fire. The family has also been dealing with medical issues with their baby boy, and Gelbs got to know them when his own daughter was having health issues. Anyone who would like to donate can click this link.

Latest MLB News

Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post reported that Keibert Ruiz and the Nationals agreed to an eight-year contract extension with two club options that could bring the total value of the deal to $50 million.

Matt Monagan of MLB.com spoke to Team Italy pitcher Joey Marciano about his relation to famous boxer Rocky Marciano.

Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune spoke to former Met prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong and how his defense continues to improve.

Jake Mintz at FOX Sports wrote about Team Israel’s Shlomo Lipetz and his impact on the team.

Latest on MMO

Michael Famulari evaluated several bullpen candidates and their performances so far this spring.

Mike Mayer wrote about Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio‘s continued success this spring.

Tyler Antonelle recapped game one of the split squad doubleheader on Friday while Ross Bentley recapped game two.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Jeremy Hefner (37), Rich Hill (43), Bobby Abreu (49), Steve Reed (58)

The post Morning Briefing: Brooks Raley Dealing With Undisclosed Injury appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 World Baseball Classic opened up play on Wednesday morning, and now would be a great time to take an in-depth look at Pool B as they are set to begin action later tonight.  The five teams in this pool will battle it out in Tokyo, Japan. A few of these teams are unproven at this level, which should make for some very intriguing matchups, while others have experienced groups with big-name MLB players.

Here is what the schedule looks like for Pool B:

March 8

Australia vs. Korea (10 p.m. ET, FS1)

March 9

China vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

Czech Republic vs. China (10 p.m. ET, tubi)

March 10

Korea vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

China vs. Australia (10 p.m. ET, FS2)

March 11

Czech Republic vs. Japan (5 a.m. ET, FS1)

Czech Republic vs. Korea (10 p.m. ET, FS1)

March 12

Japan vs. Australia (6 a.m. ET, FS1)

Australia vs. Czech Republic (11:00 p.m. ET, FS2)

March 13

Korea vs. China (6 a.m. ET, FS2)

5. China

Manager: Dean Treanor

Team China is a bit of an unknown as they enter the 2023 World Baseball Classic. As a country, they have struggled to have any sort of sustained success in the sport for quite some time. China will need a lot to go right in order to have any chance of coming out of pool B.

Luo Jinjun, a player who can be fill three different positions across the infield, is going to play a big role in this competition. His impact, both with the bat and the glove, will need to be prevalent in about every game. While Jinjun can help this team move in the right direction, the WBC may not provide much winning for China in 2023.

 4. Czech Republic

Manager: Pavel Chadim

The Czech Republic has quite a unique story that will resonate with baseball fans worldwide. The Czech team clinched their place in the World Baseball Classic with a 3-1 with over Spain in the qualifying round. Czech Republic may not have any big names, but what they do have is a team and a country that is together and supported in a way like no other.

Martin Schneider is a two-way player that has starred in the Czech Baseball Extraliga for a numbers of years. What makes his story so interesting is the fact that he his a firefighter during the day, and a baseball player at night. Schneider is one of those players that will shine during the WBC, more because of what he does off the field than what he does on it.

Getting to the WBC is an achievement in itself, but what the Czech Republic does in Pool B will be fascinating to watch. They won’t be favored to get through the group, but do not be surprised if they exceed expectations. It would not be the first time we see an underdog make a run in this competition.

 3. Australia

Manager: Dave Nilsson

Like the Czech Republic, Australia is a team that does not have a long history of success when it comes to the WBC. Australia finished ninth in the competition back in 2017, so they’ll be looking to improve upon that finish this time around. Australia has a veteran group that is hungry and prepared to make some noise in pool B.

Former Milwaukee Brewer and All-Star catcher Dave Nilsson is leading this Australian team in the right direction. Pitcher Tim Atherton, who is maybe their most important player, was a part of the Brisbane Bandits team that won back to back Australia Baseball League titles in 2018-19. Atherton having a big tournament could be key in them reaching the knockout stages.

 2. Korea

Manager: Kang Chul Lee 

Korea comes into this edition of the WBC as a potential dark horse out of pool B. They don’t have as many big names as some others teams, but what they do have is a well-coached team that is built on their team defense. What they do in the scoring department may determine their fate later on in the competition.

The combination of San Diego Padres infielder Ha-seong Kim and St. Louis Cardinals utility man Tommy Edman make up one of the best middle infields in the WBC. Their strength in the field will play a critical role for Korea. Catcher Yang Eui-ji has been an elite defensive backstop in the KBO for a number of years. 

Japan are the heavy favorites to finish at the top of Pool B, but if anyone is going to give them a run for their money, it has to be Korea. Their past success in the WBC cannot be underestimated, and they have a roster that is built to have success is this type of competition. Barring something out of the ordinary, expect to see Korea in the knockout stages of the tournament.

1. Japan

Manager: Hideki Kuriyama

The home team in this pool is certainly expected to top this group. Los Angeles Angles two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will draw a lot of attention, and rightfully so. After all, he is one of the most electrifying players in the sport and will give Japan every opportunity to make a deep run in this tournament. I expect to see him in the lineup, but how many innings will he throw, if any? That question will be answered in the coming days.

Ohtani is not the only big name on the Japanese roster, as San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish and newly-signed Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida will also be participating. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar will also be a part of their roster.

The Japanese roster is one filled with talent and experience. If any team from Pool B is going to in contention for a title, it has to be Japan. They should finish at the top of the group, but what they do beyond that will come down to the details. If they can get enough quality innings from their pitchers, Japan is going to be dangerous in the later rounds.

The post Previewing The 2023 World Baseball Classic: Pool B appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner baseball fans, with play to begin in just a few short days. All Pool D games will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami beginning on March 11.

Where Each Team Ranks

1. Dominican Republic

The DR is filled with talent from the bottom to the top. Their roster is led by names like Manny Machado, Juan Soto, José Ramírez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. , Sandy Alcantara and Johnny Cueto. If you only saw these names listed on a piece of paper, you could easily mistake this roster for a Major League All-Star team. Manager Rodney Linares has a lot to work with. Guys like Nelson Cruz, Ketel Marte and Wander Franco are expecting to be off the bench to begin, but Linares could potentially mix and match his lineup depending on who has the hot hand and also deploy guys into a platoon based on the opposing pitcher.

Juan Soto. Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

2. Puerto Rico

Another extremely talented team in Pool D. Yadier Molina will make the quick transition from player to manager in his first opportunity to lead a ball club from the dugout. Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez are set to man the middle infield, where they have plenty of familiarity doing so. They previously played together with the Mets in 2021 as well as the 2017 WBC. Their bullpen is loaded with electric arms. Led by Edwin Díaz, who recently said he does not plan on pitching in back-to-back days in the tournament in order to be fresh for the start of the MLB season. He’ll be joined by his younger brother Alexis Díaz, Jorge Lopez and Emilio Pagan to give PR a lights-out backend of the pen. Marcus Stroman and José Berríos headline their starting rotation.

3. Venezuela

While I put Puerto Rico ahead of Venezuela, you could definitely make the case they are just as talented. Venezuela’s lineup is very deep and can hurt you at any point in a ballgame. Veteran sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Salvador Perez will provide the necessary leadership to this squad. Jose Altuve and Ronald Acuña Jr. will likely sit atop of the lineup to provide a great mix of power and speed. Eduardo Escobar, Andrés Giménez, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arraez and Eugenio Suárez give the lineup depth. They have some really good arms, but not quite as deep as DR and PR. Guys like Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo, Pablo López, José Alvarado and Martín Pérez will need to give Venezuela solid innings of work. If Omar López manages his bullpen well, there’s no reason why they can’t compete with the top teams in the pool.

4. Israel

Israel has made great strides over the years to build a competitive roster to compete in the WBC. In 2017 they finished in 6th place after making the playoff round and even beat Cuba. Former MLB and Israel player Ian Kinsler will manage the club, with Brad Ausmus and Kevin Youkilis joining his staff. Their lineup has some really good major-league talent.

Joc Pederson, Danny Valencia, Garrett Stubbs, Alex Dickerson and Ryan Lavarnway will need to produce for Israel to stay competitive. Lavarnway last appeared in the MLB in 2021 with Cleveland, however, he won the Pool A MVP in the 2017 WBC after going 5-for-9 with four walks, a home run, and three RBIs. Red Sox reliever Richard Bleier will likely close out games for them. Former 2013 first-round pick Rob Kaminsky should see a lot of innings, he has minor league experience as a starting pitcher and in five games with the St. Louis Cardinals pitched to a 1.93 ERA in 2020 out of the bullpen. Former Met utility player Ty Kelly will be making his second appearance for Israel in the WBC.

It will be an uphill battle for this squad, but they proved in 2017 that they absolutely cannot be taken lightly. It will be interesting to see if they can replicate their 2017 success.

5. Nicaragua

Manager Sander Guido will need to get creative with his roster to compete with the heavyweights in Pool D. There is not a whole lot of major league talent among Nicaragua’s roster. Their top pitchers include Jonathan Loáisiga, Erasmo Ramírez and former MLB pitcher JC Ramírez, who last pitched in 2019 for the Angels. Former 1st round pick Alex Blandino headlines their lineup, he played in a combined 135 games for the Cincinnati Reds from 2018-2021. Not to be harsh, but there is a reason this team is at the bottom of Pool D. They just don’t have the top-tier talent as the others.

Prediction

As you can see, there are so many talented players and coaches in Pool D. The two teams I think will advance to the single-elimination round are the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Although it would not surprise me in the slightest if Venezuela takes one of the top two spots, DR and PR have the deepest rosters to make a run for the whole thing.

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