We finally made it to Opening Day!
The Mets opened their 2021 season this past Thursday down in the nation’s capital.
*RECORD SCRATCH*
Actually the Nats had a COVID outbreak, and MLB had to postpone the entire weekend series, so the Mets will start their season tomorrow in Philly.
To say this is a disappointment would be like saying Pete Alonso can hit the ball hard. A complete understatement! We began the week with the final two Spring Training games, which are among the least meaningful games as guys like deGrom are held back from game action to fine tune their stuff in B-games, and attention is already looking ahead to the first game that actually counts.
To have that anticipation build up and then have to wait an extra four days has felt excruciating.
But it could be much worse. At least our Mets are healthy, and we’ll have real Mets baseball tomorrow.
DISLOCATED RECAP
Hey, how have the Mets been doing?
🟠 Sunday 3/28 at Marlins - L 10-2
There’s not much good to report from this one, as Mike Montgomery got roughed up in his 2 and 2/3rds innings to start the game. Montgomery was released by the club shortly afterwards.
Edwin Diaz had a rough outing as well. But Betances and Arodys Vizcaíno pitched well, with Vizcaíno touching 98 mph on the radar gun.
The Mets didn’t have much going at the plate either, with Nimmo smacking a homer, and Conforto going 2 for 4.
🟠 Monday 3/29 at Cardinals - T 3-3
Taijuan Walker started his final tune-up game, and spread a couple of runs over his 5 innings of work. Castro, Gsellman, and Blevins all looked sharp in relief, and sidearmer, Trevor Hildenberger struck out another two batters in his inning.
Pete Alonso continued to rake, knocking in a pair with a first inning double, but otherwise the offense was mostly quiet.
CAUGHT IN A RUNDOWN
All the news from this past week, which you’ve probably already seen by now.
🟠 Let’s get right to it. The Opening Day game, and subsequently the entire season opening series against the Nationals was postponed because the Nats have an outbreak of COVID. It may have just been bad luck, but it seems like a colossal screw-up on the part of the Nats. They had at least 4 positive cases, and were contact tracing and quarantine several others. No other team had any similar issue as of yet. So Mets (and Nats) fans had to sit and watch the rest of the league celebrate the return of baseball, with fans in attendance and everything. What a massive bummer 😭
🟠 The other enormous news the week came late Wednesday night as Francisco Lindor agreed to a 10-year $341 million extension, which begins after his current contract runs out at the end of this year. Francisco Lindor will be a New York Met through the 2031 season! THIS IS AMAZIN’ NEWS!!! And the news was sort of broke by Taijuan Walker of all people 😱
There’s a tweet I really wanna send out but I gotta hold it back!! Lol might send it in 30 minutes though
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) April 1, 2021
🟠 Earlier in the week the Mets made their final roster moves to close out Spring Training.
LHP Jerry Blevins, RHP Jerad Eickhoff, catcher Caleb Joseph, infielder José Peraza, outfielder Mallex Smith and RHP Arodys Vizcaíno have been notified that they will not be on the Opening Day roster. LHP Stephen Tarpley has been optioned to the Triple-A roster.
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 28, 2021
We have released LHP Mike Montgomery. #Mets
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 28, 2021
🟠 The Athletic reports that the Mets have hired an independent law firm to conduct a review of their workplace culture.
The New York Mets have hired law firm WilmerHale to conduct a review of the team’s workplace culture, The Athletic has learned.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 29, 2021
Team owner Steve Cohen made the announcement in an organization-wide email on March 19. https://t.co/IJglosBYcf
🟠 Pete Alonso will join Taijuan Walker in the NFT market, offering up a special piece of art created by Mets minor leaguer, Tommy Wilson, and like Walker’s, it will go to a good cause, supporting minor league players who need financial help. (MLB seriously needs to pay their minor league guys better)
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is joining the sports - NFT craze by auctioning off his own NFT, with proceeds supporting minor leaguers affected by the pandemic
— joon (@joonlee) March 29, 2021
“To be able to raise funds and help out guys that need it ... I'm very thankful."https://t.co/xTinDuOUni
🟠 In his Q&A from Twitter users, Steve Cohen confirmed that the black throwback jerseys will return this season. They’ll wear them on a few occasions, which have yet to be announced. The Mets’ Twitter account said that the new jerseys will be available for purchase by “the holidays” 🤔🎄🤷🏻♂️ But of course we’ve got most designs available in the black option here at 1986’d, and if you scroll down below, you’ll see we’ve got a special new design to celebrate the return of the black alternates.
🟠 The Mets & Citi Field announced some safety protocols for the upcoming season.😷 Mask Up 😷
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 30, 2021
All guests must wear a face covering at the ballpark except when actively eating/drinking at your ticketed seats. Face coverings must cover nose and mouth. Gaiters, bandanas and face coverings with an exhalation valve are not permitted. https://t.co/qrTIsnDwmT pic.twitter.com/v9eDNG8CVC
Citi Field will be a cashless ballpark this season. You can use credit/debit cards, mobile payment and Mets Gift Cards. For more info 👉 https://t.co/iBblrNMiX9
— Citi Field (@CitiField) March 30, 2021
To purchase Gift Cards 👉 https://t.co/uJ55AzZXPz pic.twitter.com/7KFDhJoO03
🟠 The Mets re-signed reliever, Tommy Hunter, after earlier releasing him.
The Mets have re-signed veteran reliever Tommy Hunter, whom they released last week, to a minor league contract.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 31, 2021
🟠 Rejoice, Mets fans! We can finally listen to the WCBS 880 radio broadcast online 📻📱🖥
Great news! Starting with Thursday’s game, #Mets fans in the New York area will be able to listen to games this season on the WCBS 880 website, the @Audacy app, and any devices or smart speakers that play WCBS 880!
— WCBS Newsradio 880 (@wcbs880) March 31, 2021
Learn more: https://t.co/ySh8uMK2QF pic.twitter.com/VfNWO7OTD1
🟠 MLB threw their support behind BLM, as they pull the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to Georgia’s increasingly strict voting laws, which many see as inherently prejudiced against minorities. The Braves released a statement expressing disappointment at the decision, saying they were planning to use the game as a platform “to enhance the discussion”.
Many players, like our own Francisco Lindor, applauded MLB’s decision on social media.
TWEET THE METS
🟠 Jerry better put that glorious mane up in a man-bun now that he’ll start the year in Brooklyn.
I'll be going to (and living in) Brooklyn to report to the alternate site. I feel great. My body and my arm have responded beyond my expectations. Hope to see you all in Queens soon! #LGM #nothingbutlove
— Jerry Blevins (@jerryblevins) March 28, 2021
🟠 Trevor & the guys left the Sunshine State on Monday evening 🏝🛫
✌️ Florida.
— Trevor “IamTrevorMay” May (@IamTrevorMay) March 29, 2021
🟠 Marcus Stroman is excited about getting his hands on a black jersey 🖤
I am one thousand percent getting a signed black deGrom jersey for my archives. Super rare that I ever want a jersey of a peer. That one is a must! @Mets
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) March 30, 2021
🟠 Tai Walker is stoked to dress in black too 🖤
Black jerseys bouta go crazy this year 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) March 29, 2021
🟠 The Mets logo emoji is back on Twitter with the hashtag #LGM
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 31, 2021
🟠 Tai is feeling left out, don’t forget him, Mets! 🥺
My wife wants to know if you can make me one 😂 https://t.co/7bngU8ObmB
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) March 31, 2021
🟠 Lindor’s teammates are all stoked for his huge extension deal 🎉
Huge huge huge congrats to @Lindor12BC on his deal. Beyond deserving. Franchise star. Thankful for the opportunity to be teammates and compete with you all year! 🗣
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) April 1, 2021
Francisco Lindor!!!!!! That’s all!! That’s the tweet!!!!!
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) April 1, 2021
Can’t sleep... #OpeningDay tomorrow and news of the @Lindor12BC extension?!?!? #LGM
— James McCann (@McCannon33) April 1, 2021
. @Lindor12BC pic.twitter.com/EXnXRiZ79Z
— Tomas Nido (@tnido24) April 1, 2021
🟠 Players expressed disappointment and frustration at the delay to start the season 🥵 They’re just like us fans!
Excitement...right down the drain.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) April 1, 2021
I just wanna post my opening day picture already 😫😫
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) April 2, 2021
Welp, maybe stream later?
— Trevor “IamTrevorMay” May (@IamTrevorMay) April 1, 2021
ROSTER MOVES
New merch for every Mets Mood
🟠 With all the hype for the return of the black jerseys, we’ve got a special design for the eventual Friday night blackouts at Citi. Get it here.