This week might be a little light on the content, so my apologies for that. Spring Training is winding down, with just a few more days til Opening Day. So there’s not much more to say other than the anticipation has never been greater.
Let’s get to it, and Let’s Go Mets!
DISLOCATED RECAP
Hey, how have the Mets been doing?
🟠 Sunday 3/21 at Nationals - W 6-2
Sunday saw Jacob deGrom take the mound again, but no one at home got to see it, because it was once again not televised. Jake did his usual thing, fanning 5 over 4 and 2/3 innings. He did allow more base runners than usual, but I’m not worried because he was hitting 101 on the radar gun. This was also the first game in which a Mets pitcher batted, in anticipation of the DH not returning to the NL this year.
Castro came in to finish the 5th, and did so with a strikeout. Diaz pitched a perfect inning, and so did Betances. Robert Gsellman struggled a bit through the final 2 innings, giving up both Nats’ runs.
Conforto & Lindor each helped their cases for contract extensions by taking Max Scherzer deep. Also, Nimmo continues to get on base, with a hit and a walk in this one.
🟠 Monday 3/22 at Astros - L 5-4
Joey Lucchesi got the start and pitched well until he ran into some trouble in the 3rd.
Jerry Blevins came in to finish the inning, but didn’t escape cleanly. Jerad Eickhoff gave up a couple of runs in his two innings, but Mike Montgomery pitched well in a scoreless final two frames.
The Mets started a strange lineup in this one. Dom Smith and James McCann were the only presumptive everyday starters to play, and the offense was fairly quiet until Almora Jr jacked a 3-run shot late in the game.
The highlight of this one was a neat little 4-6-3 triple-play turned by the Mets, where José Peraza snagged a low liner and they doubled off the runners on 2nd and 1st.
🟠 Tuesday 3/23 vs Marlins - W 5-3
Marcus Stroman gets another televised start. I guess they don’t call him “Stro Show” for nothing! He stretched out to 5 innings, and while he wasn’t flawless, he still looked good.
The star of this game though, was Francisco Lindor. He is white hot right now, going 3 for 4 with a double, another home run, and 2 RBIs.
Kevin Pillar also went 2 for 4 at the plate.
🟠 Wednesday 3/24 at Cardinals - L 3-0
Corey Oswalt got the start, with Taijuan Walker making his final tuneups in a B-game.
Oswalt looked good, striking out 3 in 4 innings, and only giving up one run.
Familia, Betances, and Castro combined for three solid innings in relief, but Jerry Blevins gave up a pair of runs in his late inning of work.
Despite having the A+ lineup, the Mets’ bats remained quiet, with Lindor, Smith, McNeil, and McCann with one hit a piece.
🟠 Friday 3/26 vs Nationals - L 7-3
Peterson stretched out to 6 innings of work in anticipation of joining the big league rotation, and he pitched well, only allowing 4 hits and 2 runs.
Unfortunately Gsellman and Tarpley gave up another 5 runs in their combined 2 and 1/3rd innings.
Lindor continues to rake, going 2 for 5, and McCann had a good day at the plate with 2 hits and an RBI.
🟠 Saturday 3/27 vs Astros - W 8-3
The Mets used Jacob Barnes as an opener in this one, and it worked out great as he pitched a perfect 1st inning, striking out 2.
Lucchesi got the “start” behind him, striking out 4 and giving up 1 runs over 4 and 2/3rds innings.
May gave up a home run, but otherwise looked solid, and Jerry Blevins struck out two in the final frame.
Lindor went 3 for 3, and Dom & Pete had back to back jacks to power the offense.
CAUGHT IN A RUNDOWN
All the news from this past week, which you’ve probably already seen by now.
🟠 Mike Piazza joined the Mets at camp earlier this week as an alumni guest instructor. He spoke to reporters and announced that he’ll be in attendance for the subway series game at Citi Field on September 11th, the 20th anniversary of the attack. He also hinted that the Mets could soon see a few more numbers retired.
🟠 MLB announced that it will be using Statcast to monitor pitchers’ spin rates in an attempt to better enforce “rule 6.02” which prohibits the doctoring of the ball by either physically altering it or applying foreign substances. Until now the rule has been largely unenforced in an unspoken agreement throughout baseball, and it’s assumed that many pitchers do use some form of sticky substance to increase spin rate.
🟠 The Mets announced some more roster moves on Wednesday, reassigning RHP Corey Oswalt, catcher Bruce Maxwell and infielder Brandon Drury. They also optioned Jordan Yamamoto to Triple-A Syracuse.
🟠 Thursday brought another roster move from the Mets.
We have released RHP Tommy Hunter.
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 25, 2021
We now have 39 players in major league camp. #Mets
🟠 The Mets announced that this year they will make the switch to entirely digital, mobile tickets.
All tickets for the 2021 season will be 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 via the MLB Ballpark app. There will be no more print-at-home and paper tickets.
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 28, 2021
Download the MLB Ballpark app in advance 👉 https://t.co/8nLgAMS65s pic.twitter.com/ZzalLJBqWA
TWEET THE METS
🟠 Uncle Steve wants to take some questions from social media.
What questions would you like to ask me ? I will be on Mets social media with Wayne Randazzo answering your questions pre- opening day.
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) March 20, 2021
🟠 Noah is not happy about this question from Rich Staff (probably because Rich should already know the answer).
These are not billionaire type concerns.
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) March 20, 2021
I’m offended you went over my head here, Dick.
And she won’t ever come back.
🟠 The Mets pitching staff just might be out of this world 👽
For real.
— Trevor “IamTrevorMay” May (@IamTrevorMay) March 24, 2021
Like, aliens for sure exist. https://t.co/Mtj5M0kfKE
🟠 It’s really fun having Steve back on Twitter 😂
What do think Lindor will accept? I’m going to crowdsource the answer
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) March 26, 2021
ROSTER MOVES
New merch for every Mets Mood
🟠 If you’re lucky enough to snag some tickets to Citi with the limited capacity rules in effect for the early part of this season, show up in style & safety with one of our new racing stripe masks. Available here and here.