What’s up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets were off yesterday and will begin their last road trip of the season with a three game set in Texas starting tonight
No. 2 prospect LHP Jonathan Santucci was named a Double-A All-Star on Monday
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest edition of the pod, Rich and Andrew recap a surprisingly eventful (and emotional) week at Citi Field between Howie Rose’s retirement, Carlos Beltrán’s ceremony, and Carson Benge breaking Pete Alonso’s rookie record.
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Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates have concluded their seasons
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (71-85) at Rangers (78-78)
Where: Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX
Starters: LHP Sean Manaea (5-7, 4.74 ERA) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.67 ERA)
When: 8:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Mets get set to visit another old friend this week ✍️
After what was unquestionably an emotionally charged homecoming when former Mets first baseman Pete Alonso came back to Citi Field with the Orioles a week ago, starting tonight the Mets will visit another old friend down in Arlington.
Trading away outfielder Brandon Nimmo was the first domino to fall in the Mets’ dramatic reboot last winter, and the longest-tenured Met was yet another player the fans were devastated to see go.
After everything that transpired last week, the Mets and their front office are in many ways fortunate this series with the Rangers is taking place in Texas.
Like Alonso, Nimmo was a beloved homegrown Met who had become a fixture in Queens and one of the Mets’ most reliable players.
Alonso, as we well know, is the Mets’ all-time home run king, and while Nimmo doesn’t have that level of feather in his cap, his name is littered all over the Mets’ all-time record books.
Only ten players participated in more games as a Met than Nimmo. He ranks 12th in franchise history in hits, 6th in runs, 10th in doubles, 9th in homers, and 13th in RBI.
Never considered a star, at least at the national level, Nimmo was consistent, dependable, and someone who, up until 10 months ago, we believed would be a career Met.
And while there are many parallels with the situation we watched unfold last week, there are also some stark differences—besides the venue.
While Alonso’s Orioles were clinging to their postseason dreams, Nimmo and the Rangers have much more realistic October aspirations.
Heading into play tonight, Texas holds a one-game lead on the Astros in the AL West. Winning the division title is essentially the only way in for either team, with the Astros currently three out of the wild card with six to play.
That means the Mets have a serious opportunity to play spoiler to an old friend beginning tonight.
In his first season with the Rangers, Nimmo has been himself and given the Rangers exactly what they were looking for. Playing predominately right field, he’s appeared in 149 games and slashed .260/.325/.407. His power is a little down as he’s cleared the fence just 14 times, but Texas is admittedly a big park—particularly in the gaps—which is probably why while his home run totals are down, Nimmo has already set a new career high in doubles.
The schedule makers, of course, didn’t anticipate their series against Baltimore and Texas being such news stories when it was made— while we all watched Alonso enjoy a historic moment a week ago, I would fully expect a big series from Nimmo here.
At least the fans will be cheering for the home team this time around.
Around the League 🚩
Javier Baez homered and drove in a pair in the Tigers 9-2 win over the Nats
Pete Alonso blasted his 39th and 40 home runs of the season in Baltimore’s 4-3 home victory over their division rival Blue Jays
Cubs 3B Alex Bregman will undergo surgery to fix facial fractures he sustained after being hit in the on-deck circle by a foul ball this past weekend - he is hopefully he can be available for the playoffs
The Rays will unveil a retro-styled road uniform when their series begins against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium tonight (MLB.com)
The game is in Texas, not Citifield as it says at the top of the post.
Too bad we’ll miss Jake. That would’ve been fun.