Put it in the Books, Howie Rose announces his retirement after the 2026 season
Plus, Kodai Senga had another good start for the Mets, and Bo Bichette is being considered as the backup shortstop
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets defeated the Astros 6-2 with Opening Day now less than a week away (box)
RHP Kodai Senga got the start and pitched four scoreless innings, he struck out four and walked one
RHP Craig Kimbrel gave up one run and struck out three in his one inning of work as he fights for a bullpen spot
3B Bo Bichette went 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and a stolen base
CF Luis Robert Jr. also enjoyed a successful day at the plate. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and two RBIs
The team’s prospects lost their Spring Breakout game against the Rays 2-0 (box)
RHP Jack Wenninger got the start and was saddled with the loss after giving up one run. His final line was 3.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 1 BB, and 6 K
LHP Jonathan Santucci also gave up one run in 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out five
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Bo Bichette will start at shortstop today to evaluate his ability to be an emergency shortstop, which could allow the Mets to cut Vidal Brujan and carry all of Mike Tauchman, Tyrone Taylor, Mark Vientos and Carson Benge on Opening Day
The beloved Howie Rose announced he will be stepping away from the broadcast booth after the 2026 season (MLB.com)
Injury Updates 🏥
C Francisco Álvarez left yesterday’s game as a precaution with tightness in his back
Roster Moves 📰
INF Ronny Mauricio & RHP Joey Gerber optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Mike Baumann & LHP Brandon Waddell reassigned to minor league camp
What I’m Reading 📖
Despite getting shut out some Mets prospects shined in the Spring Breakout game (LoHud)
With spring training almost at a close, there were some intriguing storylines that emerged throughout camp (MLB.com)
The Mets are experimenting with calling pitches from the dugout (ESPN)
For generations of Mets fans Howie Rose provided the soundtrack of their summers (The Athletic)
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
ICYMI: Rich and Andrew went live on Sunday! They discuss Francisco Lindor’s return, Carlos Beltran’s upcoming jersey retirement, the right field competition, and more.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Today’s Game 🏝️
Match-up: Mets (12-9) vs. Cardinals (14-9)
Where: Clover Park - Port St. Lucie, FL
Starters: TBD vs. RHP Andre Pallante (0-0, 2.57 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Put it in the Books, it is the end of an era for the Mets ✍️
Put it in the books!
You say this to any Mets fan, and undoubtedly, they hear Howie Rose’s excited voice pop into their heads. Along with it, perhaps they recall their favorite comeback victory, or maybe it is one of the Mets’ more iconic wins that pops into their heads.
Baseball is a deeply personal experience, but there was no one better to guide us through all the ups and downs of a baseball season than Howie Rose, especially with this club whose trademark is ups and downs. He so eloquently gave voice to not only what was happening on the baseball field but all of the emotion that comes with it. The excitement and joy of Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning heroics followed by the heartbreak of the NLCS loss in 2024; it was all reflected in Howie’s call. Mike Piazza’s home run in 2001 was uncharted territory for everyone to somehow move on after an unspeakable tragedy, but Howie navigated it beautifully.
Howie cited various non-health reasons for why he decided this would be his last season behind the mic. For starters, he wants to spend more time at home with his family; he’s now a Florida resident, no longer wants to come home late at night and not spend time with his wife, who has endured 40+ years of Howie spending most of the year at the ballpark, on the road, or both. He’s 72, and he told reporters he wants to go out while he still has his health and has years ahead of him to enjoy. He did say he would still be around the club at times, but he had spent the last month thinking about when the right time would be, and, well, now was seemingly the right time.
For generations, he is THE voice of the Mets, serving as the master of ceremonies for every special occasion and more fittingly, every Opening Day. The voice that would go on to serve as the soundtrack to summer would be the one to usher in a new season. Always excited and always looking forward to the new season and the hope that comes with it. The hope that this is finally the year because Howie is also, above all else, a fan. A fan whose career started with the organization just after their last World Series win and has not seen one since. It would be fitting then if this team could end their World Series drought to bookend what has been a truly amazing career. But should that championship prove elusive once again, we’ll have Howie there to experience it with us and guide us through it in only the way he can, one last time.
Howie said he will broadcast 84 games this season plus the entire postseason, should the Mets make it in 2026. He has all 81 games at Citi Field, plus the three games at Yankee Stadium. He will not travel with the team at all, something he had already scaled back significantly in recent seasons.
Perhaps one day soon Howie will have a speech to give in Cooperstown, where it seems inevitable he will one day be elected into the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Howie on what was a storied broadcasting career.
Around the League 🚩
Blue Jays rookie RHP Trey Yesavage will start the season on the IL with a shoulder impingement (ESPN)
Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong will undergo Tommy John surgery which will cost him the entire 2026 season
Atlanta OF Jurickson Profar’s appeal of his second PED suspension was resolved so it is now official that he will be suspended all 162 games this season (ESPN)
Major League Baseball is furthering its relationship with sports betting by striking a deal with the prediction platform Polymarket (The Athletic)
I like his reference to calling "playoff" games in his statement announcing his retirement.
Wonderful broadcaster. There's a big downside to retirement for some of us but it sounds like he'll still have some involvement with the team which should ease things. Senga: let's be grateful he wasn't traded for peanuts this winter. It's a good example of why spring training does matter. Speaking of that, let's indulge ourselves in thinking how good this team can be if Luis Robert continues to hit...