What’s up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets took the series opener against Brandon Nimmo’s Rangers, 6-3 in Arlington (box)
LHP Sean Manaea got the win behind a strong performance, striking out nine Rangers over six full frames, allowing just three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks; he pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning
RF Carson Benge kept on rolling with another multi-hit night, scoring two runs and driving in another on two doubles, with a walk and a strikeout
DH Francisco Álvarez had two doubles and scored two runs of his own, driving in a pair for good measure
LF Juan Soto also had a two-hit day, driving in Álvarez on a base hit up the middle in the third inning
CF A.J. Ewing stole his 25th base of the season, marking another new Mets rookie record set by this class
LHP Nate Lavender, RHP Dedniel Núñez, and RHP Kodai Senga were lights out behind Manaea, combining for six strikeouts over three hitless, scoreless innings
Andy Green to become full-time manager of the Mets
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The Mets front office has checked a major box off their off-season checklist before it even started.
Andy Green has been named permanent manager, the 26th in franchise history; he's signed to lead the team through 2029
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Devin Williams (right shoulder strain) activated from the 15-day IL
RHP Christian Scott (knee inflammation) placed on the IL
Injury Report 🩺
RHP Christian Scott (left knee inflammation) has no structural damage in his knee and is expected to be ready for Spring Training
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
On the latest edition of the Just Mets podcast, 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.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates have concluded their seasons
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (72-85) at Rangers (78-79)
Where: Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX
Starters: RHP Nolan McLean (11-10, 3.18 ERA) vs. TBD
When: 8:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The right voice for the job ✍️
As if there was any other real choice to be made here.
I really thought he didn’t want it. Frankly, I thought all the repeated, not-remotely-subtle “should he change his mind…” winks to camera were getting a bit irritating, considering we’d gone months without seeing so much as a wiggle in the stance that Andy Green would head back to the front office at the end of this season.
But here we are, months later, firmly ingrained in a managerial era that will now last for several more years instead of a few more days. Excellent.
I’ll echo the common sentiment that’s already made its way through most talking-head and written-word punditry: a quick look around the managerial landscape should tell any reasonable observer that this was always the best course of action. When the move was first made, I was fully into the idea of Carlos Beltrán getting another chance; I also thought the idea of a recently retired player like Albert Pujols stepping into that role could be fascinating to watch alongside the youngsters. Pujols’ legacy obviously carries extra heft everywhere he goes, but look no further than what Stephen Vogt’s done since taking over the Guardians: I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a ten-plus-year veteran who was in the league during its rapid modernization over the last five years has been able to quickly get a finger on the pulse of a very young locker room and lead them to potentially three straight AL Central titles.
Since I was taking Green firmly at his word that his appointment was temporary, I never seriously considered him as an option to claim permanent ownership of the reins…but it makes perfect sense. No other possible candidate knows the franchise better.
Take that moment earlier this month against the Yankees when Green let Zac Thornton stay in to work his way out of a jam after a brief mound visit, or really the way Green’s handled Thornton in particular since his call-up: always sharp and specific in his feedback, complimentary of the player’s character while analyzing specifically what needs to be worked on, no sugarcoating nor any room left for interpretation. The same was on display when assessing Sean Manaea’s performance last night. Green says what he thinks, always measured and poignant, delivered with a zen-like confidence that what’s being worked on today will yield dividends tomorrow if there’s consistency and commitment to a diligent process. It’s an understated but powerful ethos that reverberates quickly through a clubhouse, one that appears to be resonating with both the rookies and the veterans alike:
And just to hammer on that point of chemistry a bit harder…surely this fanbase hasn’t forgotten how severely a significant amount of disruption destroyed this team just months ago. With the team performing (relatively) well under the stewardship of someone who oversaw the rapid development of four successful rookies, all of whom have played big roles in the big leagues this year, why on earth would you replace them if you didn’t absolutely have to?
Given the discord this organization just dealt with, I’d imagine conversations started the instant Green indicated he was willing to stay on board — a 25-19 record post-fire sale assuredly helped convince all parties involved that there’s something here worth investing in.
When it came down to it, though, it doesn’t sound like the man himself needed that much convincing after all: “I started thinking that if I have such a passion for the hard times, I’m looking forward to the good times.”
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long after the announcement (seconds? moments?) for naysayers to start showing up in X replies and comment sections, questioning whether Green’s record with this club was good enough to warrant a promotion, or whether he’s even qualified at all in a permanent capacity, given a less-than-stellar managerial record over four seasons in San Diego.
Take a look at those Padres rosters and see for yourself what he was working with then. This Mets roster may not be great, but there’s a much more solid foundation currently in place in Queens than Green ever had in all four years in SD. What’s more, he knows exactly who else the Mets have on the way, recently speaking very highly of top farm talents Mitch Voit and Jonathan Santucci and how they’re wired.
“You don’t worry about people who are wired that way. You believe in people who are wired that way, that continue to do the right thing, regardless of how tough the circumstances get,” Green said about the pair of prized prospects ahead of this season’s Mets Player Development Awards. “There’s more of a mountain to climb out in front of them before this opportunity belongs to them…But they’ve taken some amazing steps this year.”
Andy Green has been a part of this franchise since 2023. In that time, he’s helped implement a development pipeline that’s led to the promotions of current 40-man members Jonah Tong (2022 Draft), Dylan Ross (2022 Draft), Nick Morabito (2022 Draft), Nolan McLean (2023 Draft), Carson Benge (2023 Draft), A.J. Ewing (2023 Draft), Zac Thornton (2023 Draft), and Jonathan Pintaro (2024 FA, Pioneer League), most of them immediately successful or at least effective at the MLB level upon arrival. And though Christian Scott was drafted several years before Green entered the picture, he flew through the entire farm system between 2023 and 2024 under Green’s stewardship, successfully navigating his way back from injury and working his way to a 3.85 ERA over 110 big-league innings this season.
Green very clearly is a manager who knows how to get the most out of his players. Perhaps even more clearly, they trust him to do so.
Scott certainly does. “He’s a really good dude. I’ve had him pretty much my whole minor league career, so having that familiarity and someone who’s gonna shoot you straight…I’m pumped he’s our manager.”
Now, Green is taking control of a major league team that won’t take long to morph into a roster made up primarily of guys he’s worked with for multiple years prior, a level of hands-on prospect development focus that most managers inherently don’t have.
Said David Stearns, “That familiarity is helpful. It has to be the right voice, and I think we have the right voice with Andy.”
Yeah. This sure sounds like the right voice to me.
Around the League 🚩
The Rays clinched the AL East over the Yankees with a 6-1 win in Game 2 of their doubleheader behind Drew Rasmussen’s 11 strikeouts; it’s their first AL East title since 2021 and the fifth in the franchise’s 28-year history
Zack Wheeler secured his 2,000th career strikeout in a crucial 6-4 win over the Brewers; Wheeler is 13-5 with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 188 punchouts in 27 games since returning in April from thoracic outlet surgery
CJ Abrams drove in all three of the Nationals’ runs in their 3-1 win over the Tigers, making him the first National to drive in 100+ RBI in a season since Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto in 2019; Pete Crow-Armstrong is the only other player in MLB with 30+ homers and 100+ RBI in 2026
Yordan Alvarez hit his 41st homer of the year and drove in three runs as the Astros shut out the Mariners to rejoin the Rangers in a tie atop the AL West with five games to play; Houston owns the tiebreaker
The White Sox beat the Royals 14-11 for their 81st win of the season; they will finish their season at .500 or better for the first time since 2022, following three consecutive 100-plus-loss campaigns