Mets Morning News: No More Larry, Same Old Mets

Meet the Mets

The Mets decided to send Larry "Chipper" Jones off into retirement the only way they knew how, by losing an annoying extra-inning game to the Atlanta Braves! Just like old times. Chipper didn't start, but came on as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and drew a four-pitch walk before being lifted for a pinch-runner. He got quite the ovation as he left the field, so that was pretty classy. The loss completed a three-game sweep for Atlanta, who mercifully leave town to be replaced by the incoming Washington Nationals. Gio Gonzalez takes on Collin McHugh tonight.

With the Mets struggles at Citi Field, Terry Collins plans to shake up their pre-game routine. He won't reveal what exactly the changes will be, but I'd bet on Jazzercise.

After the game Ike Davis hosted a charity event to raise money to fight Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Several of the Mets showed up as celebrity bartenders, and I assume did all those cool tricks from Cocktail.

You might not have notcied this, but the Mets offense is having some issues scoring runs lately. It hasn't gotten by Terry Collins, though.

Zack Wheeler wants a job on the big club next year. This seems unlikely, but the stuff is good enough that he certainly could pitch his way into the rotation quickly. In other news, where did the Daily News get that file photo? Yeesh.

More pitching prospect news: Jenrry Mejia is set to take a start for the Mets on September 19th against the Phillies. Mejia has had his struggles this year coming off Tommy John surgery in 2011, but he still has a big fastball and has been a groundball machine in AAA. So expect Terry to start Justin Turner at shortstop again to help Mejia out.

Yesterday at AA

You can relive the horror of yesterday's game with Chris McShane's recap.

And Brock Mahan takes us back to 1969 when the Mets clinched the franchise's first winning record. Looks like the team's last winning record will still be 2008, sigh.

Around the NL East

The Phillies walked-off against the Rockies and then won the nightcap of their twin bill. Philidelphia is now just six back of the second wild card. Dammit. They are also getting minor league slugger Darin "Babe" Ruf up for the pennant run. Surely this 26 year old AA slugger will give them the spark they need to make the playoffs.

Ricky Nolasco blanked the Nats in D.C. Edwin Jackson did not blank the Fish. Hence, Miami won. Baseball! I could probably find a link to something someone wrote about the Strasburg shutdown as well, but haven't we suffered enough this season?

Around MLB

B.J. Upton earned himself exactly $12,355,240.35 in free agency with his three home-run game for the Rays yesterday, just in case you were keeping score at home. Rays won to remain two back of the Yankees in the AL East. The loss cut Texas' lead in the West to just 3 1/2, as the A's beat the Mariners 4-2 behind ten strikeouts from Touchdown Tommy Milone. Milone would be one of the few non-Mets shirseys I would consider buying, mostly because he is magic.

The Yanks bats exploded at Camden Yards to salvage a split with Baltimore and keep them one game up. Mark Texeira sat out as he reaggravated his calf during Saturday night's game.

Good news for R.A. Dickey fans (so, everyone everywhere), as Johnny Cueto got touched up by the Astros for five runs in four innings of work. R.A. Dickey now leads the NL in ERA and is just six strikeouts behind league-leader Clayton Kershaw, who was scratched Sunday Night due to a hip injury. The pitching Triple Crown and Cy Young is within sight. Praise!